City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening everyone. I'd like to welcome everyone to the March 17, 2026 city council meeting and uh call it order and I'll ask on board five to give the invocation. Miss Amy,

please pray with me. Our heavenly father, we are so grateful for this day. We're thankful for the opportunity that we have to gather this evening for this meeting. We're thankful for the city of Hopkinsville. We're so thankful for all the residents and for our emergency personnel, for our military, and all those that work so hard to keep us safe. We ask at this time to please bless us with wisdom. Bless us that we will feel thy spirit and that we will have a productive meeting this night. And we say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Amen. Everyone, please stand if you can for the pledgece to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank [clears throat] you. I will call the clerk to call the role. Council member [clears throat] Smith, present. Council member Stalins. Council member Marsh here. Council member Crabtree here. Council member Craig here. Council member Martin. Council member Sumner here. Council member Bogard present. Council member Valz here. Council member Bell here. Council member

here. [clears throat] We do have a quorum. All right. Item five is awards and recognitions. And we don't have any of them this evening. So we'll move into item six, public comments. Please come and state your name. And uh we have 5 minutes on the timer.

Hello, my name is Christina Sephus and I'm an alternative sentencing worker with the public defenders office. I'm the only social worker that's working with the public defenders here in Hopkinsville. My job is to place clients into substance abuse treatment and sub living homes, dual diagnosis facility, as well as co-occurring disorder facilities. What I'm asking the city council to do is to set a opioid advisory committee for the funds that's been sent to the city of Hawkinsville. Um, according to public records, there was a payment um at about 231,000 that at the end of December of 2022 and as of the year 2024 that was over 475,000. What I would like for is members of the community such as these facilities that's qualified to take on this opioid crisis to be able to receive some of those fundings. I cannot refer clients from jail or from the communities to these facilities if they don't have the funding that they need to be able to fight this crisis. Um, I would like to tell a story about a 10-year-old kid that [clears throat] I met 13 years ago. When I first met him, he was using tobacco. That was all that he was using. I worked with him in the court designated worker program and I helped him dealt with the court system and case manage him. By the time he was 13 years old, I counled him at the day treatment center. By then he was huffing paint as well as taking pills. Today he was in revocation court at the age of 23 years old and according to his testimony to me

and he still called me Mrs. Secrets from years ago. He has had over 13 overdoses with Naran that was administered to him. He has a very very bad problem with opioid that has spanned over a decade and he's still dealing with it. It is very important to be able to catch that at a young age to deal with it now as an adult to funds these facility so that he himself won't fall in the same lines as his mother. His mother died of an overdose. She was found with a needle in her arm when he was maybe eight or nine. So he was already predisposed to drugs. So that's just his story. The position that I'm in now, I'm operating at over 334%. That means I'm doing a job of over four close to four people in my position. I'm seeing thousands of people at the jail. five or six on a daily basis and they're reporting to me that heron fentanyl is the new heron and they're taking it and they're overdosing on it and their family members are having to narcan them. They will come back from that and they would take it again. We have to implement something in this city that's going to combat this crisis. If not, it's going to get worse. So, I'm asking that a interested party such as someone that was in recovery that's in recovery now that battled that addiction set on their board. I'm asking that someone from the court system set on their board. We are one of the only counties that have all four specialty courts. We have veteran courts for our

veterans. We have drug court for the clients that's dealing with drug. And we have mental health court. And we also have a juvenile drug court that's being funded largely through donations. Donations from the public. So these funds can go in so many different directions to help someone like he's still in the courtroom. I just saw him today. He's up for revocation. And when he talks to his judge, he's telling the judge, I have a problem. And he's just one of many. So that's what I'm asking. We know that the funds is here. We know that [clears throat] it has been here since the year of 2022. We're asking that advisory committee be formed, a member of the mental health system sat on that board, a minimum of the court system sat on that board, and I personally would like to sit on the board. In Hopkins County, their ASW is sitting on the board. These funds are being used in other county. Boone County has implemented a social work program where they have a social worker with their police department that's responding to mental health calls as well as substance abuse calls.

Thank you, ma'am. Floor is open. [snorts] My name is Joanna Mack and I'm the executive director of Grace and Mercy. I am here tonight to ask the city council to form that advisory committee regarding the opioid settlement funds. 90% of my residents have abused opiates. Grace and Mercy is a communityf funded program assisting with a community problem. We facilitate a long-term program which is one year to two years with an additional one year after care. We have created transitional housing for our graduates as we have experienced the difficulty in finding safe and available housing. We do not accept insurance as we do not want to alter our programming. We do provide comprehensive wraparound services to our residents in recovery including housing, transportation, job placement and training and child care when necessary. [clears throat] We have a father of a prior resident who left the program against our advice and overdosed the next night on fentanyl. He has created a scholarship fund to help ladies enter Grace and Mercy who have no source of funding. We have experienced that with most of our residents. It takes at least 7 to n months for ill effects of substance use in their cognitive understanding and

processing to respond appropriately to functional reasoning ability. Grace and Mercy sustains the physical and mental health of each resident when coming off opiates. We need that funding. We need to help our community and Grace and Mercy is here to help our community. Thank you.

