HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – Councilmembers are in the initial stages of approving new guidelines for the City of Hopkinsville that would implement a strict process for how property and buildings are purchased by the city.

These guidelines include the mayor writing and presenting the reasons and terms of purchasing the property, implementing third party inspections, enforcing confidentiality procedures and more.

During the May 21 Hopkinsville Committee of the Whole meeting, City Attorney Doug Willen proposed a draft of a municipal order that will establish guidelines to follow in the acquisition of real property for the city. Willen said councilmembers had previously expressed that they needed some sort of written procedure for potential future purchases.

These points are intended to serve as basic procedure after it is later approved. It reads as follows:

  • Prior to purchasing any real property, the mayor shall provide city council with a written narrative, setting forth the proposed use of the property, the reasons for the purchase of said property, and the terms of purchase.
  • In the event a structure is located on said real property, a building inspection shall be conducted by a qualified third-party expert, and the report of said inspection shall be provided to the Mayor and City Council.
  • Said property shall be appraised by a licensed and qualified appraiser and said appraisal shall be provided to the mayor and city council.
  • All communications and reports relating to said property shall be deemed confidential, as allowed by Kentucky law. City Council members shall refrain from negotiating or discussing directly any proposed property acquisition, except through confidential closed session discussions.
  • City council maintains discretion to deviate from these guidelines on a case-by-case basis and has the discretion to waive the necessity of any requirement contained herein.
  • The purchase of real property shall be approved by city council, in the form of a Municipal Order.

The most recent public discussion about property acquisition was regarding the Blue Streak Building in September of 2025. At the time, Mayor James R. Knight said the city invested around half a million dollars to purchase the building which was ultimately demolished.

The COTW voted to forward the proposed municipal order to the Hopkinsville City Council for final approval before it takes effect.

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