Hopkinsville Mayor J. R. Knight is pleased with the accomplishments of his administration during the first year in office, with improvements in public safety, city cleanliness, code enforcement, and other improvements noted.
Mayor Knight highlighted some of the accomplishments of 2023 in his annual report that was released recently. For the first time in 13 years, the Hopkinsville Police Department is fully staffed. With increased staffing, the department was able to seize 180 guns, $208,428.38 in drug money, and increase patrols and specialized units ensuing the lowest rate of homicides in 5 years.
This year the Hopkinsville Fire Department formed the Fire Prevention Division, encompassing the Fire Marshall’s office and code enforcement. This division is responsible for all life-safety inspections and nuisance code violations. The establishment of this division will help ensure that city safety and cleanliness will remain a top priority as well as help expedite clean-up processes when needed. Knight says another accomplishment was moving code enforcement to the Hopkinsville Fire Department.
click to download audioMayor Knight says he has given the fire department the ability to review codes and write citations when needed.
click to download audioHe encouraged citizens of Hopkinsville to let his office know if there are areas that need attention.
click to download audioKnight also noted the Hopkinsville Fire Department has plans to establish a new fire station, Station 5. The establishment of Station 5 will mean increased fire protection for the first time in 24 years. The location will cover residential areas of the city annexed along Fort Campbell Boulevard;
Funded by the ARPA Grant, the city increased the number of emergency call boxes along the rail trail. It coordinated the installation of more than 80 new cameras at an additional 39 locations including the rail trail and other sites throughout the city. The new cameras provide a higher-resolution image for law enforcement and monitoring purposes. More importantly, the new cameras provide image analysis software to help reduce the work involved in assessing the video images captured.
Supporting small businesses remains a top priority for city leadership, and the City of Hopkinsville is committed to helping small businesses grow and thrive in our community. This year, the City of Hopkinsville established the Hopkinsville Small Business Commission to bridge the gap between city government and small business owners. The establishment of this commission allows small business owners a platform to share concerns or provide insight on how city government can create a culture of success for small businesses.
In 2023 the city announced two new incoming industries, as well as two industry expansions. Announced growth and expansions will total 250+ new jobs and over $335M in new capital investment. In addition, the city opened Commerce Park II leveraging $100M in non-local investment in road, rail, and utility infrastructure, as well as helping secure over $10M in grant funding for industrial site development efforts.
The Lot Next Door Program is designed to put vacant and abandoned lots back into productive usage by transferring lots to residents who will take care of the properties to code standards. With the hiring of an administrative assistant, Mayor Knight transferred the program’s first two properties to Hopkinsville residents, and 65 additional properties are currently pending.
The Land Bank Authority is working on a strategic plan to help the city manage the nearly 1,000 vacant lots throughout the community. Mayor Knight has requested a detailed plan to bring to the council and the community that stems the creation of these vacant lots and puts the current lots into productive usage so that the city no longer spends taxpayer dollars on mowing and other abatement forms.
Mayor Knight increased funding for the city’s Beautification Program in the current fiscal year budget.
The administration recognizes the importance of increased support to our employees to ensure we provide high-quality services for our citizens.
The mayor’s budget included a full-time counselor for the Hopkinsville Fire Department. First responders are routinely exposed to high-stress environments, and the cumulative effects of these exposures can have a psychological impact. The counselor can assist employees and help mitigate any potential mental health challenges that may stem from the job;
• The budget also includes two paid, part-time chaplain positions for the Hopkinsville Police Department;
• Completed the installation of revenue and code enforcement software;
• Created and funded a public information officer position to increase government transparency for the Hopkinsville taxpayers;
• Gave city employees a 6.5% payroll increase to keep up with the increased costs of inflation and to help with staff morale and retention.