It was a contentious meeting for Hopkinsville City Council Tuesday evening, when landlords and members of the Hopkinsville Human Relations Commission voiced their opinions on future potential ordinances.
Executive Director Bernard Standard spoke during public comments and urged the council to consider putting the ordinances they are proposing, concerning landlord and tenant agreements, on the business list for Committee of the Whole for discussion. He says the ordinances include a basic property code, which wouldn’t change much from the existing one, and a uniform residence tenant and landlord agreement concerning property repairs, which he feels is much needed.
The other is a rental license agreement, which Standard says requires landlords to file for a free license with the city so they know who is a landlord, and the last is a nuisance ordinance. He says they will continue to work on the ordinances, but in the end the commission just wants everyone to have affordable, livable housing.
Several landlords spoke against the proposed ordinances, with Crystal Kirkman saying council shouldn’t punish all the landlords with new regulations because just a few are doing wrong.
City council approved a motion put forth by member Patricia Bell to put the ordinances on the business list for Committee of the Whole for future consideration, with Amy Craig, Tom Johnson and Thomas Grant voting against it.
Council recognized several newly promoted Hopkinsville firefighters and retiring Captain Tim McGar, along with the Gateway Academy Robotics Team, which is going to the World Robotics Competition next week.