Um my name's Katie. Um, so I'm a product of Grace and Mercy. Um, I began using drugs at the age of 17. I'm 32 now. And it took 13 years for me to um, get help. Um, that took me my last time overdosing on opiates in order to go to jail and meet Miss Joanna and get treatment. Um, I was in the program for 17 and a half months, almost 18 months. um every bit of it was very important for me to learn how to go back into the world and survive, you know, be better and not rely on a substance in order to go throughout my daily life. And um right now I live at um on West 15th Street, the house directly behind Grace and Mercy. It's one of the uh trans transitional apartments that we have. Um, I live in a two-bedroom with my son who um I actually lost whenever I overdosed and went to jail and and got help. And that was one part of me getting help was losing my son at the time, but now I have him back. I have that home that I'm able to have him in with me and um I actually now work at the house as a supervisor and get to work with women in recovery as well. and

hi, I'm Stephanie Monure. I am now a graduate of Grace and Mercy. Um, I went into addiction when I was 12. I was in it for 32 years, in and out of rehab since I was 27. I have been to probably 10 to 15 other rehabs. and grace and mercy changed my life. Um I now I have a job that I've had for nine months. Uh I I've been there for 13 months. Um I have reconnected with my kids. Uh we take classes that I've been I've been able to learn RBT and how to live sober for the first time in 32 years. Um, I'm getting to watch my daughter and help her come up out of addiction because of grace and mercy and having the relationship with the Lord that I I didn't know nothing about that when I went in there 13 months ago. I never would have thought I would be where I'm at. And if it wasn't for grace and mercy, I would probably be six feet under right now. Uh, it's a life-changing place. Um, I am married and I am fixing to transition out of the home now and get to go back home. So, but they just teach they've taught me how to live life on life's terms and do it the right way and not have to run to a drug or alcohol to fix things think that that's how it's going to fix things because it does it. You know what I mean? So, yeah.

[clears throat]

Hello, my name is Ashley Grill. I'm the program director of Redeemed and Restored. We are a um ASAM 3.5 and 3.1 men's facility that's faith-based here in town. We serve annually anywhere from 145 to 200 men from both Christian and Trig County along with various counties within Kentucky. We offer a structured program with we have six um licensed therapists on our staff. Our program currently is 45 to 60 days. Um I have been a therapist for over 11 years. And the amount of individuals with opioid related disorders that I have treated is too many to count. Right? And I think that there's a misunderstanding or a misconception that that these things are going away, that opiates are are going away because we have things like Casper and we have these uh new policies and procedures in place. However, they're not. They're just evolving. We have man-made fentanyl. Um we have that we are seeing increasingly um high numbers of our residents coming in with those. So, it's still very much a problem. also the lasting effects of opiate use disorders on people's mental healths. We're still seeing. I want to tell you what these funds could do for our community and for our treatment program. Number one, for our community, we have a lot of really great resources that are represented in this room, not just my resource, right? Um, and you haven't heard from all of them yet, but we have a number of great resources, but we're still lacking. We have a lack of resources in outpatient treatment. Um, so the access right now for individuals that are coming out of treatment, um, they're they're maintaining sobriety for about 30 days at six at a 60% rate, but that's because there's not any treatment after they leave here, right? And without funding for my program and other programs, we can't expand those wraparound and outpatient services. So with the expansion of this, people would have the ability to get treatment for 90

days, for six months. This is going to connect families. This is going to bring employees to your community, to our community. [snorts] Um, this is going to bring fathers and mothers home. My son's father has been in opiate addiction for 15 years. He hasn't seen him in seven. It would it could this money and these resources could bring my son's father home. Okay. Um, also increasing the the rate of of successful recovery and reducing recidivism rates. If we have more resources, we can do that, right? Redeemed and resto redeemed and restored in particular with this funding, we could expand our services to have outpatient services, right? So our guys could be able to stay with us and we could have transitional housing. So our guys could stay with us for up to six months, you know, up to a year and we could provide those outpatient services. Right now, we're our guys when they leave here, they're waiting anywhere from 30 to 60 days to get an outpatient therapist appointment depending on where they're going. And so, these funds are needed not just for me and my family and not just for me and my facility, but for everybody else that's represented here. So, I would ask that you consider this. Thank you.

Good afternoon. My name is Jeff Stafford. I'm the outreach coordinator for Redeemed and Restored here in Hopkinsville. Today I stand here in front of you, a clean and sober man, a godly man. But that wasn't what my life was before. I lived in addiction for 40ome years. Uh when I was in addiction, back when I was doing the things I done, there was nothing like this. No funds to help someone like me. I couldn't go to rehab because I didn't have insurance or anybody to pay the my way. Uh September the 5th, 2020, I got down on my knees and I surrendered my life to Christ. I overdosed twice. Once on fentanyl, once on methodon Xanax by the grace of God, I didn't die. He had other plans for me. So, I went to rehab in a place called Teen Challenge in Dixon, Kentucky. And they had funds there, federal funds, state funds. They paid my way through Teen Challenge, and helped me learn how to live a different life after I accepted Christ because I didn't know anything but sticking a needle in my arm or swallowing pills or drinking from the courtyard. So these funds, hey, I don't want any I don't want these people to go through what I went through those if we can if we can release these funds to this committee and let it help save somebody's life. Let's do it. Let's make this happen. Let's do it as a as a group, as a as a city, as a community, all these people sitting in this room and from different rehabs. We're all in this together.

We're not we're not competing against each other. We're trying to help save lives. Thank you.

Uh give my thoughts to Hogenville and United States. Drugs is a big problem not just for Kentucky for the whole United States. But uh we need upgrade on drugs, upgrade in nursing homes, upgrade in protection of people fighting against drugs and stuff like that. So it's not nothing new to me coming out of Detroit and East Coast area, but I thank God he delivered me. I still use a little bit but called crack, but they need to reduce crack charges for crack dealers, which you call a control system really. and my cousin got busted in Austin P for control of sustain you think you getting high but you just wasting your money but drugs is a big problem nursing home problem people getting under staff paid for working around filth and dirt and stuff like that so I judge uh agree with the jud that he's trying to upgrade this city he bringing new ideas. Ideas will change people and communities and towns, [clears throat] country or city or United States. I'm with Donald Trump. If they don't like being here, then go to ho, you know. But I like his upgrade about the United States fighting against something to put us first. Have a good night.

