Hopkinsville Mayor J.R. Knight discussed the city’s Growing Home Initiative and possible changes coming to the City Council at Thursday’s Hopkinsville Kiwanis Club meeting.
The Growing Home Initiative focuses on public safety, economic development, city cleanliness and staff support. To attract more retail restaurants and businesses to Hopkinsville, Knight says he and his staff plan to attend a retail convention in May.
With more jobs coming to Hopkinsville, Knight says more housing needs to be established as well. Kitchen Food Co. is set to have a facility at the Christian County Spec Building that will create 925 jobs and those incoming workers need homes. Knight says he wants people working in Hopkinsville to be able to live in the city too.
Knight says he and other community leaders are set to meet with developers about a housing project that could bring 175 to 250 new houses to north Hopkinsville. Â Â
On January 7, incumbent and newly elected city council members had their first meeting of the year. At that meeting, Knight proposed moving the council and Committee of the Whole meetings from 6 p.m. to 5 p.m. The council voted to receive more public feedback before making any changes.
By making meetings earlier, Knight says city staff would not have to work as late on those nights, and the city would save around $21,000 per year.
To receive public feedback about the possible meeting time change, a survey is available here.
Further concerning the city council, Knight says he is going to work to see if council member term limits can be changed from two-year terms to four-year terms. Knight says the recurring elections stifle council progress.
the council will discuss amending their meeting schedule at the Committee of the Whole meeting set for January 23.