It was a packed house at Tuesday’s Hopkinsville City Council meeting, where they heard the monthly financial report and recognized several people.
During the financial report, Chief Financial Officer Robert Martin was the bearer of some bad news, saying that unless something happened with pension reform, the City of Hopkinsville’s insurance payments could increase by $2.1 million.
Mayor Carter Hendricks encouraged councilmembers to reach out to local legislators and ask them to take a stance on Senate Bill 66, which would offer some relief by phasing in the impact and making the increase approximately $550,000 rather than 2.1 million.
Martin says revenues from payroll tax collection is up 2.9 percent over this time last year, which is important as they try to make projections for next fiscal year’s budget.
The 2018 top 14 Mayor’s Scholars were recognized at the meeting—eighth grade students from across Christian County who enter an essay about their concerns and wants for the community into a competition. There were 74 entries this year and the first place winner was Elli Buckingham of Heritage Christian Academy.
The Bluegrass Cheercats were recognized as well as they go on to a competition in Orlando, Florida in May. Five new Hopkinsville Fire Fighters and one new Hopkinsville Police Officer was sworn in.
The top 14 Mayor’s Scholars were: Allison Craig and William Carver-Hughes, who tied for 13th place, Ka’tijah Davis and Dylan Griffiths tying for 11th place. Joseph Boor and Grasen Givens both took ninth place with Riley Johnson and Madison Winkler both taking seventh. Elaine Baker took sixth, Riley Hancock fith, fourth place went to Jocelyn Porchia, third was Randy Schimp, Lauren Sisk took second and Elli Buckingham placed first.