City Council - Regular Meeting

I call this September 1st, 2026 City Council meeting to order, and I call on Ward 5 for the invocation.

Let us pray. Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the opportunity to gather together today and for the responsibility that we've been given to serve our community. Lord, I ask that you give our mayor, myself, and my fellow City Council members wisdom as we consider the decisions before us Help us to listen carefully, speak with kindness and respect, and remember that our decisions affect real people, real families, and the future of our community. Guide us in all that we do and help us remember that leadership is ultimately about service. And may we serve like Jesus and in his name. Amen.

Amen. Please stand if you can for the pledge. Thank you. All right. Clerk, would you please call the roll?

Councilmember Smith. Councilmember Stallins. Present. Councilmember Marsh. Here. Councilmember Crabtree.

Here.

Councilmember Hughes. Here. Councilmember Martin.

Here.

Councilmember Sumner. Here. Councilmember Meek. Councilmember Bogard. Councilmember Velez.

Here.

Councilmember Bell.

Here.

Councilmember Droud. Here. We have a quorum.

All righty. Item five, awards and recognitions. I'd like to call Toby Hudson to the stage. Stand there, please, to the podium. Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, City Council. Tonight, we just want to recognize an individual who has come for you, asking for some assistance with a basketball court at DeBeau, recognizing that there was a need there. He come, his courage to come in front of City Council and to ask for that and After collaboration with City Council and with the Public Works Department, we have installed that basketball court. We have installed a half court at Deboe Recreational Complex over by the skate park. And tonight we just want to award Mr. Trey, just kind of give him a little bit of a token of appreciation for thanking him for what he had done and bringing that to us with a couple basketballs. So try to be quiet.

Give those to you and your colleagues here tonight and allow you guys to enjoy yourself and pray and play and we appreciate what you've done for our community and developing that heart. That's awesome. Very good. Very good. Thank you, Trey.

Thank you, Toby. Thank you, council. All right. We'll move in from awards and recognitions into item six, public comments. If anyone would like to come and speak at the podium, please do. Give your name.

Jamie Leinberger. Howdy, Mayor.

I'm doing great, Ms. Leinberger.

I just would like to say kudos to Public Works. I was out campaigning in May, almost was hit, watched my car almost get hit while I was on Nelson Drive, and I used the HopTown 311 app. Kudos to whoever created that. It needs a couple tweaks, but I love it. And I worked with Dave and Mike Perry and all those guys and advocated with the help of some of the residents along Nelson Drive to get the center lines double yellow striped. So again, thank you from the residents on Nelson Drive who've reached out to me to say, hey, thanks for advocating that for us. And I just want to let you know that they say thanks to Public Works. So thank you very much.

Thank you.

Hello, everybody. My name is Sharon Manning. I live at 505 Brown Street. I am the Democratic nomination for Ward 1. But I would just like to invite you all to come to, I'm having a concert. It's a free concert. It's a unity concert. I want all us to be together and move as one in Christian County. It's a lot of things that pull us apart. We have different opinions. We have did it at whatever. It's time for us to come together. I know you are believers. You pray every time in Jesus name. So on September the 18th, of this month at the Bruce Convention Center, starting at seven o'clock, I will be having a unity gospel concert. And I would love for you guys to be there. We need to show Christian County what heaven looks like. Diversity, y'all, we need it. It is so bad. The world wants to tear us apart. But if we could come out on a Friday night and just worship the Lord in spirit and in truth together, we can set a precedent of what it looks like to love your county, to love Christian County. We can show this town, our town, what Christian County really means. I understand that the name we got was not from, you know, my, our Lord and savior. I understand he was a general or something, but in my mind, when I hear Christian County, I think of Christ and I want us to represent that we have to come together. We, are better together than we are apart. So please come out, and let's just have a good time in the Lord. Let's worship and praise and just love on each other. Okay? Thank you.

Thank you. Anyone else like to speak at the podium or not? All righty. We'll move into Item 7, Mayor's Comments. Don't forget Summer Salute coming up on the 11th and 12th here in September. The downtown block party had a great turnout. I hope everyone enjoyed it. We did. Toby, thank you and your department for all this hard work. And let's all move forward and have a great September on that. And now we'll move into... Item 8, report from offering committee and guest speakers. And don't have any of those. Moving to item 9, approval of minutes for August the 18th, 20 to 26, regular meeting. Motion.

