By Chris Taylor
Paducah, KY – The committee looking into merging Paducah and McCracken County outlines how the unified government would operate in its first recently released draft report. The plan calls for a 12-member council, puts the sheriff as chief law enforcement officer, creates tax districts based on the level of municipal services and allows volunteer fire departments to continue to operate outside the current city limits. Judge-Executive Van Newberry tells the Paducah Sun the draft is the first of many before the 21-member panel finishes its study next year.