City Council approves Hoptown Helps grant recipients

Council members approved grant awards from the Hoptown Helps Program, and the Hopkinsville Water Environment Authority presented a request to raise its wholesale rate at Tuesday’s Hopkinsville City Council meeting.

The Hoptown Helps Program was established in March and became a way for local nonprofits to apply for grants. In lieu of the program’s creation, the city’s 2025-26 budget did not include any direct funding for nonprofits.

The city authorized $250,000 for the program, and around 22 nonprofits applied for funds. The council approved 12 of the applicants that were recommended by the Future Funding Committee. The nonprofits selected include Sanctuary Inc., Men 2 Be, Grace and Mercy and Campanile Productions. City Clerk Brittany Byrum spotlighted all of the approved applicants and the amounts they received.

The council also approved an ordinance to end the Hopkinsville Solid Waste Enterprise’s curbside recycling program due to low participation. The ordinance will take effect on September 30.

Turning toward water rates, HWEA officials spotlighted their plan to increase wholesale water rates for the Christian County Water District. The water rate for the district has remained $2.52 per 1,000 gallons of water since 2010. HWEA Chief Operating Officer Melissa Spurr shared that they had a study performed, and the findings determined that an updated water rate was necessary to reflect rising service costs.

HWEA Director of Water, Daniel Lancaster, shared that they would implement the rate change in three stages. On October 1, the rate will change to $3.07, and after a year it will increase to $3.53. Then on October 1, 2027, the rate will be $3.98. Lancaster says the district’s board of directors voted to not oppose the rate change when it’s submitted to the Public Service Commission.

Moving forward, Lancaster says they plan to readjust rates every three years. Council members will vote on HWEA’s rate increase request at a future meeting.