City Council - Regular Meeting

This evening's City Council meeting for July the 7th to order, and I would like to call on Invocation Ward 1, Vance, sir.

Right now, I'm calling on Ms.

Good evening.

Good evening.

If you would, please bow your heads in prayer with me. Heavenly Father, we come before you this evening with grateful hearts. First, we want to thank you. Thank you for the gift of another day for life, for health, and for allowing us to gather together in this place with one common purpose, to serve our community. Father God, I ask that you would bless every person under the sound of my voice, cover each elected official, every employee, every guest, and every family represented here tonight. Grant us wisdom, discernment, patience, and understanding as we conduct the city business. Lord, let this meeting be held decently and in order. Let every conversation be guided by respect, every decision be made with integrity, and every heart remain open to listening. Help us to remember that while opinions may differ, every voice deserves to be heard with dignity and compassion. We lift up our city before you. We pray for peace in our neighborhoods, unity amongst our citizens, and strength for those who serve and lead our community each day. Lord, may everything that is said and done here tonight bring about a greater good for our community. Give us the courage to do what is right, the humility to work together, and the grace to care for one another. We thank you for your love, your mercy, and your continued blessings over this city. In your holy, precious name, amen.

Amen.

All right, stand for the pledge.

I pledge allegiance.

Thank you. Would you call the roll, please?

Council Member Smith.

Present.

Council Member Stans. Here. Council Member Marsh.

Here.

Council Member Crabtree.

Here.

Council Member Martin.

Here.

Council Member Sumner. Here. Council Member Make.

Here.

Council Member Bogard. Council Member Velez. Here. Council Member Bell. Council Member Droud. Here. We have a quorum.

All righty. We'll move into item 5, awards and recognition. I call on the Hockensfield Fire Department.

Good evening, Council, Mayor. Happy to be here tonight to swear in our newest firefighters who have completed their training and will be sworn in tonight as firefighters for the Hockensfield Fire Department. Firefighter Dalton Horn. Firefighter DeTorian Isabella. Firefighter Matthew Ramos. Firefighter Jeffrey Saucedo. Firefighter Nicholas Sanderson. Firefighter Austin Stumball. Firefighter Reginald White.

Thank you, Chief. I'll get you to raise your right hand, please. I state your name. As a citizen of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and of the United States of America, I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully perform to the best of my ability the duty of firefighter for the city of Hockensfield, Kentucky, and that I will support, protect, preserve life and property of the citizens of Hockensfield, Kentucky. Oh, so help me God.

Please turn around for your pinning. If we could ask your family and friends to step forward, who's gonna be doing your pinning? Firefighter Horns being pinned tonight by his wife and son, Madison and Case. Firefighter Isabella by his wife, Deshawn Isabella. Matthew Ramos by his wife, Emily Ramos. Jeffrey Saucedo by his battalion chief, Mark London. Nicholas Sander by his fiancee, Kaylee Perry. Austin Stumball by his grandfather, Larry Stumball. And Reginald White by his best friend, Aniyah Caldwell. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Congratulations. Congratulations. Congratulations. Congratulations. Congratulations. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Thank God.

All righty. At this time, I call on Chief Newby to come up from the police department.

Good evening, everybody. We also have a new officer to swear in. If I get Officer Pachocki Bellbot to come up, please. So Officer Pachocki Bell-Bott was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, but raised in Sledale, Louisiana. He joined the Marine Corps in 2015 and served until 2020 when he transitioned to the United States Army, where he served until 2025. After leaving the Army, he joined the Hopkinsville Police Department and recently graduated the Academy on June 11th of this year.

a citizen of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and that the United States of America do solemnly swear that it will faithfully perform the best of your ability and duties as a police officer for the city of Hockensfield, Kentucky, and it will support, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Commonwealth of Kentucky for the whole of Kentucky. Thank you, sir. We'll turn it around to Mr. Simmons. Mr. Simmons, young man, how are you?

Yes.

Now, I think me and Chief Newby both, we've got a couple special swearing-ins tonight. We've got our canines for the fire department and the police department that we'd like to swear in.

We can step forward.

Here we go, Vance. Radar. Bear, come on back. I'd like to thank both the chiefs for getting another canine for us for our departments. Thank you all so very much. We have Bear. We have Radar. of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the United States of America, we solemnly swear that we will faithfully perform to the best of their ability the duties of crisis response canines and our officers. Thank y'all. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you all for being here. Tell us about it, baby. I didn't hear a second.

Trust me.

Oh, I've got to wait on... Small Business Commission will be doing their business grant presentation here in just a second. Ms. Diane Turner. And here comes Ms. Frenchall up there, too. Let's let them move around a minute, and then we'll do that, okay?

I'm Danielle Renshaw with the Small Business Commission. I'm the chair this year, and we are excited. This is our first year with the Small Business Opportunity Grant, and we are really excited to hand out these two certificates and the money for their grant. We had 35 applicants this year, so we're extremely happy with the turnout, and we're really excited to give a new business and an established business these grants.

