After the Hopkinsville Committee of the Whole’s action on Thursday night, the City Council will consider amending the budget to partner with Christian County Fiscal Court to split the cost of a $2.5 million bond for an upgrade of the two-way radio system, including four additional sites.
Before any new business on the agenda was conducted, the Committee elected Steve Keel as its chair, Amy Craig as the vice-chair, and Travis Martin as the presiding officer in the mayor’s absence.
In new business, the Committee heard from Christian County Emergency Management Director Randy Graham, Judge-Executive Jerry Gilliam, and District 6 Magistrate Phillip Peterson about upgrading the Kenwood two-way radio system for improved safety of first responders and citizens in the city and county.
Graham said Kenwood would set up the system and he would be responsible for the overall management.
Peterson explained the problem with the current Kenwood Generation 1 two-way radio system when there is an outage.
click to download audioHe added that the upgrade to the Kenwood Generation 2 system would solve that problem.
click to download audioWhen asked about potential partners, Judge Gilliam mentioned Oak Grove as the only other potential stakeholder because he “doesn’t want to be that guy to ask the county’s volunteer fire departments to share the cost.”
click to download audioFurthermore, he pointed out that he says this upgrade is an investment in growth.
click to download audioMayor J.R. Knight said his main concern is the safety of their employees.
click to download audioNevertheless, his primary concern lies in determining how the city will finance the project, indicating that they will have to do some digging into it.
After further discussion, the Committee unanimously approved the motion to partner with the County and split the cost 50-50. It now goes to the full City Council for consideration.