Paducah mayoral and KY House Dis. 3 candidates answer questions 'live' Thursday, October 1 via Zoom9/26/2020  The Paducah Chamber Power In Partnership Breakfast and Candidate Forum will be broadcast virtually on Thursday, October 1 at 7:30 a.m. The event is sponsored by Paducah Bank and will broadcast live from the Commerce Center Paducah Bank Community Room.
The forum will feature candidates in the Kentucky House District 3 race and the Paducah Mayoral race. Kentucky House District 3 candidates are Republican incumbent Rep. Randy Bridges and Democratic challenger Corbin Snardon. Paducah Mayoral candidates are Commissioner Richard Abraham, George Bray and write-in candidate Dujuan Thomas. The moderator will be a news channel six representative. Bridges represents House district 3, which covers parts of Paducah and McCracken County. He was elected to his first term as state representative in 2018. Snarden is assistant principal at the new Paducah Innovation Hub. He also serves as a second vice-president and education chair for the Paducah/McCracken County NAACP. Abraham has been a commissioner for multiple terms and currently serves as mayor pro-tem. Bray is a local businessman and board chair of the Barkley Regional Airport Authority. Thomas is an entrepreneur and business owner and has served in the Army National Guard for over five years. Questions are to be submitted by Chamber members and the media prior to the event. On the day of the breakfast, the moderator will randomly select questions during the designated time allotment to be answered by the candidates. Each candidate will give opening and closing remarks. The event is being held virtually through Zoom and will broadcast live from the Commerce Center Paducah Bank Community Room. Pre-registration is required. You may go to paducahchamber.org to register. The virtual breakfast will be aired on WPSD 6.3 and Comcast 233, and livestreamed via the Chamber and WPSD Facebook pages.
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 City Commission Meeting Highlights
Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. ______________________________________ Note: Due to the COVID-19 situation and the need to maintain social distancing, all members of the Paducah Board of Commissioners participated by video and/or audio conferencing. Property Tax Levy for FY2021 – Keeping Same Tax Rate as FY2020 The Paducah Board of Commissioners approved an ordinance setting the real estate and personal property tax rates for fiscal year 2021. The City’s real estate tax levy is set at 26.7 cents per $100 assessed value, the same rate as last year (fiscal year 2020). This ordinance also outlines the payment date requirements. Tax bills that are less than $900.00 are due without penalty and interest until November 30, 2020. For bills that are greater than $900.00, the owner may split the bill in half with the first half due on November 30 without penalty and interest and the second half due on February 28, 2021, without penalty and interest. The City’s Compensating Rate, the rate that keeps the revenue at the same amount as FY2020, is 26.3 cents per $100 assessed value. Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) permits a city to adjust the rate upward by not more than 4 percent of the compensating rate. With the 26.7 cents, the City is taking a rate that is 1.5% more than the compensating rate. Since the City’s proposed tax levy is more than the compensating rate, a public hearing was required. It was held September 8. The rate of 26.7 cents is much less than what the rate was more than twenty years ago in fiscal year 1995. At that time the real estate rate was 43.8 cents per $100 assessed value. The revenue generated by the property tax is the City’s second highest revenue source behind the payroll tax. At this meeting, the Board also introduced an ordinance authorizing the City to collect taxes for the Paducah Independent School District. The Paducah School District set its property tax levee at the same rate as Fiscal Year 2020 at 86.4 cents per $100 of assessed value. Purchase of Property Located at 2640 South 24th Street to Improve Stormwater Management The Paducah Board of Commissioners approved an ordinance for the purchase of property at 2640 South 24th Street in the amount of $8000. This floodplain property is adjacent to the newly rehabilitated South 24th Street Bridge. The City plans to remove the structure on the property and grade the land to improve the area’s stormwater drainage, stormwater storage capability, and management. Over the past several weeks, Jim Smith Contracting has been working on the project to replace the bridge which is more than 50 years old. This bridge over Cross Creek between Seitz Street and Center Street had been damaged from flooding especially in 2018. The new bridge is wider to accommodate ADA-compliant sidewalks. The City is receiving FEMA funds to assist with the bridge project. Quick Highlights
 Western Kentucky local governments will receive reimbursements for PPE, payroll, cleaning supplies: Calloway County: Cadiz: Fulton: Hopkinsville: Mayfield: and Owensboro.