Okay.

Okay, so we're gonna start with our first one. And our first grant winner is the woodshed for the $2,500.

Sorry, I almost dropped that. The woodshed has been around for 42 years. And so, you know, maybe I didn't think that this would be a possibility to win the grant, but I'm pleased with it. We'll use it to put some pavement down in that new driveway we put in because the road construction. So thanks. Thanks.

And then our grand prize winner, I guess, of the $7,500 is the Bluegrass Bulls.

Sorry, I'm a little nervous. It started out as something small, and it grew very quickly, and I'm really excited to grow this business in Hopkinsville and create new opportunities. Thank you so much.

Thank you, ma'am.

Thank you.

We just want to say thank you to council for making this possible for the Small Business Commission this year. We really appreciate that. And you can see how this is really going to impact these two small businesses. We're excited to see what we'll be able to do next year and how much money we'll be able to give away since this first grant application around. Daniel said there was 35 applicants. We were really blown away by the quality and the number. So thank you again.

Yeah, sure. Thank you.

Right. Moving to public comments, item six. If anyone would like to come and speak at the podium, it is open to state your name and go from there. We have five minutes.

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon.

My name is Winifred Level, and I live at 132 Ozell Avenue in the city of Hopkinsville. And I'm plagued right now with grew up with weeds behind my home, trees, and then their groundhog. I live behind Gainesville Nursing Home and I surrounded the corner and I saw that they had torn that down. So I suppose that's why the multitude of groundhog are now around in my area. I look around at everybody else's house and they're not going there. I had to replace an air conditioner last year And now they're digging holes around and under my air conditioner, I guess. Somebody said they tunnel. I don't know. But it's a nuisance. I pay taxes. I'm 75 years old. I can't run like I used to. Don't have a gun to shoot them. And I know I can't shoot them. They're God's creatures, but his creations. And I wouldn't mind it because I could run in the house. But the fact that they're tearing up my air conditioner and digging up my yard is just a public nuisance for me. I have called about everybody that I know in the city and the county. Everybody gives me another name, another number, and I have called. I've called McGee Pest Control. They don't do anything anymore. The animal shelter, not the animal shelter. They used to come by and put cages out. Nobody does anything for the groundhog. I've gotten solar, those things from Walmart that stick in the ground to keep them away. That hasn't worked. I have gotten the little stuff from Walmart and Rural King even bought me an owl, but he kind of scared me, so he's in the trunk of my car. I'm laughing, but it's not funny because it really unnerves me because I can hear them. Somehow they're getting under my house. I don't know how. I can't stand out there and watch them. I run from them, and they're running from me. But then there are some times when I do have to go outside, and it's just a nuisance. I need some help. What was that address again? 132 Rozelle, R-O-Z-L-L-E, Rozelle Avenue. The weeds, I'm thinking, I see that there's nothing that nobody can do with the groundhog. But I'm thinking if the weeds were gone, maybe they wouldn't be there so much. I don't know that. But I need some help. I need somebody to do something for me. Okay. Is that good enough? Did I go past my five minutes?

No, you're fine. Your alarm hadn't went off yet.

Very good. Is there anybody that I can call? Because I've had several numbers, and I have called those numbers.

I will be getting by there to see you tomorrow.

Okay. I appreciate you. Thank you all.

Thank you, ma'am.

CURTIS GILL. I HAVE A PROPOSAL I started a ministry called I Am Ministries, and my proposal is I want to create jobs for people who have a disability. I also want to create jobs for people who's just coming out of the prison system. The reason why I'm saying this is because I was laid off recently. I was wrongfully laid off. I feel like there is not a lot of opportunity for people with disabilities when it comes to not compromising, but when it comes to making sure that the disabilities you have will be taken care of. I wrote something. I can send to everybody email. But initially, I wanted to start with the city of Parksville and the city of Hopkinsville. And basically, it will be like a border battle festival that each city will compete with each other. And in doing that, I feel like that it will be an opportunity for tourism to raise tourism. I feel like it'd be a great opportunity for people like myself to be able to participate and have a job. So I don't know, this is my first time ever doing this, so I don't know who do I need to talk to or what paperwork I need to submit, but I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get this off the ground because I know for a fact that I ENJOY WORKING. I ENJOY BEING A PRODUCTIVE CITIZEN. I ENJOY THE CITY OF HOPKINSVILLE EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT FROM HERE BUT I FEEL LIKE THIS IS MY COMMUNITY. SO THAT'S IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. NEW SPEAKER THANK YOU.

NEW SPEAKER WE'RE NOT GOING TO START.

