The mayors of Christian County’s two largest cities spoke about accomplishments and challenges facing their communities at the annual Chamber of Commerce State of the Community breakfast Tuesday morning.
Kelli Pendleton is the president of the chamber and says they support the Christian County Board of Education’s proposed ‘nickel tax’ increase that would service the debt on a new Hopkinsville High School academic building because the chamber believes successful communities invest in infrastructure for public education.
Oak Grove Mayor Theresa Jarvis highlighted her town’s award-winning festivals and says they’re excited about the new Oak Grove Racing and Gaming facility that will feature harness racing as soon as this fall and that will be complete in about 18 months.
Hopkinsville Mayor Carter Hendricks touted about $500 million in recent industrial reinvestments and new investments in the southern Pennyrile region. He says median income levels and tourism revenues have also increased in recent years.
The mayor addressed a recent spike in gun violence, saying that while the Hopkinsville Police Department will be vigilant to find those responsible, he urges law-abiding citizens to not let a few define an entire city.
Mayor Hendricks will give his budget address on May 3rd and he says increased pension obligations will mean cuts in some areas.
He says the budget picture becomes bleaker in the future if the General Assembly doesn’t take action to solve the pension crisis and to give cities and counties relief.
You can hear most of the State of the Community breakfast Sunday morning at 9 on Lite Rock 98.7 and online at lite987whop.com on our weekly public affairs program, Don’t Be Afraid to Say It.