McCracken County commissioners respond to sports park groundbreaking

PADUCAH — During Monday’s McCracken County Fiscal Court meeting, commissioners reflected on the progress of the Paducah Sports Park after a groundbreaking ceremony for the project earlier in the day. 

“We’re out of the starting gate,” McCracken County Judge Executive Craig Clymer said. “It’s been several years in the concept and planning.”

Clymer recognized people who played a significant role in the planning process of the sports park, including McCracken County Project Manager Steve Ervin and the project architects.

“It’s been a long time coming … We’ve done the background work. We’ve had outstanding people advising us on it. Steve Ervin, our project manager, has been pushing it all the way,” Clymer said.

He said it will be rewarding to watch the contractors’ progress as the Paducah Sports Park is built over the next 15 months.

“It’s going to be fun to watch how it starts to layout, you know, the concept and the design is all there. It’s one of those things, you know, among many others, that makes the job so rewarding,” Clymer said.

He believes projects that have lasting impacts on the community’s economy and quality of life are a positive aspect of being an elected official.

“I do think that one of the great things of being in public service and being elected is that you can accomplish things that will last far beyond your position, far beyond your life,” Clymer explained.

County Commissioner Richard Abraham also expressed his excitement about the Paducah Sports Park groundbreaking during the meeting.

“It was great. Great day. A lot of positive vibes coming from everybody,” Abraham said. “The energy was all positive.”

Commissioner Eddie Jones said the sports park was something he feels the community is excited for.

“Certainly one of those projects you feel the community is behind, and they want us to move forward with,” Jones said.

Clymer addressed the grandstand portion of the project, which was not included in the final plans or budget. He said he is still looking for a donor to fund the $8 to $9 million renovation.

“I know we voted to continue to try to find the funding, but then there was immediately a push publicly to denigrate the sports park through the grandstand. And so it obviously makes it difficult to raise money when that’s out there,” he said.

During the meeting, the fiscal court approved the first reading of an amendment to the McCracken County Administrative Code ordinance pertaining to sick leave provisions.

The revisions include updating the sick leave policy to allow for partial payout of sick leave and establishing the parameters of the payout.

As explained by McCracken County Deputy Judge Executive Steve Doolittle, once an employee accrues 360 hours of sick leave throughout their employment, they are eligible to be compensated for any additional sick leave not used up to 160 hours.

Doolittle said the ordinance amendment incentivizes county employees to stay employed by the county longer and not use unnecessary sick leave.