By Casey Northcutt
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkms/local-wkms-1001889.mp3
Murray, KY – The Charter County Government Merger Committee held a public meeting Thursday night at Paducah Tilghman High School to discuss the possible merger of the Paducah city and McCracken County governments. Approximately 80 residents attended. They listened to a presentation and posed questions to several commission members charged with studying the merger's feasibility.
County and city government officials established the Joint Consolidation Study Commission in 2009, and since then, its members have researched merged governments and have drafted a document outlining one for McCracken County and Paducah. During the meeting, commission member Jim Osborne said the merger would make the local government more efficient, but he emphasized that the commission did not intend to "sell" the idea. It simply wanted to inform residents about the proposal.
After Osborne presented the plan, residents voiced concerns over issues such as tax increases, county and city debt consolidation and solid waste disposal. As commissioners answered questions, they stressed one of the merger's advantages that it would form a government composed of district councilmen who live among the people they represent. They said these councilmen would provide residents with a form of government more accountable than the current one.
Officials have yet to decide whether the proposed merger will appear on ballots this November. Similar meetings will also be held Feb. 2 at Heath High School and Feb. 6 at Lone Oak High School in the school cafeteria.