Good evening. My name is Timmy Hendricks. Um I'm with Hope City Church here in Hopkinsville. Uh me and my wife, we kind of were involved in the youth ministry there. I'm here as a person of recovery myself. Just celebrated nine years clean three days ago. Um that come on the heels of my children being investigated by the Christian County Sheriff's Department for the second time in their life when they was 11 and 9 years old. The sobering thought that come to my mind that night is when the officer come in to the to my house and asked me if I knew what today was. I responded with a no. And he reminded me that that day on March 14th, he said that that little girl outside told me that today is her birthday. He said, "Good job, Dad. Why don't you get it together?" And that officer left my house. At that moment, I called my children into the room. I confessed to a 15-year opioid addiction. And I promised them that the man that they seen before them that day, they would never see again. When they exited the room that night, I got on my knees and I cried out to God. I said, "If you are truly real, if you are the God that my parents have raised me to be, do something different within my life." And at that moment, I've been sober ever since. Not another mind altering substance has entered my body since that day. I'm a person I advocate for recovery. our community, this community of Hopkinsville needs these resources. I then went on to respond to a call that God placed upon my life to carry the gospel to people just like me. I didn't have the resources. I didn't know rehab. I didn't know treatment was an option. I didn't know these things. I was uneducated on these things. I found my way to working at the Penny Roll Center at Genesis. They give me a job, which was a a God thing. I worked there for three years. I then transitioned to another place of business called Redeemed and Restored, another local uh business that helps people fight the addiction within our community. I worked there for three years and I transitioned on to another

place where I currently am now as a community liaison. My wife to the one who God created just for me is a graduate of Grace and Mercy. My life has been touched by all entities in the Christian County area. So, what I'm asking is that you please consider forming this committee to release the funds to help the people of this community. I'm on the streets day in and day out in Christian County and I can tell you this, a lot of good work is being done, but there is a great work that is needed and we need to make a difference in our community. Thank you for your time.

That was hard to follow. My name is Meredith Eel and uh I am a uh residential associate uh manager at Genesis West. And so I'm here to represent for Genesis. Um I don't have a speech lined out, but I can tell you what our services do. If it wasn't for I've got almost 10 years clean and if it wasn't for places like Genesis uh like like the other places that's been uh represented already here before me, uh I wouldn't be where I'm at today. I now have the love and respect of my family. I have um I have the the love and respect of my friends. I have a six-year-old little boy that's never seen me high. And it was places like started. So, we're a 28 day facility. We uh we uh [clears throat] 28 days facility. We It's just It's 3.5 level of care. We're dual diagnosed. We do not um uh Okay, let me take a breath. [laughter] Normally I'm a good talker. Um we are dual diagnosed facility. We do not do um the suboxin at our clinic. Uh we do we do do the vivitrol shot. We do do um the uh sublicate shot but we don't do the actual uh uh suboxin or methadone at our clinic. The recovery starts with changing your life. And that's what the starting point is. What we want to do is give the the pe the people that come through our program the opportunity to clear their mind and want recovery. So, uh in order to want recovery, you have to have a clear mental state of mind to go after to learn how to deal live differently to get job resources. Uh transportation is a huge problem in our community as far as getting back and forth to meetings, getting back and forth to the things that are going to help change your life. um uh you know these these funds can help in so many different aspects and that's

what I'm asking is that with the funds be released so we can you know help help people not make it a lot of the people that we have working for us are people in recovery like myself you know the most people the most powerful thing is to have a peer that's went through the things that you have been through yourself and they will take it better they will listen to you because they you can give them a level of understanding that they couldn't understand like I've been through that you know so let's not do it again this is what the end result is you know so we these things are all these are all needed in our community thank you good evening everyone I'm Ray Lantre I am the residential associate manager at Genesis East the men's facility mayor pretty much told you guys about what our facilities do. So, I'll just tell you a little bit of story about me. Uh that there is hope after after addiction, that there is hope after incarceration. I am a three-time convicted felon over a period of three different decades, and now I am the residential associate manager at a drug treatment center. Uh, I've had 32 years worth of sentences and it all stems from my addiction and using and selling drugs to pay for my addiction. In 2002, I had a horrific motorcycle accident. I lost my right leg above the knee and I was trying to get disability and the lawyer that I had had me go to a doctor and get put on opiates and not long after that I got addicted to the opiates. Uh, and then you get to the point to where the doctor cuts you off from the opiates and then you start buying them on the street. And when you're buying them on the street, you got to do what you can to make the money to be able to buy the drugs you want. And that has led me to multiple multiple drug charges. [clears throat] I started working at Genesis in 2019. That was the

first job I had since 2013 because I had a mindset of I've got one leg. I can't work. They won't give me disability. So all I can do is eat my pills and sell pills. Um but then somebody planted the seed in my head that I could work in recovery. I had no idea that was even possible for somebody like me. And that's a seed I get to plant now. You know, when guys go through my program, I'm making my promise that if they do two things in a year, they can come back and work for me. If they stay sober for a year and continue to work on themselves, they can come back and work. And I've got six guys that work at Genesis who have come through the program since I've worked there. And that gives me hope. So these funds, if you make an advisory committee, these funds would help continue what we've been doing and take it to another level. Thank you guys. Um, good evening. Good evening. My name is Francis Dumbar and um, I have three things I want to talk to you about briefly, but they're all of equal concern to me. I've been in a resident of Hopkinsville, Kentucky all of my life and um I am a registered nurse. I've been nursing for over 40some years. I've been very active in this community in AAACP and through other [clears throat] programs. I was blessed to be able to send money to uh the Haitians when they were going through things and in Florida and different areas. um it was calling help from Hopkinsville and uh that we were able to