HELLO, HELLO. COXMILL ROAD. JUST WANT TO INFORM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT OUR TASTE OF THE TOWN FESTIVAL THAT WE HOST. THIS IS YEAR SIX FOR TASTE OF THE TOWN. IT'S OUR 8TH OF AUGUST FOOD RALLY. food trucks, plate makers, caterers to downtown Founders Square for a two-day festival. This year is going to be August 7th and 8th. August 7th is going to be 5 to 9. August 8th, we're going to start at 8 o'clock at the Greenway. We're going to have an 8K run. This year, normally it's a 5K or a marathon incumeration for 8th of August. We're going to do an 8K run. I want to say going down the trail and back should give you your four point something miles needed for it. So all is invited to participate in that. It's going to be eight o'clock behind the libraries where they're going to be meeting up Saturday. We're going to be going into the night with another five to nine show. I'm going to have DJs, music, bounce houses, things for the whole community to enjoy. So come hungry, leave full. Again, the city is invited. Council, mayor, attorney, administrator, we'd like to see all you guys there. If you have the time, I understand it's a busy weekend for a lot of people. But again, just want to invite you guys out to the sixth annual Taste of the Town food rally here in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, Founders Square, five to nine, starting Friday, August 7th. Thank you, guys. Thank you.

Hey y'all, it's Alyssa Keller tonight from 217 East 9th Street, just right on corner. Coming to you from on behalf of the museum and just wanted to thank you for the support for our big birthday that's coming up. The museum turns 50, actually tomorrow is our actual birthday. Museum opened on July 8th of 1976 and we're celebrating our birthday on this Saturday, July 11th at noon on 9th Street and we'll have a barbecue lunch catered by Pioneers and a program headlining William T. Turner. So I hope you'll come out. The city has been a gracious sponsor and donor for that. And so we've got some tickets for the city. So if you want to come, I bet you might be able to shake one out of us. And I say that because we are basically sold out. We're going to have a big, big, crowd. We are so thankful and grateful for the support. Also, big thanks to the mayor and to the city for sponsoring the museum this summer to allow for free admission to students of all ages. So all the way up through high school, free admission for the months of July and August. And Labor Day falls at a weird time this year. So on to that first week of September. So from July 1st through September 5th, free admission, all students into the museum. We've already had folks coming in and taking advantage of it. And we're so thankful for that partnership as well. And lastly, I came to y'all months ago about a grant that was really on behalf of the city with the museum helped to administrate it. that has to do with surveying our national register districts, resurveying the districts that already exist and surveying the individually listed properties in the county. And it was because the city is a certified local government and we were awarded that grant in the amount of $22,500 with a little bit of match coming from kind of an in-kind donation on behalf of the museum for some of the time we're going to spend on it. So be on the lookout out and about. We have five National Register districts in Hopkinsville. And then I believe it's 46 properties listed individually in Hopkinsville and in the county. So the grant doesn't cover us surveying all of it. So we're going to kind of pick and choose. But the Hopkinsville Commercial District, the Hopkinsville Warehouse District, and the Hopkinsville Residential District all date from they were put in the and we will definitely be looking at all three of those. The East 7th Street District as well, that's a residential district. The Latham Alumni Moreland is more recently done, so if we're going to put off one, it'll be that one, and then we'll be taking a look at all the properties. So thank you, thank you, thank you for your support on that, and we are really looking forward to doing a good survey of our historic resources, of what's what's in the packets, what's on the register, what is not existing anymore so we can update that documentation, but then what has come of age in the meantime that we might want to add to that and get it that recognition really nationwide. So thank you all for your support of all those things. And I hope to see you on Saturday. And I don't think I'm supposed to do it, but somebody left their phone.

Thank you, ma'am.

Hi, my name is Chase. It was out still in 506 South Woodridge Road and I was wondering if me and my friends go out to Devo Park during the summer. So I was wondering if we could get a basketball court over there by the city because we don't have one in the closest one I believe is on the West Side Park and all we do and we was like wondering to play basketball if we can get a court. Thank you.

Anyone else want to speak at public comments? All righty. I guess that's my turn then. Thank you. I'd like to say thank you for the staff for all their hard work on July 4th. They come in, Toby and Parks and Rec, Public Works, my staff come in and work. Thank you all so very much. Hope everyone enjoyed the fireworks show. 250th, 75th birthday for the fair, 250th for the United States. We had a great time. Give a lot away stuff, goodies and everything. Everybody had a good time. I'd like to say thank you to Greg Harper for 27 years to the city. He retired on 1st of July. We had a going away for him and party for him on the 2nd. We had a good thing there, but thank you to Greg. We had a good day out at Christian Care Community honoring the vets on Thursday, and we had a good day doing that, and everyone enjoyed it, and good to be out and talk to the folks there at Christian Care. Salvation Army, we have a new major, Major Swain. If everyone can go by and sweep, me and Councilman Bogart were there the other day talking to him. Had a good time meeting with him and his staff, and we're looking forward to what he can do for us at Salvation Army. And we know it's very hot, so we'll just try to stay cool. Don't get overheated and be watching for the weather alerts because the weather will be changing every time you look up. It might be raining on Country Club and 100 degrees on... Sanderson Drive, so be careful of the weather on that. And now we'll move into Item 8, reports. We have none of them from officers and committees. We have none of that. We will move into Section 9 of selecting and swearing in Ward 5 city council member, and I'm going to Travis Martin now.

