Council hears rezoning recommendation, financial report

Hopkinsville City Council approved several measures at Tuesday’s meeting and heard from the Zoning Commission and the monthly financial report.

Tom Britton with Zoning Commission says they’ve been reviewing the zoning plan for the city as a whole and came to the conclusion that an area along South Clay Street to East 8th Street over to South Campbell Street and down to East 10th Street could benefit from rezoning.  That stretch of land is currently zoned as “I-1” for industrial use, but Britton says it was never developed correctly and ultimately does not serve the area well.

He says the Commission is recommending it be rezoned to be a “B-3” district, which would match the rest of downtown Hopkinsville and allow for both business and residential use.

Councilman Steve Keel made a motion for the Zoning Commission to draft an amendment to the zoning plan to be brought back before council for a vote, which was approved unanimously.

Chief Financial Officer Melissa Clayton gave the financial report for April, saying they’ve collected roughly $41.6 million in revenues and had $36.7 million in expenses.

The City budgeted for $4.9 million to be collected in payroll tax for this fiscal year, but has already collected $5.1 million, with the fiscal year to end June 30.

Council approved an ordinance approving the establishment of a Small Business Commission on second-reading, and approved a municipal order to allow for an application for grant funds to be submitted to FEMA.  The grant, if approved, would be for storm debris removal and would be a matching grant comprised of a 13 percent from the City, 12 percent from match from the State and a 75 percent match from FEMA.