The expansion of the Hopkinsville Greenway System will continue as planned following approval of a budget amendment, and Steve Futrell was named interim fire chief at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
The Greenway System is now in phase two of the project, which includes connecting the existing trail across Country Club Lane and out to Foston Chapel Road. The project includes rectifying “the pit” at Country Club Lane and Lafayette Road, where a bridge is intended to go over the roadway there, keeping pedestrians out of harm’s way.
The budget amendment changes the total WINS initiative budget to $12.3 million from $12,045,000, which is due to the cost of the Greenway project changing from $3.3 million to $3.7 million. The increase in the cost did result in a $101,221 shortfall in the budget, but council approved using contributions from fundraising efforts and from the state to make up that shortage.
Mayor Carter Hendricks explained the funding that will be used to continue the progress on the Greenway.
Construction could get underway sometime in October or November. In other action, council approved appointing Hopkinsville Fire Department Deputy Chief Steve Futrell as interim fire chief, until a replacement for Freddie Montgomery is hired. Futrell says he intends to make sure the fire department continues providing excellent service.
Mayor Hendricks says the hiring process—which is open to both internal and external applicants—is well underway, with the application deadline having been last Friday. The screening process will continue this week with interviews to start soon.
City council approved changing the name of the Hopkinsville Human Relations Commission to the Hopkinsville Human Rights Commission.