Yes, sir. Due to the fact we only have one applicant for the Ward 5 position, I would like to make a motion we bypass the requirements of the resolution that sets the requirements to fill the vacancy and ask that we go straight to a vote.

Second. All right. I've got a motion and a second. Any discussion? All of them, do a roll call.

Council Member Sumner. Council Member Meek? Yes. Council Member Bogard? Yes. Council Member Velez?

Yes.

Council Member Gerald? Yes. Council Member Smith?

Yes.

Council Member Stallins? Yes. Council Member Marsh?

Yes.

Council Member Crabtree?

Yes.

Council Member Martin?

Yes.

That passes.

Ready? All right. Now we'll move straight into swearing in. We'll need a motion to move to swearing in Ms. Hughes. Motion. Second. Any discussion? Call the roll again.

I'm sorry.

Council Member Make?

Yes.

Council Member Bogard? Yes. Council Member Velez?

Yes.

Councilmember Droud? Yes. Councilmember Smith?

Yes.

Councilmember Stallins? Yes. Councilmember Marsh?

Yes.

Councilmember Crabtree?

Yes.

Councilmember Martin?

Yes.

That passes. Sorry. Thank you. Yes, you. Will you come forward? I say, do solemnly swear or affirm that we'll support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the Commonwealth and faithfully and true to the Commonwealth of Kentucky so long as I continue to serve, therefore, that we'll faithfully execute to the best of visibility the office of Hawkinsville City Councilman, according to the law, and do further solemn swear that since the adoption of the present Constitution, being a citizen of the United States, I have not fought in a duel with a deadly weapon within the state, nor out of it, nor have I accepted the challenge to fight a duel with a deadly weapon, and acted as a second in carrying or challenging or aiding and assisting a person through this opportunity. offending, so help you God. Alright. Turn around in here.

Congratulations. Congratulations.

Thank you, Ms. Hughes.

Get to work. Okay. All righty.

That went rather quick tonight. Item 10, approval of minutes for June 16, 2026. Motion. Got a motion and a second. Don? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed, likewise.

All right.

Ordinances. Item 11. Ordinance 18-2026, Chapter 30, Employee Classification and Comprehension Plan. Amendment. Second read.

Amending Sections 30.22 and 30.23 of the Employee Classification and Compensation Plan pertaining to shift differential pay and stipends. Now, therefore, be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, as follows. Section 1, Section 30.22 of the Hopkinsville Code of Ordinances is hereby amended to read as follows. 30.22, shift differential pay. City Council hereby establishes shift differential pay for sworn employees of the police department, emergency communications center dispatchers, and public works employees assigned work during scheduled second and third shifts. Differential pay shall be as follows. Second shift, $4 per hour. Third shift, $4 per hour. Section 2, Section 30.23 of the Hopkinsville Code of Ordinances is amended hereby to read as follows. 30.23 stipend. City Council hereby establishes the following stipends to reimburse employees for expenses incurred or services rendered. A cell phone stipend of $20 per month subject to approval of the police chief is hereby established for employees of the police department not issued a city cell phone. The clothing stipend, a clothing stipend of up to $650 annually is hereby established for public safety employees of the police department to purchase and maintain proper uniforms, attire. The stipend is subject to Hopkinsville Police Department policy. See career enhancement incentive program stipend. A career enhancement incentive program stipend of up to $4,000 annually is hereby established for sworn staff, crime scene technicians, animal control officers, and public safety officers of the police department. The stipend is subject to Hopkinsville Police Department policy. D, career enhancement incentive program stipend. A career enhancement incentive program stipend of up to $4,000 annually is hereby established for emergency communications center employees of the police department. The stipend is subject to the Hopkinsville Police Department policy. E, lateral hire stipend. A lateral hire stipend is hereby established for new lateral hires of the police department. The stipend is subject to the policy adopted by municipal order of Hopkinsville City Council. A tool stipend of $1,000 annually is hereby established for non-exempt employees of the service center to furnish, replace, and update tools used to service city vehicles. Additionally, a tool stipend of $1,000 annually is hereby established for the facility's maintenance specialist to furnish, replace, and update tools used to service HVAC systems and other facility repairs. G, emergency medical services stipend. An EMS stipend is hereby established for employees of the fire department. Physicians receiving the stipend in specific amounts are approved by municipal order if Hoppinsville City Council is part of the ambulance board contract. H, career enhancement incentive program stipend. A career enhancement incentive program stipend of up to $4,000 annually is hereby established for firefighters classified as hazardous employees of the fire department. The stipend is subject to Hopkinsville Fire Department policy. Section 3, if any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this ordinance is held unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, such information will not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance. Section 4, all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with this ordinance are hereby repealed. Section 5, this ordinance shall take effect after its passage in publication according to law.