send money to help um take care of them in their need of disasters that have helped happen um in uh their area. I've been blessed by the city to receive um human relations award and I try to be very active with the people in this community. But there are some things that are really concerning me that I want you all to take in consideration. I'm going try not to come back every week until you do that. But nevertheless, these are some things that are concerning me. I am a home owner as well as many people are in here. I'm concerned about the way that our city looks when you're just driving through neighborhoods and going through different places. In some areas, it it it is just filthy. And I know some of you say, um, no, it's not. But it's fine if you say that if you don't live in that. But in some places, um, socioeconomic reasons, some it's just the way they were raised. My mom not only swept our street. She swept the yard and the sidewalk and picked up the trash that everybody threw out the car. And so that was just the way my generation was raised. You didn't walk through people yards and you didn't do things that were disrespectful. Um, I originally lived on the west side for over 40some years. I cannot believe how it looks now. But that comes from when you um stop caring and when you don't have any interest in the in the neighborhood. And don't fool yourself to think that it can't happen in your neighborhood. Oh yes, it can. So the three things I want to talk to uh you all about that I would like to see if I can get some information. I've also served on a board here when we were trying to decide about the voting and um um under um Mayor Lynch. So, these are the three things I want to talk to you briefly about and I'm going to sit down. I want to know is there an ordinance

about our trash containers being picked up? As simple as that may be said. Um, is there an ordinance about when they are to be put out? I just don't think you should put a trash can out on Sunday night and your trash is not going to be picked up to Thursday and then you don't take it back in till the next Thursday, if you take it in at all. And so many people have come to me wanting to know why the trash is not being picked up and then it's blowing all up and down the neighborhood. Am I wrong? Would anybody be honest and tell me am I wrong? And it it it doesn't mean that person left it out there. But if a person don't care about their neighbors, then they won't care that it blew down the street. So I would like to see if somebody could tell me, is there an ordinance? If you all would look it up for me and let me know. Um, is there an ordinance about how early are the Herby Kirby supposed to be put out? Is it 24 hours? Is it 48 hours? What is that situation? I also want to know are there any citations? Because I hate to say it, sometimes you got to hit people in their pockets. And uh to see what does it take for people to go and pick it up. We put ours out on Tuesday night because it will be picked up Wednesday. And by Wednesday afternoon, it's going back in our backyard. Not just because I'm concerned about the way my house look and the neighborhood I live in which is a very neat neighborhood but I don't want anybody to have to see it and I love Hopkinsville and so that's one of my concern if somebody could find out how that works for me and then maybe we could sense messages or something through the utilities that uh if that is a law to remind them what we're going to do and to try to curve people mind if you don't want to do it because that's your home let's do it because it's the city of Hopkinsville. field. My other concern is um I want to know is there a age limit for uh the kids to be on the um

motorcycles or the motorbikes or whatever and the adults that's riding through the neighborhood sometimes two and three hours at a time not caring if the people um uh are uh I'm a I'm a old hospice nurse on my street not long ago people had to call and call there were two hospice patients there one woman is 92 too. And I know from 2 to about 5:30 it went around and around. I don't know where the parents are. I don't know where this generation um the custody or the parents that will not say you can't do it. But I called and to ask them at the police station. Couldn't get an answer then. But I would like to know how does that work? Not just to stop people because of how they look or the color of their skin or you think they got some weed on them or something. I want you to be concerned because that's just not what we need to do. And the parents take them to a concrete area or whatever we have designated in this town and let them do that before somebody comes up killed because they don't have license. So they don't honor the rules of the road because they don't know the rules of the road. So if they decide to come off the stop sign and swing a left and they get hit, they don't know that they were supposed to pause, nor do they care. And then the last thing I'm going to talk about is uh this is going to sound ridiculous to some of you all, but it's very serious to me. I am concerned. Is there an ordinance or a law or some kind of mandate on um we live in in Kentucky. We know there are horses. We know that um there are animals and stuff. That's how we survive. But I would like to know what is the law or the mandate that tells us

Time's up, ma'am. Okay. Somebody found out why they're pooping on the ground and a bag is not on them and I want to know that please. And I'll be back next week if my time. Thank you, ma'am. [clears throat]

Hello, I'm Rose Jackson. Um, I just have one question. storm season is up on us and I know that there's a lot of issues with the drainage and I know that um you guys have well the city and even the state have been addressing some of the the drainage issues. I have questions in regards to the drainage issues over on Mechanic Street. Now, I do know that they that there was some drain, some pipe laid about 470 feet from one one port 107 Mechanic to Hay Street. That cleared up some of that when it when it rains, but what about the other two ends of Mechanic Street? The the other end 107 is in the middle. And I know that there was conversation in regards to what's being called fake drains back in July of last year according to the minutes that I was able to pull up. I know that it's been addressed over over in um Evergreen Apartments. So glad that that's not flooding like it was over there and it's not as bad as it as it had been over in Boxwood. I know that it's going to take a lot of money because those drains were put in well before anybody on this board. um made it to this board. But it is a big issue with this with storm season coming. I don't live in Ward one, but I also have a concern about the flooding down by whistle stop where to the point to where you have to block the road off if it rains so much that you can't go over the railroad track. I don't know what what the funding is or who who all we need to get on board. I know that there's the storm water I'm probably saying the board wrong, but the storm water board thing. They're working on some things. I've talked to a couple of people on that board and they admitted that they don't know where all of the fake drains as as they've been deemed and I asked what is a fake drain. It's just a drain that's capped off on the end to where the water doesn't go

