Jim Arndt was selected to be Paducah’s new City Manager following a nationwide search to fill the position vacated by Jeff Pederson. Arndt has over a decade of experience in local government as well as a background in law enforcement and the armed services. He’s been on the job for a little over two weeks and hopes to spark growth in Paducah.
One of the first tasks he’s undertaken is learning the names of all of the City of Paducah’s employees, more than 300 in total. “I think it’s very important for the employees to realize that we’re all one team and that we’re here together to work on behalf of the local residents and businesses in Paducah,” Arndt says. At his last job in Effingham, Illinois, he felt it was “just not right” that he didn’t know the names of each of the city’s employees by the time he left the position. When he came to Paducah he wanted to make sure that didn’t happen again.
According to the Paducah Sun, the city reported a $450,000 budget shortfall in this fiscal year, largely due to increased obligations to the pension fund for employees. Arndt says the city has done a good job trying to manage that deficit heading into the next fiscal year. He added that, “we’re going to set up five different sub-committees to begin meeting, hopefully here in August, in preparation for next year’s fiscal year budget.” Arndt says the city is getting to work earlier than usual on the issue to make sure finances are in order.
Paducah, like many cities, faces challenges in gradual loss of population and economic development, but Arndt says he’s aware and cognizant of those facts as he searches for solutions. He adds that moving toward growth is important for the city and its administrators and that the quality of life in Paducah is a major asset in attracting residents and businesses.
In his first year as City Manager, Arndt hopes to build up a sense of team and affect the culture of City Hall, as well as integrating that mindset with the greater community as a whole. “What I like to say, is making sure that people realize that we are Paducah, that we’re all one team,” Arndt says. He adds that, “to measure success is if we’re moving forward, that culture has shifted, and that we’re enjoying what we do, enjoying the services we provide, and making a difference.”