Motion. Second. Second. Any discussion?

Clerk, call the roll.

Council Member Sumner. Yes. Council Member Make.

Yes.

Council Member Bogard. Yes. Council Member Velez.

Yes.

Council Member Droud. Yes. Council Member Smith.

Yes.

Council Member Stallins. Yes. Council Member Marsh.

Yes.

Council Member Crabtree.

Yes.

Council Member Hughes.

Yes.

Council Member Martin.

Yes.

Second reading.

Item B, Ordinance 19-2026, Old Lovers Lane and Martin Place, two-way stop sign, first reading.

Establish a two-way stop at the intersection of Old Lovers Lane and Martin Place Drive. Now, therefore, be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, as follows. Section 1, pursuant to KRS 189.337 and Section 70.03A of the Hopkinsville Code of Ordinances, Hopkinsville City Council, Hereby authorizes the installation of a two-way stop sign at the intersection of Old Lovers Lane and Morton Place Drive. Section 2, if any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this ordinance is held unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, such infirmity shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance. Section 3, all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with this ordinance are hereby repealed. Section 4, this ordinance shall take effect after its passage in publication according to law and upon posting the appropriate signage by the Public Works Department.

Second. Thank you, sir. Mike, any discussion? Okay. Clerk, please call the roll.

Council Member Sumner. Yes. Council Member Meek.

Yes.

Council Member Bogard. Yes. Council Member Velez. Yes. Council Member Gerald. Yes. Council Member Smith.

Yes.

Council Member Stallins. Yes. Council Member Marsh.

Yes.

Council Member Crabtree.

Yes.

Council Member Hughes. Yes. Council Member Martin.

Yes.

That passes on first reading.

All right. Item C, Ordinance 20. 2026 FY26-27 Community Development Block Grant Budget First Reading.

Adopting the City of Hopkinsville, Kentucky Annual Community Development Block Grant Budget for Fiscal Year July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, by estimating revenues and resources and appropriating funds. Now, therefore, be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Hopkinsville, Kentucky as follows. Section 1, the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Community Development Block Grant Budget of the City of Hopkinsville is hereby adopted as follows. Revenues requested fiscal year 26-27 HUD allocation fiscal year 26-27 $255,114 total CDBG revenues $255,114 expenses CDBG program administration 20% $51,022.80. Public service allocation, $38,267. Public facilities improvement program, $77,372.85. Section 108 loan allocation, $88,451.25. Total CDBG expenses, $255,114. Surplus deficit zero. Section 2 of any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this ordinance is for any reason held unconstitutional or otherwise invalid. Such infirmity should not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance. Section 3 and all existing ordinances inconsistent with this ordinance are hereby repealed. Section 4 of this ordinance shall take effect after its passage and publication according to law.

Motion to claim. Second by Mike. Travis thirded. All right. Any discussion? All right. Clerk, please call the roll.

Council Member Sumner. Yes. Council Member Meek.

Yes.

Council Member Bogard. Yes. Council Member Velez. Yes. Council Member Gerrard.

Yes.

Council Member Smith.

Yes.

Council Member Stallins.

Yes.

Council Member Marsh.

Yes.

Council Member Crabtree.

Yes.

Council Member Hughes. Yes. Council Member Martin.

Yes.

That passes on first reading.

Item D, Ordinance 21-2026, FY2022. 26-27, Intercity Res Enterprise Zone Budget First Reading.

Adopting the City of Hopkinsville, Kentucky Annual Intercity Residential Enterprise Zone Budget for Fiscal Year July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 by estimating revenues and resources and appropriating funds. Now, therefore, be ordained by the City Council of the City of Hopkinsville, Kentucky as follows. Section 1. In the fiscal year 2026-2027, inner-city residential enterprise zone budget of the City of Hopkinsville is adopted as follows. Revenues requested fiscal year 26-27, City of Hopkinsville allocation fiscal year 26-27, $133,012, total inner-city res revenues $133,012, expenses, neighborhood network coordinator $20,000, empowerment plans $50,000, programming, marketing, Downtown events, 5,000. Housing incentives, 48,012. Commercial incentives, 10,000. Total inner city res expenses, 133,012. Surplus deficit, zero. Section 2, if any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this ordinance is for any reason held unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, such infirmity shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance. Section 3, any and all existing ordinances inconsistent with this ordinance are hereby repealed. Section 4, this ordinance shall take effect after its passage and publication according to law.

NEW SPEAKERS. NEW SPEAKERS. NEW SPEAKERS. NEW SPEAKERS. NEW SPEAKERS. NEW SPEAKERS.

NEW SPEAKERS. NEW SPEAKERS. NEW SPEAKERS.

