Plans: County unites, city dissolves: Chamber seeks to merge Paducah and McCracken

KRT) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Jul. 24--The Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce is asking for a county-wide referendum on consolidating city and county governments. If the McCracken Fiscal Court, Paducah City Commission and Lone Oak City Commission support the request, a study group would be appointed and it would be 2010 or 2011 before the vote could be held. Judge-Executive Van Newberry said chamber representatives asked to appear before the fiscal court on Aug. 11 to present a chamber task force report resulting from a four-year study of consolidation. A similar presentation is scheduled for the Paducah City Commission the following night. Newberry and county commissioners Jerry Beyer, Zana Renfro and Ronnie Freeman said they support a referendum and giving voters a chance to decide any major issue. However, they said it... [read full story]