After the ordinances were only presented on Tuesday, the Hopkinsville City Council approved amendments to the 2026-27 capital and operational budgets in a speedy second vote at Thursday’s special-called meeting.
The amendments allow the city to absorb some Community and Development Services programs such as The Legacy Hopkinsville Program, The Inner-City Residential Enterprise Program and the Land Bank Authority, as well as building code services and positions.
The amendment also includes a recommendation from the Future Funding Committee to provide a generator for the Christian County Weather Spotter Network at 100 Margaret Place, at a cost around $50,000. The network originally requested the generator through the Hoptown Helps Program.
Before council members voted for the capital budget amendment, Ward 6 Council Member Travis Martin criticized how the amendments were not mentioned prior to Tuesday’s meeting and citizens were not able to provide feedback since special-called meetings do not include a public comments period.
Martin requested that the amendments be tabled to allow the public to provide feedback and for the council to gather more information concerning the transition, but his motion was not approved.
Following the failed motion, Ward One Council Member Vance Smith called it unethical to take jobs away from CDS. Hopkinsville Mayor J.R. Knight says all the jobs will be transferred to the city, but Ward Nine Council Member Brittanie Bogard claims otherwise. Currently six positions are migrating from CDS, but the number of positions leaving the agency has not been confirmed. Â
Along with capital and operational budget amendments, council members also voted on an amendment to make the City of Hopkinsville the collector of zoning and building permit fees.
Martin, Bogard and Ward 11 Council Member Jason Bell voted against the amendments, and Smith walked out of the meeting and did not vote at all.