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Hopkinsville council approves annexation, cable franchise renewal and several municipal orders
Summary
The Hopkinsville City Council passed an annexation ordinance on second reading, approved a 10-year AT&T franchise renewal on first reading, and adopted municipal orders including a $27,011 fund reprogramming and a downtown initiative.
Hopkinsville City Council approved a series of ordinances and municipal orders at its February meeting, including the annexation of roughly 14.50 acres into the city and a 10-year franchise renewal with AT&T Kentucky.
The council passed an annexation ordinance (AO 3-2025) on second reading for approximately 14.4966 acres owned by Barrow Development LLC. The council also approved on first reading an ordinance to renew a 10-year franchise with AT&T Kentucky (O 04-2025) allowing AT&T to provide IP-enabled video services within the city; the ordinance states the renewal will run from the prior franchise expiration date in 2023 through 2033. Other actions taken included reprogramming $27,011 within the inner-city enterprise zone budget, adoption of the mayor’s “24/7 downtown initiative,” declaration of surplus property for disposal, and an immediate appointment to the Human Rights Commission.
Why it matters: The annexation expands the city’s boundary and brings new property under Hopkinsville’s service-delivery and taxation plan. The franchise renewal clarifies AT&T’s right to provide IP-based video services locally and extends the city’s relationship with the provider through 2033. The municipal orders allocate existing local funds to housing assistance and downtown programming and allow the city to dispose of obsolete property.
Key outcomes and formal actions
- Approval of minutes: Council approved the minutes for the Jan. 21, 2025, regular meeting by voice vote (motion and second recorded; voice vote affirmed).
- Annexation — AO 3-2025 (Barrow Development LLC): Motion and second called; roll-call vote recorded as unanimous “yes” by the council members present. Outcome: passed on second reading. The ordinance text references state annexation statutory provisions and says city taxes and services will take effect after publication.
- AT&T franchise renewal — O 04-2025: Introduced and advanced on first reading. The ordinance renews a 10-year, nonexclusive franchise for AT&T Kentucky to provide IP-enabled video services and authorizes the mayor to sign the franchise renewal agreement. Council conducted a roll-call vote; outcome: passed on first reading.
- Fund reprogramming (inner-city residential enterprise zone): The council reprogrammed $27,011 within the inner-city residential enterprise zone budget: $2,011 moved from interagency governmental task force to housing assistance programs, and $25,000 moved from homeownership assistance to housing assistance grants. Motion moved and seconded; passed by voice vote.
- Mayor’s 24/7 downtown initiative — Municipal Order O5-2025: Council adopted the mayor’s 24/7 downtown initiative and directed funding from the inner-city program budget. Motion and second recorded; passed by voice vote.
- Surplus property — Municipal Order O6-2025: Council declared an attached list of administrative items surplus and authorized the mayor to dispose of them under state law. Motion and second recorded; passed by voice vote.
- Appointment — Executive Order 21-2025: By executive order, Quentin James was appointed to the Human Rights Commission to fill the unexpired term of Bridal Bogard; the term expires June 30, 2027. No motion was required.
Notes on votes and procedure: Where the transcript records roll-call votes, council members recorded their votes individually (record shows affirmative votes by Council members Stallings, Marsh, Crabtree, Craig, Martin, Sumner, Bogard, Velez, Bell, Gerald and Smith on the annexation). Several municipal orders were adopted by voice vote with the mayor calling for “aye.”
What the council did not decide: The AT&T ordinance was advanced on first reading rather than adopted in final form; additional readings or administrative steps may follow as required by city ordinance and state law.
Votes (selected)
- AO 3-2025 (Barrow Development LLC annexation): outcome — passed (second reading). Recorded roll-call: 11 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain (council members recorded by name during roll call).
- O 04-2025 (AT&T franchise renewal): outcome — passed (first reading). Roll-call recorded as affirmative by the council; further steps expected per ordinance procedure.
- Municipal Order: fund reprogramming ($27,011): outcome — approved (voice vote).
- Municipal Order O5-2025 (mayor’s 24/7 downtown initiative): outcome — approved (voice vote).
- Municipal Order O6-2025 (surplus property): outcome — approved (voice vote).
- Executive Order 21-2025 (Human Rights Commission appointment): outcome — effective immediately, Quentin James appointed through 06/30/2027.
Council members present and recorded during votes included Council member Stallings; Council member Marsh; Council member Crabtree; Council member Craig; Council member Martin; Council member Sumner; Council member Bogard; Council member Velez; Council member Bell; Council member Gerald; and Council member Smith. The mayor presided.
