Following Committee of the Whole recommendations, the Hopkinsville City Council will consider the renaming of a local park, a ward map amendment, and a transportation grant for Phase 3 of the Greenway System.
During Thursday night’s Committee of the Whole meeting, Chief Financial Officer Melissa Clayton announced their intention to apply for a Transportation Alternatives Program grant, which has been utilized for the previous two phases of the rail trail system. She said this grant would support the construction of the third phase, estimated to cost over $6.9 million, requiring a 20% match of funds from the City.
click to download audioMayor J.R. Knight explained that the grant would fund the construction of a bridge over the Eagle Way Bypass, connecting the rail trail to Tie Breaker Park, rather than routing it underneath the road.
click to download audioHe noted that this would complete the initial phase, integrating the rail trail into Tie Breaker Park.
Responding to Ward 4 Councilman Chuck Crabtree’s question regarding the bridge’s maintenance costs, Public Works Director Mike Perry stated that the main expense in the coming years would be the bridge inspections.
click to download audioIn other new business, the Committee discussed renaming the new 2nd Street Park after the late Fred Atkins, a former city councilmember. Mayor Knight said that the existing Fred Atkins Park, next to the Coffee Connection in the pocket park on Main Street downtown, is currently locked up.
click to download audioPerry agreed, mentioning that he had considered this idea for a couple of years.
click to download audioThe Committee also forwarded a municipal order to the City Council to amend the City’s Ward Map following the recent annexation of three new subdivisions. The recommendation is to designate the new Pembroke Road Property at the intersection of Pembroke Road and Bill Bryan Boulevard, along with the Ronald K. Berry property, as Ward 8, with the New Barrow Development Annexation on Lafayette Road to be designated as Ward 7.
