Hopkinsville City Council approved the 2022 property tax rate on second readings at a special called meeting Thursday night along with the purchase of more than 80 new security cameras for public safety.
The council approved by a 9-2 vote the tax levy of 22.5 cents on each $100 of taxable real property, 23.9 cents on each $100 of taxable personal property, and 25.1 cents on $100 of taxable motor vehicles and watercraft property. Councilmen Jason Bell and Terry Park cast the no votes. Councilman Tom Johnson was absent from the meeting.
The council also authorized an ordinance read by City Clerk Crissy Fletcher for the issuance of bonds of over $3 million for Ascend Elements.
click to download audioThe ordinance passed by a 10-1 vote with Councilman Chuck Crabtree the lone nay vote.
In other business, Mayor Wendell Lynch said the two municipal orders on the agenda were forwarded directly to the council from the Future Funding Committee. He asked Councilwoman Amy Craig to comment on the public safety projects.
click to download audioThe council unanimously authorized up to $300,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funds to purchase a total of 85 new security cameras.
Councilman Travis Martin explained the committee forwarded the Gateway Lane sidewalk project to the council for the safety of students after he received a complaint about speeding but then he noticed a number of students walking on the road.
click to download audioCouncilwoman Natasha Francis then made a motion to send the sidewalk project to the Committee of the Whole for further discussion. However, Martin and Councilman Steve Keel expressed their frustration that this should be sent to the committee after Francis cited that she didn’t feel the city should spend the money on sidewalks when the schools won’t be there much longer.
After more discussion, the motion to send the sidewalk project to the Committee of the Whole failed to pass by a 8-3 vote with Francis, Kimberly McCarley and Alethia West voting to forward the municipal order. However, the original motion to fund the sidewalk project also failed to pass by a 5-6 vote with Patricia Waddell-Bell, Jason Bell, Phillip Brooks, Francis, McCarly, and West voting no.