anywhere. So that's why it's been dubbed a fake drain. As a citizen of this of this community, a lot of great work has been done by um in regards to the drainage and the flooding, but there's still some concerns. And another thing, my next question is, why isn't anybody else talking about it? I mean, I understand that if it's not your ward, a lot of people have the mindset, not my ward, not my problem. But truly, it is your it's all of our problems because it's just not happening on one side of town. Donna Drive area has had to has people have had their homes bought because of the drainage issue. So, it's not just a one side of town issue. It's a all over Christian County issue. And with storm season up on us, how many of us got lifeboats to get out there and get some people out if 4 ines of rain, like I think it was like 2024, maybe 20, 23, when that 4 inches of rain came down so quickly that even the drainage system couldn't with withhold all of the water. We know that the storms in this area are unpredictable. So, what can we do in regards to getting the drains fixed? If you got fake drains in your ward, I'm going use air quotes, you need to be pushing. I don't care if people aren't listening or if you just want to go with the flow, that's your ward. If you're not representing your ward and you're not fighting for your ward, not just your ward, but for your city. What are we doing? Anyone else like to speak? Okay. Mayor's comments. Item seven. Uh had a good a breakfast this morning with Christian County government in the chamber this morning on that. Um we on the third last first of this month we

were in Fort Campbell. Jason Bell run the council meeting for us. Thank you, sir. Appreciate it. Um, downtown entertainment district had a great weekend with the warm weather. A lot of people were out. A lot of young people were out running around looking for the shamrocks and fourleaf clovers downtown. We appreciate that. Uh, we had a town hall meeting last night on budgets. We had a few show up for that. We appreciate y'all showing up for that. And the deadline for Hobtown helps for the 501c3s will be uh 5:31 of 26. So if you're a 501c3 and would like to get your name in, please go online or get a hold of Amanda or Miss Clayton and they'll get you hooked up with the information you need on that. Okay. All righty. Uh item eight is reports from officers and committees and guest speakers. monthly financial report is Melissa Clayton.

Good evening. It's my pleasure to bring you guys the monthly financial report uh for February. So, we'll start this month's uh financial report with the interfund transfers. Uh we had three interfund transfers in the month of February. Um and you can see them there on the screen. So, total inner fund transfers for February was $10,000, making our year-to- date interfund transfers 60,416. Um, giving us a remaining balance in the inner fund of 39,585. Our payroll tax revenue for the month of February, um, so far year to date, we have collected 14,896,953. Um that is a decrease from last year's equivalent payroll of 3.7. So not quite as bad as January because it was four 4.4 I think. But um February we're still showing less revenue this year than we had last year. Our property tax revenue um is showing an increase. Uh year-to- date collections 5,609520 which is an increase of right around $100,000 for the year. insurance premium tax um year-to- date collected 5,454854 which is lower than last year's by 2.7%. Our business license revenue is also down. Um we've collected year-to date 1,42,542. So I'm going to keep going. Um, so our general fund balance, um, through February, we started the year with $317,94 in incumbrances. Um, we've collected year-to- date revenue $36,7109

710,931 and we have spent 36,304211, giving us positive revenue over expenses of 724624. Um when we compare that to where we were this time last year, last year we were $1.8 million um revenue over expenses. Right now we're only running $400,000 um revenue over expenses. So our revenue over expenses is down for the year. Um I have projected out the last four months and I am projecting a deficit this year by the end of the year. So I don't think we're going to be right at it depending on how business license come in in April. So that's the only if factor right now. Our municipal road aid, we started the year with 353,535 in incumbrances. We have collected 937,632 and we have spent $1.3 million still leaving us with more expenses than revenue in the MRA fund of 98,9.99. Our capital fund we started the year with 967863 in encumbrances we have collected 2,ion30,21 and we have spent 2,989871. So we are showing positive in the capital fund. We will be making that third quarter transfer at the end of March here before um we go into April. As far as our expenses by department um the administration department is at 65.4, four. The tax department is at 59.9. Information technology is at 68.9. The legislative department's at 64.1. Through eight months, we should be right at 67%. So, um, each of those are doing pretty good. Now, [clears throat] in our public safety realm, the police department is at 65.5, ECC is at 66.9,

the fire department is at 66.4, EMS is at 68.7, and fire prevention is at 59.7%. in public works. Uh public works admin is at 65.3. City maintenance is at 60.4. Fort Campbell contracts is at 29.8. The service center is at 63.4. Parks and wreck is at 60.5. The sports is at 58.4% and the aquatic center is at 66.2%. Overall general fund um is at 62.3% through eight months. Municipal road aid we have spent 82.7% of what was budgeted and the capital fund we have spent 65% of what is budgeted. our cash fund balance. We started the year with 18,269128 plus our year-to-ate receipts minus our year-to- date expenses gives us our cash fund balance at the end of February of 18,675847. Um, comparing that with our cash fund balance of January at 18,712772, we are showing about $100,000 loss for the month of February. So, our cash fund balance minus our two reserve accounts give us our unassigned cash fund balance of 17,312636 and that is at 36.9% of our adjusted operating budget. So when we compare that with where we were this time last year, um we have a smaller percentage of our unassigned um cash fund. And you can see that we do have less cash available this time uh February than we had this time last year and our new graph that we've created. Um I did add the percentages for the

current year. Um when I tried to add all of them, it was just numbers all over the place. So, I just put the current year and then the target 25% and I hope um council member Sumar that this meets your approval with the percentages on there. Um but you can see where our cash fund balance we're about normal I would say um where our cash fund generally is for February. Our last slide is our KC investment fund. Uh we started the year with 1.2 281,218,112. We've got interest of $19,728. And then we have an unrealized gain of 114,000. If we' have sold on February 28th, uh we would have collected 1.31,352,25. I'm sorry, y'all. That kind of concludes my financial report. I'd be happy to answer any questions you guys might have.

