Hopkinsville City Council Members approved amendments to the 2026-27 capital and operational budgets to support the Christian County Weather Spotter Network and to transfer some Community and Development Services programs to the city at Tuesday’s meeting.
City Chief Financial Officer Melissa Clayton shared that the capital budget amendment 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 of around $50,000. Clayton says the network originally requested the generator through the Hoptown Helps Program.
The amendment also includes funds to support the establishment of a building codes department within the city and purchase geographic information system (GIS) equipment.
Then, the operational budget amendment moves programs such as the Legacy Hopkinsville Program and the Inner-City Residential Enterprise Zone Program from CDS to the City of Hopkinsville, as well as responsibilities related to building codes and permits, according to Mayor J.R. Knight. The amendment also supports the creation of city positions to manage these duties.
Clayton and Knight say the people at CDS who have these jobs will be able to apply to the new positions under the city. This is not the first time CDS programs were transferred to the city; in early 2024, the Hopkinsville Fire Department took over code enforcement duties.
Knight says the transition comes as the city and CDS have been struggling to develop a partnership contract for over a year. CDS is still responsible for planning and zoning.
The amendments were not discussed at a prior Committee of the Whole meeting and will require a second vote at a future city council meeting.