Councilmember Wendell Lynch is primed to become interim mayor of Hopkinsville, following a motion at Tuesday’s city council meeting.
Former Mayor Carter Hendricks recently stepped down from that position to accept a new role as the executive director of the Southwestern Kentucky Economic Development Council, and City Attorney Doug Willen says council has until March 2 to fill the vacancy.
Councilman Terry Parker made a motion to put a municipal order naming Lynch as interim mayor on the February 18 council meeting, to be effective on March 1. The motion was approved unanimously, with Lynch saying he’s honored by council’s support and he does not take the responsibility lightly.
In other action, council approved a municipal order that allows an expenditure of up to $179,900 to match 20 percent of up to $783,000 in grant funds from the Transportation Alternatives Program from the Department of Transportation. It will go towards construction of a pedestrian bridge and around 9,400 feet of new trail for the Greenway System.
Four new Hopkinsville Police Department officers were sworn in at the meeting—Shaun Moore, Troyvine Jefferson, Megan Little and Maricela Williams.