NEW SPEAKERS.

Council Member Smith?

Yes.

Council Member Stallins? Yes. Council Member Marsh?

Yes.

Council Member Crabtree?

Yes.

Council Member Hughes? Yes. Council Member Martin?

Yes.

That passes on first reading.

Okay, thank you, ma'am. Municipal Orders. Municipal Order 27-2026, Racetrack Alley Street Assessments.

Whereas community and development services made a favorable recommendation after June 22nd, 2026 meeting to accept a 4.0.491 acre portion of racetrack alley into the city's maintenance program contingent upon holding 25% of the bond amount for one year as a warranty for the street. And whereas the Public Works Department has determined the street meets the standards of the Hopkinsville Public Improvement Specifications, and whereas CARES 82.400 and 100.277 set forth the requirements for acceptance of streets by cities. Now, therefore, be it ordered, Hopkinsville City Council hereby acknowledges by operation of law acceptance of Racetrack Alley as depicted on the plat attached here to an incorporated hearing by reference into the City of Hopkinsville effective August 6, 2026.

So moved. Second. Motion second. Ms. Allen? Any discussion? All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Likewise. All righty. Item B, Municipal Order 28-2026, Jockey Subdivision Phase 2, A and C Street accepted.

Whereas community and development services made a favorable recommendation at their June 22nd, 2026 meeting to accept streets and jockey subdivision phase two ANC into the city's maintenance program contingent upon holding 25% of the bond amount for one year as a warranty for the streets. And whereas the public works department has determined the streets meet the standards of the Hopkinsville public improvement specifications. And whereas KRS 82.400 and 100.277 set forth requirements for acceptance of streets by cities. Now, therefore, be it ordered, Hopkinsville City Council hereby acknowledges by operation of law acceptance of the streets and jockey subdivisions Phase 2 A and C as depicted on the plots attached here to and incorporated herein by reference into the City of Hopkinsville effective August 6, 2026. Motion. Second.

Motion seconded by Travis. Any discussion? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, likewise. All right, that moving right along. Municipal Order 29-2026, Edward Bryan Memorial Justice Assistance Grant, MOU.

Hopkinsville City Council hereby authorizes the mayor to execute the attached memorandum of understanding with Christian County, Kentucky to apply for up to $15,000 from the 2025 Edward Bryan Memorial Justice Assistance Grant, JAG program. Said funds are to be given to the City of Hopkinsville Police Department.

So moved. Second. Motion and second. I'm running. Any discussion? Any and none. All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Opposed? All righty. Item D, Municipal Order 30-2026, Opioid Trust Fund Grant Program Guidelines.

Whereas the City of Hopkinsville wishes to establish a grant program from the Opioid Trust Fund for the treatment and recovery from opioid use disorder. And whereas the City of Hopkinsville shall equitably consider financial contribution requests on an annual basis. And whereas an annual request for a grant from the Opioid Trust Fund grant program will only be permissible through the requirements outlined in the attached guidelines and are subject to adequate budgetary funding through the opioid annual budget process approved by Hopkinsville City Council.

Motion.

Any discussion?

Mr. Mayor, I do have a couple of quick questions. Because I see that and bring to the attention of everyone in the public, especially for the purpose of the broadcast, that the anticipated start date is January 2027. So those applications will begin into this year, into 2027. But I just had a quick question. One of my questions was... Has it been determined or in award parameters number, the second bullet point, a meeting will be, maybe? Will be. Is the terminology. Is it will be or maybe? No, it's a will be. Okay. Because these guidelines were attached to that municipal order. I see. This is a bit of a discussion we had in the council. You know, are we going to have an internal review committee or is the council going to do this? Council's going to do it together. Council's going to do it together. I'm just wondering, the terminology seems to be divergent from what we kind of... Council's doing the... is in charge of the... over all of this. There may be another set of these guidelines where that's clarified. I don't know. I just wondered if that was the case and Has that internal review committee or that decision been made? We certainly have time to discuss that. Right. In upcoming, but if it's something that needs to be discussed, I just wanted to make a motion we send it to the Committee of the Whole to discuss it further.

I think we need to send it back to the Committee of the Whole to be discussed.

Make a motion.

No.

I'm not sure that motion is in order. Okay.

We already have one motion. Thank you.

Okay. And I'm not going to be hard one way or another, but I'll say this. This is very complicated, and I think we've seen that with our other grant processes. It takes a little more time. I don't know that doing this in the Council of the Whole or a council would be the most effective way to do it. I would suggest i'm not going to make a motion but i would suggest considering something like hop town helps i think that process has proven itself and i think you will have more participation with the public i think that process is a good process and could be utilized very similar for this yes so that's up to y'all what you want to do well that is a

The thing that we can do is send it to Hoptown Hills because that committee is formed for a year, and then they can go over every application and then bring it back to council. Y'all, that's seven people are to the council.