Any questions for Miss Clayton? [clears throat] Thank you. Thank you. All righty. We're up to uh item B, Councilman vacancy process. I will call on city attorney Doug Willing to talk on that. If

you can look on page 23 of your packet, uh council member Meek has resigned as you know, effective the 15th of this month. Legally, that becomes effective though tonight. the first council meeting after the stated date of the resignation. Pursuant to Kentucky [clears throat] law, you have 30 days to fill this vacancy. If you do not fill the vacancy within 30 days, the governor will fill the vacancy. So, in 2008, we established a procedure uh by resolution 02 2008 [clears throat] and um the clerk has followed that procedure and getting the notice out. So, if you'll look on page 22, um on March 17th, today the notice was sent to the media. Um on March 27th, the applications for any candidates for that position will be received uh on March 30th. Those will be emailed to you and then this will be placed on the agenda on April the 7th and we will follow the resolution at that time. Uh the applicants will line up and will be given 10 minutes uh to introduce themselves and answer questions. You can extend that time if you if you wish by majority vote, but if not, it'll be 10 minutes. We've got the clock. And then after that time, uh you'll be called to vote on one of the candidates and that candidate will be sworn in immediately and we'll go ahead and uh take the seat. Um so that's the process. Uh the process can always be tweaked but it's a process that has been followed every time we've had a vacancy since 2008. So u April 7th will be the date that the uh vacancy will be filled.

Okay. Thank you sir. Any questions for Doug on that before we move on? Okay. All righty. Um approval of minutes. Uh item nine. So moved. Got a motion. Second by Britney. [clears throat] Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I.

Any oppose? Likewise. All righty. Item 10, ordinances. Ordinances 06-2026 alley closures between West Second and West 7th Street on first reading. But Tom, do you need to speak on this any at all before we do this? Would y'all like to hear about this council before we do it?

Yeah. Tom, if you'd like to speak about it right quick. This item comes to you with a unanimously favorable recommendation from the CDS board. This is probably one of the more simpler applications that we've had recently. Uh as you know, Second Baptist over the years has acquired several parcels in between O'Neal, McFerson, West 7th, all the way back to Second Street. uh they're in the process of doing a building project and as part of that has had the property surveyed. In the course of surveying the property, they discovered there were seven unclosed, unnamed alleys running through their property. All these alleys have for years been incorporated into Second Baptist's parking lot. They're not maintained by the city. They're essentially parking lot for Second Baptist. Second Baptist owns all of the properties on both sides of six of the alleys. There is one alley where we do have an adjoiner which has signed a consent and waiver of damages consenting to the closure. Uh again comes to you with a favorable recommendation and again these alleys are not publicly maintained and have been incorporated into the parking lot for Second Baptist for years. Be happy to answer any questions. I believe there is a plat of the alleys which was included in your packet material so you can see where those are located.

All right. Any questions for Tom? Okay.

An ordinance closing seven unnamed alleys between West 2nd Street and West 7th Street in the city of Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Summary. Now therefore bid ordained by the city council of the city of Hopkinsville, Kentucky as follows. Section one. Pursuant to KRS 82.405, 405. This section identifies the property owners abuing the portions of the alleys to be closed to Second Baptist Church in Franchester, Jordan. It further acknowledges the abuing property owners were given written notice of the proposed closings and the property owners gave written notorized consent to the alley closings. Copies of the consents are attached to the full text of the ordinances exhibit A and incorporated therein by reference. Section two. This section states the unnamed alleys consisting of approximately 14,529 square feet located between West 2nd Street and West 7th Street are hereby closed forever as public ways. A copy of exhibit B, more particularly describing the alleys to be closed, is attached here, too. This section further lists restrictions and/or conditions under which the alleys are to be closed. The full text of this ordinance is on file in the office of the undersigned city clerk of the city of Hopkinsville at 7:15 South Virginia Street, Hopkinsville, Kentucky, where is available for public inspection between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Motion motion second by Sumner. Any discussion? Okay, seeing none, I'll call the clerk to call the role. Council member Marsh, yes. Council member Crabtree, yes. Council member Craig, yes. Council member Sar, yes. Council member Bogard, yes. Council member Veles, yes. Council member Bell, yes. Council member DR, yes. Council member Smith, yes. Passes.

All righty. Ordinance 07-2026 FY2526. Operational budget. First reading. Amending the city of Hopkinsville, Kentucky annual [clears throat] budget for fiscal year July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 by estimating revenues and resources and appropriating funds for the operation of city government. Summary. Now therefore reveed ordained by the city council of the city of Hopkinsville, Kentucky as follows. Section one. By summary, section one of ordinance 01 2026 amending the annual budget for fiscal year July [clears throat] 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2026 is hereby amended as follows. Revenues general fund 57,53,183 municipal road aid fund 1,326,57 prior year 1,20,394 prior year revenue building maintenance reserve 38,500 total revenues 59,438,584 expenses general fund 58,112,77 municipal Road aid fund 1,326,57. Total expenses 59,438,584. Surplus zero. Section two. The full text of this ordinance is on file in the office of the undersigned city clerk of the city of Hopkinsville at 517 South Virginia Street, Hopkinsville, Kentucky, where is available for p public inspection between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

All right. Need a motion? Second. Motion by Clayton. Senator Bron. Any discussion? None. Call the clerk. Call the role. Council member Marsh. Yes. Council member Crantry. [clears throat] Yes. Council member Craig. Yes. Council member Sner. Yes. Council member Bogard. Yes. Council member Villas. Yes. [clears throat] Council member Bale. Yes. Council member D. Yes. Council member Smith. Yes. Motion passes. All righty. Item 11, municipal orders. Municipal order 16-2026, property maintenance code assistance ain't married fund.

A municipal order rescending the establishment of a special rehabilitation fund created from fines collected for property maintenance code violations. Whereas municipal order 57206 established a special rehabilitation fund created from fines collected from property maintenance code violations to assist individuals not financially capable of resolving and/or correcting violations for which they have been charged. And whereas the city of Hopkinsville believes that the fund has served the purpose intended and is no longer of use. Now therefore be it ordered that municipal orders 57206 and 072024 are hereby rescended. Okay. Motion. Second.