Second.

Motion second. Any discussion? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, likewise. All righty. Moving on to that, number 10 ordinances, Ordinance 25-2026, amending Chapter 93, Garbage, Trash, and Weeds, first reading.

An ordinance amending certain sections of Chapter 93 of the Hopkinsville Code of Ordinances relating to garbage, green waste, and weeds. Summary, now they will be ordained by the City Council of the City of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, as follows. Section 1, by summary, Section 93.01 of the Hopkinsville Code of Ordinances is amended to read as follows. 93.01 Definitions. Green waste. The definition of green waste has been added and has the same definition as trash, which is being deleted. Temporary collection. This definition has been expanded to include all waste and not just building materials. Temporary collection service permit. This definition has been amended to require a permit for each container at each location. Trash, the term trash has been eliminated and its definition included as green waste. Waste, this definition has been added to include all of the materials handled by Hopkinsville Solid Waste Enterprise. Section 2, by summary, section 93.02 of the Hopkinsville Code of Ordinances is amended to read as follows. 93.02, garbage, commercial refuse, industrial waste, and green waste collection. The above definition amendments are incorporated into this section. Industrial waste has been added in sections relating to commercial collection and disposal. Section A1A, a fee for additional residential containers will be changed from discretionary to mandatory. Section B1, collection by private individuals and entities will be permitted only with the temporary collection service permit. Section B2B and C, time for residential containers to be ready for collection is changed from 7 o'clock a.m. to 5 o'clock a.m. Section C-2, other than during leaf collection service, loose materials such as grass clippings shall be required to be bagged in compostable bags. Section C-3, the exception for limbs is eliminated from the residential knuckle boom service. Section C-4, the fall leaf collection date shall be posted on the enterprise website. Knuckle boom collection services will be suspended during leaf collection and only residential container collection service provided. Section D3, this provision has been added to provide that the transfer station will be open to the public during regular business hours for individuals and entities to unload garbage. Section E has been amended to read as follows. E, rate schedule one, collection service utilization and payment. A, each resident's apartment building, office building, commercial establishment, industrial location, or other garbage, industrial waste, or commercial refuse generating site within the city's corporate limit shall be provided with garbage, industrial waste, and a commercial refuse collection service in charge of fee consistent with the below rate schedule. B, fees established for garbage, industrial waste, and commercial refuse collection are to be based primarily on volume and frequency of collection. The fees shall be set forth in the rate below schedule. However, the department is authorized to levy additional regular charges for special collection problems relating to weight, classification, distance, manpower requirements, or other unusual and extraordinary circumstances caused by the customer. C, billing for garbage collection shall be done on a monthly basis and may be included on other billings sent out by city agencies. Two, rates. Garbage collection rates are established to be charged as follows. A, garbage and green waste collection rates. Minimum classification, apartments, monthly rate 25 each. Residences utilizing 96 gallon container, 25 for the first container and 18 for each additional container. Container delivery fee, 15 per container delivered to residential customers. Green waste will be collected from residential properties within the city at no additional charge provided to the customer in good sign with the enterprise. Be commercial refused. One commercial cart, six gallons. Number of pickups per month for number of containers per customer, 125, 250, 375, 4, 100, 5, 125, 6, 150. 8, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300. 12, 75, 150, 225, 300, 375, 450. 16, 100, 200, 400, 500, 600. 20, 125, 250, 375, 500, 625, 750. 24, 150, 400, 450, 600, 750, 900. In addition to the above, a delivery fee of 15 per container shall be applied to all containers delivered to customers. Two cubic yard container. Number of pickups per month for number of containers per customer, 1-43-13, 2-86-26, 3-128-77, 4-172-52, 5-215-65, 6-258-78. 86-26, 172-52, 258-78, 345-05, 431-31, 517-57, 12, 128-77, 313-30, 386-31, 515-09, 643-86, 772-63, 16, 172-52, 345-05, 51747, 6918, 86262, 103515, 221565, 43131, 64696, 86262, 107828, 129393. 24, 258.78, 517.57, 776.36, 1,035.15, 1,293.93, 1,552.72. Four cubic yard container. Number of pickups per month, four. Number of containers per customer, 18627 to 17254, 325882, 434509, 543136, 651764. 8, 172.54, 345.06, 517.64, 690.18, 862.73, 1,035.28, 12, 258.49, 516.98, 775.48, 1,033.97, 1,292.46, 1,550.96. 16, 345.09, 390.18, 1,035.28, 1,380.37, 1,725.47, 2,070.56, 20, 431.36, 862.73, 1,294.10, 1,725.47, 2005-156-83, 2005-88-20, 24, 5-17-64, 1035-28, 1005-52-92, 2070-56, 2005-88-20, 3105-84. for six cubic yard container number of pickups per month for number of containers per customer one one twenty nine forty two two fifty eight eighty three three eighty eight twenty one four five seventeen sixty one five six forty seven oh two six seven seventy six forty two eight two fifty eight eighty 5-1761-77642, 1,035-23, 1,294-04, 1,552-85, 12-388-21, 776-42, 1,164-64, 1,552-85, 1,941-07, 2,393-290, sorry two thousand three twenty nine twenty eight sixteen five seventeen sixty one one thousand thirty five twenty eight one thousand five fifty two eighty five two thousand seventy forty seven two thousand five eighty eight oh nine three thousand one oh five seventy one twenty six forty seven oh two one thousand two ninety four oh four one thousand nine forty one oh seven two thousand five eighty eight oh nine three thousand two thirty five twelve 3,882.14, 24, 796.42, 1,552.80, 2,329.28, 3,105.71, 3,882.14, 4,658.57. 