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City weighs short-term recycling options as council approves several ordinances including commercial-recycling repeal
Summary
Hopkinsville officials reviewed two short-term options to maintain commercial recycling service — shifting costs to businesses via standard trash rates or the city temporarily covering about $20,000 a month until a contractor is found. Council approved multiple ordinances and a municipal order on Sept. 16; one ordinance repealed the
The Hopkinsville City Council on Sept. 16 heard a report on commercial recycling options and then approved multiple ordinances and a municipal order during the same meeting.
Recycling options: The city’s recycling board presented two options to avoid interruption of commercial recycling service. Brian Silver, general manager (presenting with Wendell Lynch), outlined the options:
- Option A: Treat commercial recycling like standard trash service so participating businesses would pay the applicable trash rate. - Option B: The city would temporarily cover recycling collection costs while the city runs a short bid process to secure a contractor. That plan would require the city to pay about $20,000 per month until Dec. 31; the board estimated three months of interim coverage could cost $60,000–$75,000.
The presenters said about 159 businesses participate in the commercial recycling program, plus 24 businesses in the industrial park. Council members questioned whether taxpayers should foot the interim bill and how long the city would continue to cover costs.
Council action and votes at a glance: Council considered and acted on several ordinances and one municipal order during the meeting. Results below reflect roll-call votes recorded in the meeting transcript.
- Ordinance 24-2025, authorizing operation of street-legal special purpose vehicles (second reading): Approved on second reading (roll call passed; majority affirmative).
- Ordinance 25-2025, repealing section 93.07 (commercial recycling rates) of the Hopkinsville code (second reading): Approved on second reading; roll call included a recorded “No” vote from Council member Martin.
- Ordinance 26-2025, fiscal-year 2025–26 operational budget amendment (second reading): Approved on second reading (roll call passed).
- Ordinance 27-2025, property tax levy for fiscal year 2025–26 (first reading): Passed on first reading; the roll call recorded Council member Bogard voting “No.” (A second reading is required for final adoption per council procedure.)
- Municipal Order 40-2025, reprogramming $83,090.67 from demolition to downtown incentive programs within the Inner City Residential Enterprise Zone budget: Approved by council as part of the meeting’s municipal-business agenda.
What happened: After the recycling presentation the council did not take a motion at the meeting but received the report and discussed short-term options. Separately, councilors completed roll-call votes on several ordinances and a municipal order; the transcript records the roll-call process for each bill and shows the measures advancing as noted above.
Why it matters: The decision about how to fund commercial recycling in the short term affects small and industrial businesses participating in the program, as well as the city’s budget and taxpayers. The ordinances and municipal order change city code (repeal of the commercial-recycling section) and adjust the budget and capital allocations for downtown incentives.
Clarifying details: Meeting presenters estimated 159 commercial participants and 24 industrial-park accounts in the recycling program. The temporary city-pay option would cost roughly $20,000 monthly until Dec. 31; councilors observed that would spread the cost across all taxpayers if the city covered it. The repeal of section 93.07 (commercial recycling rates) was approved on second reading, and council advanced other budget and tax-levy measures as described.
Next steps: The recycling board proposed a two-week procurement window to select a contractor and suggested turning service over to a contractor by Dec. 31; city staff and council will continue discussions about funding and procurement. Ordinance 27 (property tax levy) requires a second reading before adoption.