Motion by Amy, second by Don. Any discussion? Oh, no. You're No problem. Thank you. The 193,000 correct that we're merging this into the legacy. Yeah. So, in 2023, um, ordinance 242023 was passed, which no longer required the finance department to move the money into the Aunt Mary fund. And so, um, this is just rescending what that fund was to be used for since we're not putting money into it anymore. And we're going to put that into the legacy. Yes. Yes, sir.

All right. There's the discussion I want to have. I'm great with doing that. Not a problem. But I'm going continue to echo having programs that are not equal to all of our citizens. And the legacy program is one of those examples. I do not think we should have boundaries based on geographic area. Mr. Britain, we've talked about this before. Um, and I'll get to a good point you had for why it is that way. Um, I think it's it it's kind of unfair to have someone on one side of the road that can qualify for things to have their home or whatever fixed up and someone literally across the street in the same financial situation cannot. That's not equality at all. Um, and if every taxpaying citizen is is paying those taxes, everyone should have the ability to have that opportunity. Now, Mr. Britain pointed out a good thing, a good point. He said, you know, when this program was originally around and it's been around since 2005, maybe that the idea was is that if you had it in a smaller area, you would have a larger impact in one specific area. I don't see that when I look at a block by a block by block. I can't see that. I can't see that we have took a whole neighborhood section and said from this side of we were talking about McFersonson a minute ago or something all the way to the other end where that's been utilized and now we see a great look. I haven't seen that with those dollars for the rez but what I have seen is someone literally across the street that can't use the money who is in the same financial situation. So the impact having a greater impact in in a particular area although I do agree it could I disagree that I've seen it and if I have maybe once and a lot of those monies like on Campbell Street came from other places uh to to fix up that neighborhood. I think it should be available to all of

our citizens whether it's based off of financial uh economic hardship or what it shouldn't be based on geographic boundaries. So, I'm going to continue to echo that. I'm going to ask that we and and Doug, maybe this question for you. Put it on a business list or something because I think it's a discussion we need to have. Um because the way it is now, it's just it's unfair. Okay. So, you're wanting this put on the business list. Correct. I think [cough] that's the way to [clears throat] go about it, sir. I believe it's the only way to go about it. Question and that way we can have a discussion. It gives all the council members time to either agree or disagree. Gives them time together their thoughts. get with Chairman Martin and see when we can get it on the business listing. Okay, be good. Thank you, sir.

All right. Now, we're back to the motion that we have right now. Any more discussion? Britney, did you have something to say?

Okay. Yes, we are talking about that in the legacy meetings. We would have had one tonight, but Miss Bas and a couple others weren't going to be there this night. And uh we will we have another one scheduled in April. Can I just say one thing? Yes, ma'am.

And and I actually totally see where you're coming from when we start talking about being fair across the whole city. Um but I do want to mention one thing and that's money. Um you know, sitting on this Legacy Hopkinsville committee, we already don't have enough money for the programs that exist as they are. So if we were to open this citywide, I mean, literally, I I don't think it's sustainable. And so when we look at a designated area, it's easier to budget financially for those programs. I mean, I'm just trying to give you some perspective. So

I appreciate I guess my question would be name that neighborhood that has had such an impact on it from the dollars in this program as a as a oneb block type of example. Well, it's it's has houses here and here. It's sporadic.

So I agree. I agree. So that takes away the in my opinion, it takes away the perspective of this is designed and be impactful in an area because it's not really happening. So then I have to come back and go, well, why does the the lady or gentleman across the street from the person who was allowed to have it who may [clears throat] have the exact same home, may have the exact same issues, may be in the exact same financial burden. I can get it, but this person cannot because we created a geographical boundary instead of a financial economic boundary. That that's my whole thing about it. You're right. would it could we use more dollars? But the program the way it is now is you have this many dollars for this many potential people or projects and when it's done it's done for the year. So that doesn't change. You have this many dollars you have more people that could potentially get it but when it's done it's done for the year. That that doesn't change. If we run out of money now we run out of money.

That's not entirely true. I mean because we're we're talking about a lot of different programs and some of these are incentives for for builders and that kind of thing. And so we're not going to turn anybody down. So, and we've told we have told CDS that that if there's if there's a need, we want to make sure that that need is met. So, so I mean we're not just cutting people off when the funds are gone. But right now, one of the reasons we're even looking at this whole Aunt Mary fund is to try to get more money. We don't have enough money for what we have right now. So, it's worth discussing, but we do have to look realistically at can we sustain it because the things that we're talking about as a committee, we're looking at really increasing the money for what we have even within that geographical location.

But if we run out of money today, the 500,000 in the inner city res or or legacy program, if they spent all that money during this budget, we would say that we're out of money because that's what we budgeted for for this year. I mean, no, they would come back to council and ask for more.

Well, they'd come back for council. the same thing would happen that none of that changes. We just allow all of our citizens the opportunity to it. I don't know if you've driven around the neighborhood very much in the city very much. I'm used to going everywhere in this city and you can see different neighborhoods slowly going down. I think Miss Francis kind of was speaking on this very point earlier and that's only going to continue to happen because we don't we say well it's not at this certain location and it may literally be across the street. That's my whole thing. the money is I agree you you have more potential for more things that need it which is kind of a bigger reason to expand it because if it needs it then why can't we start doing something before it gets to the point it's so bad that we classify it as such that it has to be it's able to get repaired now when other people in our city can't. I I don't disagree with you. I I think I just have a different philosophical uh perspective of it that it should be fair for everyone if they meet all the same things and it could cost more. But when we run out, we run out. We only designate so much towards it each year.