5, 8 cubic yard container. Number of pickups per month for number of containers per customer. 1, 172.54. 2, 345.09. 3, 517.64. 8, 345.09. 690.18. 975. 12, 517.64. 1,035.28. 1,516. 690.18. 1,350.18. 2,070.56, 28.62.73, 1,007.25.47, 2,005.88.20. Six knuckle beam collection rates. Truck load, one-fourth truck load minimum fee, rate 75, half load truck, 150. Three-fourth truck load, $225. Full truck load, $275. Commercial business. Any active commercial account with large items exceeding container space may be charged the following knuckle boom service fee. Knuckle boom fee, $75. C, roll-off containers and compactors. One, all roll-off containers and open-top containers will be charged $195 per haul plus tonnage charges. Each roll-off and open-top container will be charged $3 per day rental fee. All compactors will be charged $215 per haul plus tonnage charges. D, waste disposal fees. One, for all waste disposed of in the landfill, a flat rate of $50 per ton effective October 1, 2026, $55 per ton effective July 1, 2027, and $60 per ton effective July 1, 2028 with a $5 minimum charge. Two, for all waste disposed over the transfer station, a flat rate of 55 per ton effective October 1st, 2026, 60 per ton effective July 1st, 2027, and 65 per ton effective July 1st, 2028, plus a $5 minimum charge. Three, appliance disposal fee. Appliances such as, but not limited to, washers, dryers, freezers, refrigerators, stoves, heating and air conditioning units, hot water heaters, and water coolers will be collected from residential properties within the city subject to a $15 fee. To be collected, appliances must be placed on the curb of the property in the same location as green waste or other garbage containers. And B, appliances will be received during normal operating hours at the landfill subject to a $15 fee. For mattresses and box springs, disposal fees. A mattress will be received during normal operating hours at the landfill subject to $15 fee plus tonnage charges. The box springs will be received during normal operating hours at the landfill subject only to 10-inch charges. Five, tire disposal fee. A, whole tires less than 24-inch rim diameter will be received during normal operating hours at the landfill subject to a $35 fee plus 10-inch charges. B, whole tires, which are 24-inch rim diameter or greater, do not require modification and will be received during normal operating hours at the landfill subject to tonnage charges. C, tires less than 24-inch rim diameter, which are quartered or have sidewalls removed, will be received during normal operating hours at the landfill subject to tonnage charges. Six, for all waste disposal fees at the landfill, as here and above described in Division E2D1, a monthly volume discount fee per customer is provided as follows tonnage, zero through 100 tons per calendar month, 50 per ton effective October 1st, 2026, 55 per ton effective July 1st, 2027, and 60 per ton effective July 1st, 2028. 101 through 200 tons per month, 42.50 per ton effective October 1st, 2026, 46.75 per ton effective July 1st, 2027, and 51 per ton effective July 1st, 2028. 201 through 300 tons per month, 36.25 per ton effective October 1st, 2026, 39.88 per ton effective July 1st, 2027, and 43.50 per ton effective July 1st, 2028. 301 tons and all over per month, 31.25 per ton effective October 1st, 2026, 34.78 per ton effective July 1st, 2027, and 37.50 per ton effective July 1st, 2028. Monthly waste disposal tonnage per calendar month and green waste tonnage per calendar month may be combined by the same customer to receive the volume discount fee as set forth herein. Three, the foregoing rates are based on average waste types, volumes, weight, and pickup frequency. The department is authorized under this section to vary from these minimum rates when and if weight, volume, type, and pickup frequency or other unusual factors deviate from the average service. Four, Upon approval from the Hopkinsville Solid Waste Enterprise Board, the collection and or disposal fees excluding environmental remediation fees may be waived for government agencies, churches, or other nonprofit organizations. Section 3, section 93.04, providing for the effective date, has been removed in its entirety. Section 4, a summary section 93.05 of the Hopkinsville Code of Ordinance is amended to read as follows. 93.04, temporary collection service permits. Section 93.04C1, the requirement to disclose ownership interest of a business entity in a temporary collection service permit application is deleted. Section 93.04C3. This requirement for the disclosure of solid waste facilities or processing facilities in a temporary collection service permit application is deleted. Section 93.04D, this section is amended to provide that no temporary collection service permit will be issued if the enterprise has roll-off containers for rent. The full text of this ordinance is on file in the office of the undersigned city clerk of the city of Hopkinsville at 715 South Virginia Street, Hopkinsville, Kentucky, where it is available for public inspection between the hours of 8 o'clock a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Got a motion, got a second. Got a second by Mike. Any discussion? No discussion. Clerk, please call the roll.