By Crystal Staley FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 17, 2020) – In collaboration with the Department for Local Government (DLG), today, Gov. Andy Beshear announced 22 Western Kentucky governments were approved for $14,905,621 in reimbursements from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act for local governments with expenses related to COVID-19. “The COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult for everyone and our local governments are no exception,” said Gov. Beshear. “These reimbursements from the CARES Act will help alleviate some of the strain on their budgets and ensure they can provide necessary services to our families.” DLG Commissioner Dennis Keene expressed appreciation for local governments during unprecedented times. “We appreciate everything our local governments have done during the pandemic to keep Kentuckians safe,” said Commissioner Keene. “And we are doing everything we can to ensure an efficient reimbursement process so our local governments can continue the fight against COVID-19.” Calloway County Calloway County will use $441,197 for PPE, thermometers, cleaning supplies, family and medical leave and first responder payroll. Daviess County Daviess County will use $1,456,424 for COVID-19 testing areas, PPE and its distribution, sanitizer, cleaning supplies, telework equipment, food delivery and sheriff’s department and fire department payroll. “We have been able to procure personal protective equipment, items to insure public health and sanitation, assist in setting up testing sites and contribute to programs designed to deliver food to vulnerable populations,” said Daviess County Judge/Executive Al Mattingly. “Additionally, we plan to recover salaries of first responders who are on the front line of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are thankful to Gov. Beshear for his support.” Hardin County Hardin County will use $1,154,159 for first responder payroll. “These funds will help Hardin County EMS meet the increased demands in responding during this pandemic by helping with equipment, personal protection measures and personnel costs,” said Hardin County Judge/Executive Harry L. Berry. Hopkins County Hopkins County will use $565,650 for COVID-19 testing sites, PPE, disinfectant, telework equipment, plexiglass partitions and sheriff’s department and first responder payroll. “Providing for the needs of all citizens and each county department, while avoiding burdening the taxpayer with higher rates each year, can be a challenge even under the best of circumstances,” said Hopkins County Judge/Executive Jack Whitfield Jr. “Yet, no one could have predicted the economic impact COVID-19 would bring to our area. Many Hopkins County government offices underwent substantial changes this year, for example, we installed several transparent barriers to protect our employees and provide the safest environment possible for the public. We also incurred significant financial encumbrances through first responder salaries and the salaries of employees whose jobs we had to reassign during the pandemic. By recouping these losses through CARES Act funding, our local government has been able to continue to serve our residents with little to no interruption in service and at no cost to the taxpayer. For that, we are grateful to the Governor and the Department for Local Government to have received these funds and plan to keep Hopkins County running strong.” Todd County Todd County will use $195,579 for PPE, cleaning supplies, renovations to comply with social distancing, telework equipment, paid sick leave for quarantined employee and emergency responder payroll. Beaver Dam Beaver Dam will use $48,519 for PPE, sanitizing supplies and police department payroll. “The CARES Act reimbursement is great for smaller communities like Beaver Dam,” said Beaver Dam Mayor Paul Sandefur. “We were able to purchase some additional personal safety equipment and supplies for the use of our city workers as well as our residents utilizing city services.” Bonnieville Bonnieville will use $2,053 for telework equipment, PPE, sanitizer and cleaning supplies. “We have been able to purchase the necessary equipment for Zoom and webinar meetings and training and personal safety equipment,” said Bonnieville Mayor Dale Schoenbachler. “We are very thankful to Gov. Beshear for his support.” Cadiz Cadiz will use $191,631 for police department payroll. Cave City Cave City will use $175,164 for first responder payroll. Central City Central City will use $413,750 for police department payroll. Fulton Fulton will use $156,468 for cleaning supplies, protective barriers and first responder payroll. Hartford Hartford will use $63,558 for payroll expenses. “We’re thankful for these funds as they will help pay for police officers’ payroll during this time of reduced income due to the coronavirus,” said Hartford Mayor George Chinn. “Gov. Beshear is to be appreciated for taking care of the communities of Kentucky dealing with difficult times. Our thanks to DLG for administering this huge task of overseeing distribution of those funds.” Henderson Henderson will use $1,388,800 for police and fire department payroll. “CARES funding has been a lifesaver for the City of Henderson as it has allowed us to maintain staffing levels to provide essential services such as police and fire protection and trash collection. It has allowed us to keep our public transit system operating,” said Mayor Steve Austin. “We are grateful for the leadership that helped deliver this funding in a timely manner.” Hopkinsville Hopkinsville will use $2,230,969 for first responder payroll. “The CARES Act funds will be a huge boost to our local economy and enable the City of Hopkinsville to provide much needed support where it’s needed most, and where it will have the greatest impact,” said Hopkinsville Mayor Wendell Lynch. “We really appreciate state government distributing these critical funds in such a manner that citizens across the commonwealth will benefit.” Leitchfield The city of Leitchfield will use $491,193 police and fire department payroll. Lewisport Lewisport will use $46,638 for police department payroll. “The CARES Act funding will be a major help for our police department,” said Lewisport Mayor Chad Gregory. “We are grateful to Gov. Andy Beshear and DLG for providing this to our city.” Mayfield Mayfield will use $710,004 for first responder payroll. Morton’s Gap Morton’s Gap will use $8,824 for PPE, thermometers, cleaning supplies, telework equipment and payroll expenses. Muldraugh Muldraugh will use $60,951 for police department payroll. “On behalf of the City of Muldraugh, I want to thank Gov. Beshear for remembering the local governments during the pandemic,” said Muldraugh Mayor Joseph E. Noon Sr. “The CARES Act funds we have applied for are being used for payroll expenses for our police department. With the anticipation of a loss in revenue due to COVID-19, the funds will insure our police department will be able to continue servicing the deserving citizens and businesses in Muldraugh. I want to thank the hard working DLG employees who have went above and beyond to assist local governments with the application process.” Oak Grove Oak Grove will use $480,723 for police department payroll. Owensboro Owensboro will use $4,300,651 for first responder payroll. “We are excited to have the opportunity to participate in all eligible, reimbursable expenses, like the salaries of our first responders,” said Owensboro Mayor Tom Watson. Scottsville Scottsville will use $322,716 for police department payroll. Since the application was released in May, DLG has received approximately 300 applications from city and county governments across the commonwealth. Two hundred and eight local governments have been approved for reimbursement, totaling more than $106 million.
