Mayor Swears In New Ward 1 City Councilwoman

After hearing from all five Ward 1 candidates, the Hopkinsville City Council is pleased to welcome Cornelia Belle to its ranks.

Belle, who wanted to fill the unexpired term of her dear friend Fred Atkins, told the council she wasn't sure if she would run in the general election.

It was that honesty that got Councilman Paul Henson's vote.

After sitting through her first votes as a Councilwoman, Belle thanked everyone for their faith in her.

Though the night was about filling the Ward 1 seat vacancy, Hopkinsville Mayor Dan Kemp and City Council members took time to remember and honor the late Fred Atkins.

Kemp presented Atkins' widow, Paulette, with a plaque commemorating all of the hard work Fred put in during his many years of service to the city and its residents.

Paulette says the one thing that made Fred a great and loved man was his humble manner.

In other business, City Council approved the amended first reading of the garbage collection ordinance on a 10 to 1 vote, with Ann Cherry the lone no vote.

The attorney for BSI Waste Management, David Broderick told the council that the ordinance violated free enterprise.

Solid Waste Authority Attorney, Steve Underwood says the ordinance is fair for everyone.

Council also voted to approve the 2012-2013 Inner-City REZ budget of 500-thousand dollar and the 60-thousand dollar Homeland Security Grant application.

Meanwhile, Chief Financial Officer, Robert Martin told the City Council that at the end of the fiscal year the Payroll tax collections had exceeded the budget for the year by over 100-thousand dollars, with $12,779,558 collected.