Councilmember Bogart. Councilmember Velez?

Yes.

Councilmember Bell?

Yes.

Councilmember Gerald?

Yes.

Councilmember Stallings?

Yes.

Councilmember Marsh?

No.

Councilmember Crabtree?

Yes.

Councilmember Hughes?

Yes.

Councilmember Martin?

Yes.

Councilmember Sumner? That passes on first reading.

Okay. You need a minute to catch your breath.

I think I'm good. I think they're everywhere.

All right. Ordinance 26-20, 26 Midblock Crosswalk on South O'Neill Avenue, First Street.

an ordinance establishing a mid-block crosswalk on South O'Neill Avenue, whereas the Public Works Department recommended establishing a mid-block crosswalk on South O'Neill Avenue, and whereas on August 20, 2026, the Committee of the Whole forwarded an ordinance to City Council authorizing such establishment. Now, they are forbid or denied by the City Council of the City of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, as follows. Section 1, pursuant to KRS-189.337 and Section 70.03 of the Hopkinsville Code of Ordinances, Hopkinsville City Council hereby authorizes the installation of a mid-block crosswalk on South O'Neill Avenue, north of West 7th Street. As further described on exhibit A attached here to an incorporated hearing, subject to field verification, the design should include high visibility markings, appropriate warning signs, and ADA compliant access improvements as needed. Final placement design shall comply with the applicable MU TCD and ADA requirements. Section 2, if any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this ordinance is held unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, such infirmity should 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 and publication according to law and upon posting of the appropriate signage by the Public Works Department.

Motion. Second. Motion and second. Any discussions? First, please call the roll.

Council Member Velez.

Yes.

Council Member Bell.

Yes.

Council Member Droud.

Yes.

Council Member Stallins. Yes. Council Member Marsh.

Yes.

Council Member Crabtree.

Yes.

Council Member Hughes. Yes. Council Member Martin.

Yes.

Council Member Sumner. Yes. That passes on first reading.

All righty. Ordinance 27-2026, amending 51. Section 1.999, water shortage and conservation measures, penalties, first reading.

