Paducah City Commission Meeting - October 13, 2026

The Paducah Board of Commissioners met on October 13, 2026, with Mayor Bray presiding and Mayor Pro Tem Wilson, Commissioners Henderson, Smith, and Thomas present. No additions or deletions were made to the agenda. The meeting included a presentation on the Hotel Metropolitan, public comments, consent calendar approval, a contract modification for City Hall historic tax credit services, and discussion of animal control and recent statements about the convention center showroom.

Presentation: Hotel Metropolitan

• Dr. Martez Hammonds, the new executive director, presented alongside Betty Dobson. He described the Hotel Metropolitan, founded in 1909 by Maggie Steed as a 'respectable place' for African American travelers, performers, and visitors on the Chitlin circuit.
• The restoration is supported by a Mellon Foundation grant and co-stewardship with the city. Work from June through October included siding replacement, window repair, insulation, a new bathroom and storage in the 'purple room,' heating and air conditioning, drainage, and porch/ramp stabilization. Windows were repaired/restored rather than replaced to meet historic preservation requirements.
• Two adjacent lots extending to 7th/Gaines Street were acquired for future growth. Dr. Hammonds said the project's goal is to make the Hotel Metropolitan a national treasure, and he highlighted an event early in his tenure with about 65 museum professionals from Kentucky.

Consent Calendar

• The commission unanimously approved the consent calendar, including minutes of the October 2, 2026 special called meeting.
• Receive-and-file items included a municipal order for a Kentucky League of Cities Liability Grant application for $3,000 (for music playground equipment replacement, playground safety inspector certifications, and Samba safety/VR monitoring fees) and a municipal order authorizing the mayor to execute a declaration of trust/participation agreement with the Kentucky League of Cities Insurance Services for the Workers' Compensation Trust.
• A commissioner initially asked to pull a receive-and-file item related to a professional services agreement (municipal order 3304), but after clarification that it was only receiving/filing an already enacted agreement, no separate discussion was needed.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Kim Yates, executive director of Hands of Hope, speaking for herself and community members, said she introduced Artie's Law in September 2025 and had received no response for over a year. She noted Kentucky ranked 47th out of 50 states in the Animal Legal Defense Fund's 2025 assessment and said she personally spent over $65,000 in 2025 on veterinary expenses for animal rescue. She argued animal control lacks staffing, compensation, and resources. She requested the commission formally acknowledge Artie's Law, assign someone to review it, schedule a public discussion within 30 days, and provide a clear timeline. She outlined provisions including breeder licensing, a limit of one litter per household within any 12-month period, ID/residency proof, inspections, veterinary documentation, publicly verifiable licensing, reporting procedures, penalties for abandonment, and repeat-offender review.
• Marshall Davis urged the commission to transition from a gross receipts tax to a net profit tax. He said gross receipts taxes penalize growth and resilience, while a net profit model would align city prosperity with business success and signal Paducah as a fair, modern place to do business. He asked the commission to lead with equity.

Discussion Items

• Mayor Pro Tem Wilson clarified that the boil order was for Paducah, Texas, not Paducah, Kentucky. She thanked animal control for catching stray dogs at Noble Park; the dogs were expected to be available for adoption in about a week. A joint meeting with the county is planned to determine improvements needed for animal control.
• Mayor Pro Tem Wilson also addressed comments made at the McCracken County fiscal court about the convention center showroom. She said the convention center is funded by the transient hotel tax paid by hotel guests and held by the county, not by city or county taxpayers. She said the $7 million cited last night as county funding was actually transient room tax held by the county, and the city paid $150,000 out of its own budget for roof repairs on the city-owned showroom. She said she had not been approached about using the showroom as an open pavilion, and that the city manager had provided tours to organizations interested in renovating it. She raised the question of whether hotel tax funds could be used to renovate or demolish the showroom.
• City Manager Darren Jordan categorically rejected the fiscal court statement that 'the problem is the city manager. He doesn't even want to talk about it,' calling it false. He said he personally facilitated tours of the space, was never invited to join the discussion, and accepted disagreement but not misrepresentation of his conduct.
• A commissioner said he had raised animal control concerns over a year ago and wants more transparency and oversight. He supported enforcing laws against animal abandonment, a public forum for community feedback, and collaboration with the county. The commission discussed the city's $363,000 payment for animal control last fiscal year; the county contribution is based on calls and services, and neither jurisdiction alone could fund animal control at that level.

Municipal Order: City Hall Stabilization Project Contract Modification

• The commission considered and unanimously approved a contract modification with PFGW Architects for $14,920 for historic preservation services related to tax credits for the City Hall Stabilization Project.
• PFGW representatives said the Kentucky Heritage Council indicated no red flags for historic tax credit eligibility, provided compatible materials are used. State legislative changes now allow credits to be transferred to any entity with state tax liability, increase the credit to up to 20% for projects up to $10 million (up from a $400,000 cap), and include soft costs. A $10 million project could receive a $2 million credit; $100 million is in the state budget for the program. The preliminary application is due by April 15, and projects can be phased.
• The motion passed unanimously by roll-call vote.

Key Outcomes

• The consent calendar was approved unanimously.
• The contract modification with PFGW Architects for $14,920 was approved unanimously.
• The city will move forward with pursuing historic tax credits for the City Hall Stabilization Project, with a preliminary application due by April 15.
• City staff and commissioners will continue discussions with the county regarding animal control improvements, with interest in public-facing updates and a possible public forum.
• City Manager Jordan publicly rejected the fiscal court statement and called for direct, good-faith communication on the convention center showroom.