City Council receives integrity report for the Blue Streak Building

The Hopkinsville City Council received a report about the integrity of the Blue Streak Printers Building and approved orders concerning local speed limits and wholesale water rates at Tuesday’s meeting.

To start the meeting, the Hopkinsville Fire Department was recognized for recent recruits, promotions and retirements. After graduating from the Fire Academy in September, twelve new firefighters were sworn in by Hopkinsville Mayor J.R. Knight. The following firefighters were sworn in: Dalton Castile, Cambrin Hayes, Jamison Sholar, James Young, Zachary Ohm, John Tyler DeArmond, Justin Newby, Keith Stallons, Sahib Farmer, Jeffery Medina, Jordan Ladd and Michael Klawes.

Firefighter and EMT Nathan Stewart was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and Engineer Mike Wilson was recognized for retiring after serving the City of Hopkinsville for 30 years. Then, from the Hopkinsville Police Department, Officer Michael Graham was sworn in.

The Blue Streak Printers Building has been a piece of downtown Hopkinsville since 1912, and it has grown dilapidated. At a city council meeting in September, members of the community expressed their support for the building’s rehabilitation.

Kelly Gardner from Gardner Engineering and Consulting PLLC did an exterior and interior review of the building and says it should remain unoccupied until it is restored. He says the building’s roof, walls and slabs are in poor condition.

Ward 6 Council Member Travis Martin says they did a good job saving the L&N Depot and wants to see the same happen with the Blue Streak Building.

Knight says they are planning to get community feedback on what folks would like to see the building become. However, he says he would like for a business to move into the downstairs portion of the building and to have the second floor become residences or offices.

For the building to be sold to a buyer wanting to restore it, the council will first have to designate it as surplus property. Until the building is restored, the sidewalk in front is set to be blocked off.

Turning toward ordinances, council members approved reducing the speed limit on Deepwood Drive from 30 mph to 25 mph. They also approved allowing the Hopkinsville Water Environment Authority to increase its wholesale rate in increments.

On October 1, the rate per 1,000 gallons of water increased to $3.07, and after a year, it will increase to $3.53. Then on October 1, 2027, the rate will be $3.98.