An ordinance amending a certain section of Chapter 51 of the Hopkinsville Code of Ordinances relating to penalties and administrative fees. Now, therefore, be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, as follows. Section 1, Section 51.999 of the Hopkinsville Code of Ordinances is hereby amended to read as follows. 51.999, penalties and administrative fees. Any person who violates any provision of 51.002 through 51.006 of this chapter or any regulation adopted here under or any provision of the state's plumbing code shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not less than $10 nor more than $100 or imprisoned for not more than 90 days or both for each offense. Each day the violation continues shall constitute a separate offense. Be any person, firm, or corporation who violates 51.075 through 51.080 and shall continue any violation beyond the time limit provided for in 51.080 shall be deemed guilty of a punishable violation and upon conviction thereof be fined an amount not exceeding 100 per day violation for each violation." See, any consumer may be charged with violation of 51.085 through 51.092 and prosecuted in the court of appropriate jurisdiction. Any person so charged and found guilty in the court of violating the provisions of 51.085 through 51.092 shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. Each day's violation shall constitute a separate offense. The penalty for an initial violation shall be a mandatory fine of 100, which may be adjusted by the court. In addition, the consumer may be required by the court to serve a definite term of confinement, which shall be fixed by the court and which shall not exceed 30 days. The penalty for a second violation shall be a mandatory fine of 200, which may not be adjusted by the court. In addition, each consumer... Such customers shall serve a definite term of confinement which shall be fixed by the court and which shall not exceed 30 days. Penalties for additional violations shall be the same as for the second violation. D, unauthorized use of water, meter tampering, hydrant use, and theft of service. No person shall obtain, use, divert, reconnect, or take water service from the water system without authorization from the Sewerage or Water Works Commission. Unauthorized use violations shall include but are not limited to meter box interference, meter seal or lock disturbance, unauthorized access, meter tampering, meter bypass, An authorized reconnection, unauthorized connection, unauthorized hydrant use, intentional theft of service, or any conduct that creates a risk to the water system, meter infrastructure, public health, or system integrity. Either the Surgeon Water Works Commission or its authorized representative shall have discretion to classify the violation based on the facts and circumstances of the incident. including the nature of the conduct, whether the conduct appears accidental or intentional, whether the conduct resulted in unmetered water use, whether damage occurred, and whether the conduct created a risk to the water system, meter infrastructure, public health, or system integrity. If, in addition to other charges, costs, or other remedies available by law, the following administrative fees shall apply. violation category minor meter box interference and authorized access first offense fee 100 minor meter box interference and authorized access second offense 250 minor meter box interference and authorized access third offense or subsequent 500 intentional theft of service, system risk conduct, 2500, unauthorized hydrant use, 1000. G, for purposes of determining whether an offense is a first, second, third, or subsequent offense, prior violations shall be counted within 36-month period. H, the fees established in this section are in addition to and do not replace any applicable water or sewer usage charges, estimated usage charge or service charges, reconnect charges, labor costs, equipment costs, material costs, testing or inspection costs, repair or placement costs, damages or other costs incurred by the Sewerage or Water Works Commission as a result of the unauthorized use, tampering, theft, damage, or related conduct. Nothing in this section shall limit the authority of the Sewerage and Water Works Commission, the City of Hopkinsville, or any other appropriate authority to pursue any civil, criminal, or other remedy available under applicable law, including referral for prosecution when the facts support each referral. Section 2, if any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this ordinance is held unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, such information shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance. Section 3, all ordinances or parts of ordinance in conflict with this ordinance are hereby repealed. Section 4, this ordinance shall take effect October 1st after its passage and publication according to law.

Motion? Second. Second. Travis, Mike? All right. Any discussion? No discussion. Call the roll, please.

Council Member Velez? Yes. Council Member Bell?

Yes.

Council Member Droud?

Yes.

Council Member Stallins?

Yes.

Council Member Marsh?

Yes.

Council Member Crabtree?

Yes.

Council Member Hughes? Yes. Council Member Martin?

Yes.

Council Member Sumner? That passes on first reading.

Okay. We have Ordinance 28-2026, Chapter of... 53, sewer and water service rates and user fees. First reading.