Local city and county residents have been anxiously anticipating the arrival of Menards in Paducah. Today, the wait is no more. The ‘soft opening’ was a breath of fresh air for those that wanted to shop, compare pricing, or were just curious.
Now that the wait is over, the mega store won’t disappoint. The 246,000 square foot store is one of the largest, if not the largest in the area. It’s no wonder they call it a ‘mega store’. To offer some perspective, the average Walmart Supercenter is 179,000 square feet. Menards is located in the middle of an open field on the outskirts of town. It occupies the space of several city blocks (the average city block is 100,000 square feet). In addition to the enormous building, the parking lot is huge too. Even with the number of cars today, there were still plenty of parking spaces available. Judging from the number of customers in attendance, many of the cars belonged to employees. Upon entering the store, the aisles are spacious with plenty of room to shop. The General Manager Stephen McCuan said that opening such a mega store in the middle of a pandemic requires extra safety precautions. Being able to operate according to safety guidelines for customers and team members is a top priority and requires lots of planning. Employees and shoppers must wear masks in the store and social distance. Today, everyone was masked up. If you enjoy shopping early for the holidays, Menards has both Christmas and Halloween decorations on display, side-by-side for your shopping pleasure. There’s lights, table decorations, blow-ups, and all sorts of fun decorating items. The plant selection was sparse, in fact, only mums were available today. There are plenty of items for landscaping. The garden center itself must occupy two or more acres. Groceries may be purchased at Menards. If you’re interested in price checking, Menards is competitive and could even be a few dollars cheaper than their competitors. Of course there’s flooring, electrical, lumber, paint, cabinets, appliances, pet products; anything needed to build or remodel your home, office or business. Everything is spic & span. A fresh, clean store always enhances the shopping experience. There’s the 11% rebate offered to Menards’ customers. For all of your purchases, get an 11% Mail-In rebate. (just don’t forget to mail it in). The store is open Monday through Saturday from 6 am to 9 pm and Sundays from 8 am to 8 pm. Official Menards Press Release with store hours and more for Paducah opening Tuesday, September 89/2/2020  PADUCAH MENARDS WILL OPEN ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH The new Paducah, KY Menards Mega Store, located at 5500 US Highway 60 W, will open for business on Tuesday, September 8, 2020. With the opening of this new store, Paducah and the surrounding area will further enjoy all of the great services, low prices and shopping conveniences that Menards has to offer. "We're really excited to open the doors on Tuesday," commentated Steve McCuan, Paducah Menard General Manager. "We hired many of your friends and neighbors and can't wait to show everyone what we've been working on. The store is beautiful." Menards is truly a one-stop shop for all of your home improvement needs feature a full-service lumberyard and everything you need to plan a renovation or build a home, garage, cabin, shed, deck, fence or post frame building. You’ll find a large selection of lumber, roofing, siding, construction blocks, trusses, doors and windows, plus cabinets,appliances, counter-tops, flooring, lighting, paint, plumbing supplies and more. To complete the job, Menards has quality hand tools, power tools, fasteners, electrical tools plus storage options and supplies for everyone from the weekend warrior to the pro! Menards also has what you need to complete your outdoor projects and keep your yard in tip-top shape including mowers, trimmers, blowers, pressure washers and more, plus a beautiful garden center stocked with plants, shrubs, trees, landscaping tools, grass seed,fertilizer options, outdoor décor and patio furniture. Menards also has everyday essentials like health & beauty products, housewares, pet and wildlife supplies, automotive items and even groceries. And at Christmas, an Enchanted Forest display area with impressive trees, lighting, decorations, ornaments, inflatables and more. Menards Spokesperson, Jeff Abbott added, “We’re excited about opening a new Menards home improvement store in this area and look forward to creating job opportunities and contributing to the region’s economic growth in the years ahead.” A family-owned and run company started in 1958, Menards currently operates 329 stores located throughout the Midwest. Menards is known throughout the home improvement industry as the low price leader; it’s no wonder the famous slogan – “SAVE BIG MONEY” – is so widely known and easy to remember. Menards does things right –the company’s strength and success can be seen in the well-stocked and maintained stores, the lowest prices in town and the way Customers are always treated like family. Paducah Menards Store Hours: Monday-Saturday (6:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.) Sunday (8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.) |
Written byLiz Latta
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