And I'll say this too. I think we need to go above and beyond doing our due diligence with this because I know in my conversations with Melissa, there's a lot of requirements around here. we don't want to make a mistake right in good faith but still make a mistake and the city had to return a portion of that money and work with somebody that we're trying to help so if you want to go to future funding we'll discuss that under other we do have a motion on the floor on that

And as Mr. Willen had discussed, you know, we can bring it up under the other section 14, you know, item 14 on the agenda tonight to just discuss that. But that kind of speaks back to something that we had quite a bit lengthy discussion here about who would actually handle that process. So if we could discuss that, that'd be great. I agree with Mr. Crabtree in that, you know, we could handle it with another committee, but it's another committee.

Well, we already have this committee all ready for future funding, what you're doing with Hoptown Hills. Okay. Future funding will be, we can send this to future funding to let them deal with it. That's it. Okay. All right. We have a motion and a second. Can we review that again before we vote?

What was the motion? What was that? What was the motion that we're getting ready to vote on? Um. To approve the guidelines.

Approve the guidelines. Right. Yes. You're right. Just approving the guidelines.

The opioid. Pardon me. Excuse me. Actually, the motion is to approve the municipal order, right? Right.

Municipal order 30-2020.

The guidelines are incorporated in the municipal order. Okay. Thank you. Yes.

That's where we're at right now on that question.

Yes, sir. We also talked about raising this ceiling from 15,000 to we never really had a hard number. Do we need to do that? Let me suggest something.

Since there seems to be a desire to take this back to the Committee of the Whole, if you can approve the guidelines and then you can send the whole thing back to Committee of the Whole, we can always come back with another municipal order. to amend because you've got time. We just need something in place to get the application process started. Okay. Move the question.

Okay. Question? All those in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

Okay. Now, motion to send it back to the committee's office.

Yeah, we're going to do that under.

For item 14, I thought we were going to go through some executive orders. I'm sorry. Yeah, we're going to finish up where we're at. Okay, I'm sorry. Sorry about that.

Okay.

Executive orders. Executive orders here at the top.

Executive orders 36, number. All right. Executive order 36, 2026, Hawkinsville Water Environment Authority.

Effective August 1st, 2026, Ryan Miloska shall be reappointed to the Hopkinsville Water Environment Authority. This term shall expire July 31st, 2030. We do need a motion and a second.

Motion and second by Don. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Likewise. Okay. Item B, Executive Order 37-2026, Hawkinsville Christian County Convention Center Investor Bureau.

Effective immediately, Carl Joey Medeiros shall be appointed to the Hopkinsville Christian County Convention and Visitors Bureau. This term shall expire June 30, 2029, and there is no motion necessary.

Okay. Executive Order 38-2026, Human Rights Commission.

Effective immediately, Sierra Davis, Derek Quarles, and Ambria Watkins shall be appointed to the Human Rights Commission. These terms shall expire June 30, 2029. Effective immediately, Sean Zhang shall be appointed as the youth member. This term shall expire June 30, 2027. There is no action necessary.

All right. Item D, Executive Order 39-2026, Board of Ethics.

Effective immediately, Rich Cooper shall be reappointed to the Board of Ethics as an alternate member. This term shall expire April 30th, 2027. Effective immediately, Christy Madian shall be reappointed to the Board of Ethics as an alternate member. This term shall expire June 30th, 2027. We do need a motion and a second.

Motion. Second. Seconded. All righty. Any discussion? All in favor say aye. Aye. Likewise. Nay. All righty. Now we're down to item 14. Okay.

So I would like to go ahead and make that motion that we return the municipal order, but especially the guidelines that are attached, back to the Committee of the Whole so we can work through the discussion of the finer points, amount, who will implement the program. Whatever else needs to be discussed.

Need a second?

Second.

Okay. Any discussion on that? All righty. All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed? I will get with Travis and Brittany to get it on the list so we can get it on there. Okay? So we can get that moving forward. Any other business? Yes, ma'am.

I've seen a lot of concern over the state of Debo Park. I know it's kind of been lacking maintenance for a while, and as somebody with small skirt appears to be, is what some constituents have voiced. Do we have any plans to fix maybe the big slide and several of the dilapidated boards in the toddler area?

Well, we started that in the spring. We went in and changed a whole bunch of boards in that part. But we are still looking. There is undergoing. If Toby is here, he can tell you all about it. He's on vacation today. But they are looking at what we've got to replace and what it's going to cost. He's supposed to have that on my desk, and we'll be getting with him and Jacob. Awesome. We know that is already being talked about at Devo Park because of the rotten boards and the condition of the playground.

Okay. Just wanted to make sure. Thank you. Yes.

Short answer. In terms of looking at what kind, do we replace the wooden that we have now, go with that synthetic materials? But absolutely, I went out there with them, and yes, absolutely.