An ordinance amending certain sections of Chapter 53 of the Hopkinsville Code of Ordinances relating to sewer and water service rates and user fees. Summary, now the report be ordained by the City Council of the City of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, as follows. Section 1, by summary, Section 53.18A of the Hopkinsville Code of Ordinances is hereby amended as follows. 53.18 rates and charges. A, the following schedule of rates shall apply to each Hopkinsville Division user of the water waste treatment works based on the volume of metered or estimated water consumption. Hopkinsville Division Waste Water Service monthly rate schedule. Rate category, flat rate per 100 cubic feet, effective 4-1-27-8-77, effective 4-1-28-9-55, effective 4-1-20-29-10-40. Minimum bill, 300 cubic feet or less, 2629, 2863, 3118. Section 2, by summary, sections 53.35A and B of the Hopkinsville Code of Ordinances are amended as follows. Water rates, 53.35 monthly water rates. The monthly rates and charges for water service furnished by the system are fixed and established on a monthly basis as follows. A, Hopkinsville division meter minimum rate. Meter minimum rate, monthly minimum for 5-8 inch meter per 300 cubic feet, effective 10-26, 14-34, effective 10-1-27, 15-76, effective 10-1-28, 17-32. Monthly minimum for 3-4 inch meter per 610 cubic feet, 29-09, 31-97, 35-14. Monthly minimum for one inch. Monthly minimum for 70 through 90, 81, 21, 89, 25. Monthly minimum for two inch meter per 2,580 cubic feet, 123. 148.56. Monthly minimum for meter per 5,430 cubic feet, 258.88, 284.51, 312.68. Monthly minimum for four inch meter per 8,550 cubic feet, 407.62, 447.97, 42.32. Monthly minimum for 6-inch meter per 28,600 cubic feet, 1,363.47, 1,498.46, 1,647.81. Monthly minimum for 8-inch meter per 1,187,000 cubic feet, 8,915, 9,797.59, 10,767.55. Monthly minimum for 10-inch meter for 385,000 cubic feet, 18,405.50, 20,227.65, 22,238. The water consumption rates for Hopkinsville Water Division usage subject to the minimum monthly water rate specified above the following meter charges shall be made for 100 cubic feet of water consumption per month to customers of all size connections to Hopkinsville Division. Hopkinsville Division Water Consumption Rates. Number of cubic feet of water per month, flat rate per 100 cubic feet, effective 10-1-26, 14-34, effective 10-1-27, 15-76, effective 10-1-28, 17-32. Section 3, by summary section 53.36 of the Hopkinsville Code of Ordinance is amended to read as follows. 53.36, fire hydrant rentals. Private fire protection, the rates or charges for fire protection afforded by private hydrants shall be based on the respective sizes of the connections of such private fire hydrants as follows. Size of fire hydrant connection, 2 inch. Annual charge, apart from metered rates, July 1st, 2017, 95.58. 3 inch, 95.58. 4 inch, 205.87. 6 inch, 588.19. 8 inch, 1,249.91. 10 inch, 2,240.250. 12-inch, 3,639.45. Section 4, if any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this ordinance is held unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, such information should not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance. Section 5, all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with this ordinance are hereby repealed. Section 6, this ordinance shall take effect October 1, 2026, after its passage and publication according to law.

I move. I move. Second. Seconded by Jason. Thank you. Any discussion? Clerk, call the roll.

Council Member Velez?

Yes.

Council Member Bell?

Yes.

Council Member Gerrard?

Yes.

Council Member Stallins? Yes. Council Member Marsh?

No.

Council Member Crabtree?

Yes.

Council Member Hughes?

Yes.

Council Member Martin?

Yes.

Council Member Sumner? Yes. That passes on first reading.

Okay. Item E, Ordinance 29-2026, 26 property tax rate, first reading.