That doesn't change. All right. Well, let's call let's do a vote here. See where we're at. All those in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Okay. Item A on municipal orders pass. Uh item B, municipal order 17-2026, Lesie Housing and Commercial Incentives.

Upon recommendation from the Legacy Hopkins Committee, Hopkinsville City Council hereby authorizes combining the following line items within the inner city residential enterprise zone budget to be used on a first come first- served basis. Housing incentives, rental rehabilitation program, single family new construction incentives, duplex and multifamily new construction incentives, commercial incentives, downtown Hopkinsville 50/50 matching grant program, Let's Paint Downtown Hoptown program, Hoptown, I'm sorry, Hoptown Hopkins Downtown Hopkinsale collateralized loan program, the mayor's 247 downtown initiative.

Motion second. Motion and a second by Amy. Uh, any discussion? Okay. All those in favor say I. I. I. Any opposed? Righty. Item 12. Other. Anybody have any other? Yes, ma'am.

I am an advocate for second chances. I think everyone here knows that. I've received numerous calls regarding the opiate settlement funds. We have 5 to 10 overdoses a week here in Hopkinsville. I'm requesting that we form a committee for an advisory committee or a board. Okay. We do have a committee right now of department heads and the attorney on that. Melissa will be bringing us a piece on Thursday night. So, y'all will have that. And I've heard from everyone in this room tonight and I've heard from you and me and you've talked about this very well and I know you're very passionate on that Britney and we will be talking about this again Thursday night and after that I will be taking that into adisement with the city attorney on how we're going to approach this committee piece that you're talking.

So we're going to talk about this again [cough and clears throat] on Thursday. Yes, ma'am. It's on your business list already for Thursday night. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Anyone else? Phone under other. So, ma'am, so we first received funds on this opioid money when what when was it in 2022? I believe that's correct. I'd have to ask Miss Clayton on that. And we've been going by what guidelines and yeah,

what our attorneys advis us to do on that because right now as we've been watching it, if we don't document every dollar that's spent, we got to pay it back. And we were hoping they would loosen the funds so we wouldn't have to document every dime so we could give it out to to [clears throat] these organizations and stuff like that. But Miss Clayton, we'll be bringing you a a piece on that on Thursday night. Thank you. But yes, sir, we are sitting on I think it's about 700 and something, 750. Don't have that exact number in front of me. Miss Clayton will have you that on Thursday night. Okay. 749,000.

There you go. But um we will be discussing that in the in committee of the whole on Thursday night. So where we can move this forward and how we can do this. Okay. Because it is a very great need. Okay. Any other discussion under other? I I've got a I guess a question and a comment. Uh I have not been through the process of you know where a council representative has resigned. Um so they're going to come and and speak and they have a period of time to speak. Yes sir.

And then we have a period of time to ask questions and then we vote right then. One one of the things I think that would be a good idea, for example, if Amy asked one candidate a question, I would think it would be fair for all two, 10, whatever candidates answer that question. That way, I'm not asking the question Amy's asking. Not asking it twice. Correct. Everybody answers the same thing. And I I just wonder if council would agree with that.

Doug, what's your opinion on that, sir? Well, that's up to council. The resolution is quiet on that. It just provides interviews of applicants will be conducted during a city council meeting. Applicants will be given up to 10 minutes each to introduce themselves and answer questions from council members. The time limit may be extended by majority vote of the council. So, I would think at that point, if additional time is needed, there just needs to be a motion and a second to deviate from this procedure and then you can go ahead and proceed. I'm not trying to over complicate it. I just want No. Well, it's just no different if we do a we do a city piece like the League League of Women Voters do for us. We both answer the question. Exactly. Everybody answers the same question. Miss Hank,

uh I So, the last time when this happened was when um Carter Hendricks resigned and so Wendell Lynch took his spot and so that left a vacancy right here because I used to sit next to Wendell. What? No one asked any questions. I think what we did at that time, Doug can correct me because you were here. I think what happened was those people that were interested in the position spoke for a minute and we said, "Are there any questions?" And we didn't have any because we already had their resume in front of us. We already listened to them speak and so we didn't have any additional questions. So, we don't necessarily have to ask questions is what I'm trying to say. Actually, Doug, you and Chrissy Fletcher gave me a list of questions that I read. Is that what we did? See, clearly I don't remember anything. and they both

maybe it's because I didn't personally ask a question for when you all send council members these resumes so to speak will you include did you include the questions that you had or do we send you questions or I actually got questions from the city I I think the clerk took those questions from council. So, what I would recommend, send those questions to uh the clerk and she can put those together and ask those questions. And I don't think it's a problem to ask to all of the applicants if there's more than one. And um you know, if we need to uh tweak this a little bit during that process, we can just do that by motion and second.

Fair enough. Okay. Our excuse me, Mr. Mayor. Yes, sir. Our our questions would not be limited to that list of questions. Is that correct? We have a question that comes up that time. Okay. You might think of something while we're sitting here going through the conversation what we need to ask that that you didn't think of beforehand. So,

okay. But it will be very interesting. Like I say, we we'll have to do this on the by the 17th of April, I believe, is what it is. 7th, excuse me. 7th. Yes. So, we will be getting that out. Any more thing? Any business under other? All right, we'll move into item 13. Councilman comments. Any comments? Okay. No councilman comments. Well, we are not doing item 14. No close session tonight. No litigation to speak of because that's changed. So, we were waiting on the courts. Uh item 15, adjournment. Oh,

well, I have to give my little thought first. [laughter] We're jumping the gun here. It's short, I promise. I'm sorry. No, you're good. [laughter] In the spirit of St. Patrick's Day, I wanted to share an Irish proverb. And this is the proverb. May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sunshine warm upon your face. The rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand. And that's an Irish blessing. And with that, I make a motion. We adjourn. [laughter] You got a second. All those in favor say I. I. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We are ajourned. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for being here tonight.