I was going to say, my kids love that park. Of course, they love the new one, too, and the new one's big and pretty and fantastic, but we would love to see the other ones also maintained and kept, because that has always been a super nice park, and I know many families who've enjoyed it.

Yes, ma'am. But no, we are looking at that on Devo. But we're looking at all the parks. You know, we're looking at it very closely. Trail of Tears Park, we're looking at it because we have some issues with some equipment there. But Tobin and I are taking care of that too.

So we are moving forward with it. We're looking at the playground equipment and a mural on the side of that big gray building. They went gray crazy out there, and there are several things to be worked on out there.

Right. Any other business? I'm going to move it down.

Yes, sir.

I spoke with David Powell over at the Weather Spotters the other day, and during the storm that came through the other night, there were a lot of people that were doing their own videoing and storm chasing. That seems like a lot of fun, a little bit of adrenaline, but that can be very dangerous and deadly. So David just wanted me to put out to the community that that's one thing that people need to be very careful of doing. He also went on to say, if you really want to look at doing that, please give David Powell over to Weather Spotters a call, and he will be happy to get you trained up and out there, and you can go fight all the storms you want. So I just want to pass that along. Thank you. Thank you. Yes, sir.

Sparked a thought, Chuck. So I don't know if this is going to be good or bad. Just bear with me. So they are one of the applicants. on the Hop Town Helps. And I want to have the discussion of what they're asking for, Doug, in here, because I want to see if we have funds to pay for that specifically out of something that we can come up with as a council outside of that grant. And I want to tell you the reason why. This week, last weekend, or the weekend you're speaking of, we all saw that funnel, wall cloud, shelf cloud, whatever that thing is over the fairgrounds. And that thing just changed one little bit. We probably wouldn't be here tonight because we'd all still be working a catastrophe in this community. I know as a first responder for 22 years, every time since they were here, when those storms started and we had to go out and answer alarms or still go to medical calls and everything, I'm on that radio channel listening to what those spotters are telling us to save us while we're in the middle of it, but to also make sure we know where to get to quickly and start heading that way with scum. I don't want to have to go back to the process we're dealing with. This is an emergency type situation for the citizens of Hopkinsville, Christian County. It's for a generator. The National Weather Service out of Paducah, if it was to go down, they come here. It's a pretty big deal. Sir, it's about $60,000. Can we probably find that in the helps? Yeah, it may be there. It's a discussion we're going to have to have in the next meeting. I don't think it should be coming from there. I think it reiterated to me that this is more of a life-saving situation, project that needs to be done, and I would like to discuss the possibility of us finding a way to pay for that out of something. Go ahead.

Councilman Sumner, I would love to figure out how we can get that 60 plus they're going to need for a generator. If we can move this to committee of the whole into this month, let me and Melissa and Troy do some digging and see if there's something there. Okay.

Also the radios.

Yes. Now I'm with you. Let me see what that is too. Okay.

Okay. But let me, Look up grants between now and then, maybe.

Well, we're going to look at the grants, and we're going to look at some other things, see how we can try to fund this. But just like he said, if they don't have a generator, they can't keep talking to us. Bad news, yeah. Yeah. It's no different than the one that sits right outside of this building. That's right. When it went down three years ago, when it blew up three and a half years ago, when it blew everything way down here off 6th Street, ours went down. Mike and him got it right back up really quick for us. But the generator's nice. We're still working when the downtown didn't have power. So, yes.

Okay.

But is that a motion to send that to the committee of the home? I want to make a motion. We find $60,000 right now and do it. But whatever the process has to be. Let's take it to the committee. I don't want to take it out of the help. The hot town helps. That money can still go to the other things that we're trying to figure out in there. I think after this event, I come immune to some of it because I worked in it and dealt with it all the time. But in this event, I saw how many citizens in our community were impacted by what was happening in that storm in those few moments. I think we need to do it here.

The fire was scary. Yes, sir. We were standing there.

It was scary.

It was not a good feeling. I would have to agree with Mr. Sundar. I think we're all favorable to that idea as well.

We've got a motion to send this back to the Committee of the Home.

May I also ask if we could consider at that same time how we might, I know we're responsible for trying to fund and provide safety for the citizens in the city of Hopkinsville. We want to do that, but we all live in Christian County.

see them in on that process so we'll see what the county says so that just the city doesn't bear the entire cost of that y'all better write that down folks all righty i got it do i have a motion and a second to go to committee of the whole for this second okay all right any more discussion on taking about the generator and radios back to Committee of the Whole for Weather Spot. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed, likewise.

Okay.

All righty. Any more other business? I don't know where we're going to find it, but I'll do some digging, folks. Item 15, Councilman Comments. Floor is open, Councilmembers. Seeing none, I'm going to award one. Vance, adjourn us, sir.

This is a quote by Maya Angelou. I learned that people will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel. With that, I make a motion to adjourn.

Second. Got a second. All those in favor say aye. Aye. We are adjourned.