An ordinance providing for making the property tax levy for city purposes for fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026 and ending June 30, 2027. Now, therefore, be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, as follows. Section 1, for city purposes for fiscal year July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, there is hereby made a tax levy of 20.2 cents on each 100 of taxable real property 23.9 cents on each 100 of taxable personal property and 25.1 cents on each 100 of taxable motor vehicle and watercraft property additionally a tax levy and ad valorem tax of one and one half cents on each 100 of fair cash value of all unmanufactured tobacco subject to taxation within the city limits is imposed upon each establishment, firm, company, or corporation handling and processing the same except as otherwise exempt in a tax levy and ad valorem of four and one half cents on each $100 of the fair cash value of all unmanufactured agricultural products subject to taxation within the city limits is imposed upon each establishment, firm, company, or corporation handling and processing the same except as otherwise exempt. All levies herein shall be deposited into the general fund for the general operation of city government. A discount of 2% shall be allowed on all taxes except motor vehicle and watercraft property taxes in the amount of $1 or more paid by October 31st, 2026, and the total tax due shall be collected from November 1st, 2026 to November 30th, 2026. All taxes except motor vehicle and watercraft property taxes levied herewith, which remain unpaid on December 1, 2026, shall begin to accrue, attach, and be added from said date a flat penalty of 10% onto the total amount of said taxes then due and payable. Additionally, tax bills not paid before December 1, 2026, shall have added to them interest at the rate of 1.5% per month or a fraction of a month until said taxes are paid. The penalty and interest as provided herein shall be added to unpaid taxes and collected by the city. Should the tax herein become delinquent, the city administrator, the chief financial officer, and or the city attorney are authorized to file suit to collect all delinquent taxes plus court costs and expenses, including a reasonable attorney fee incurred by reason of such delinquency. Section 250, section subsection, Senate's clause or phrase of this ordinance is held unconstitutional or otherwise valid. 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. This ordinance shall take effect after its passage and publication according to law.

Motion. Motion. Second by Mike. Any discussion?

I just wanted to confirm, Mr. Mayor, thank you, that the 20.2 cents is, I just wanted to confirm, that was the number that the council committed the whole sentence? Correct. Okay, thank you. It was.

Any more discussions? Right. Clerk, please call the roll.

Council Member Velez?

Yes.

Council Member Bell?

Yes.

Council Member Gerald?

Yes.

Council Member Stallins?

Yes.

Council Member Marsh?

Yes.

Council Member Crabtree?

Yes.

Council Member Hughes? Yes. Council Member Martin?

Yes.

Council Member Sumner? Yes. That passes on first reading.

All right. Agree. Anything? Okay. Okay. Municipal order. 37-2026, surplus property.

Whereas the attached listed property was purchased for use by the Public Works Department, and whereas said items are in need of repair exceeding current value and or of no value to the city in delivering public services. Now, thereof be it ordered, Hopkinsville City Council hereby declares the items on the attached list surplus property and authorizes the mayor to dispose of said items by methods available in KRS 82.083. Motion to second.

Motion to second. Any discussion? All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed? Likewise. All righty. We're moving right along on that. All right. Executive Order 41-2026, Historic Preservation Commission.

Effective immediately, Josh Osteen shall be appointed to fill the unexpired term of Chris Gilkey on the Historic Preservation Commission. This term shall expire November 30th, 2028. There's no action necessary.

Thank you. Item 13, other. Any business under other? Business under other. Councilman, comments?

Oh, it's quiet tonight.

All right. We will not be having item 15, no close. Because we have not gotten an update. And I move to item 16, adjournment.

War 5 is adjourned.

Okay, so I'm going to do the adjoining thought and I was very intimidated by this because this is really my first time speaking. So I wanted to talk a little bit about something about the community, but that also tied in with me and I was trying to figure out, well, what could that possibly be? And then I was like, talk about what you know. So I've been in education for 17 years and something really happened neat last week with me that kind of ties into the community. So I just wrote down a few little thoughts about it. I said, I want to share a very positive experience I had last week in regards to schools, which greatly affects our community. Last week, I was at our new Christian County High School for a meeting, and we met in the den. If you haven't been to the new high school, if you don't know what the den is, it's like the bookstore, the media center, and there's four walls in there, but three of them are glass. And it's in the commons area where all the kids are. And we had a meeting there last week from 11 to 1, right in the middle of lunch. So we're having this meeting in this fishbowl with all these kids, teenagers out there, eating lunch and just having a big time. And I was sitting there, I got preoccupied and I wasn't paying attention to the, to the meeting because the kids were also happy. And I got caught up in that and I was watching them talk and just interact and they were all smiling and it just made me so happy. And I thought, um, If you haven't seen the new school or taken time to understand the concept behind it, I encourage you to do so. It's truly a wonder, and I believe that it's one of the most positive things that's happened for the young kids in our community. Because ultimately, this just isn't about a beautiful new building. It's about creating a place where our young people can learn, connect, and feel proud of where they came from. And I think that's something we're celebrating and something that we need to remember when we're thinking about things for the future for our kids. So that's just kind of a really happy moment that I had last week in the schools I thought I'd share.

Second. Second. All in favor say aye. Aye. We are adjourned. Thank you.