Hopkinsville City Council Tuesday night approved an ordinance renaming a section of West First Street in memory of a fallen police officer and a Harm Reduction Program resolution.
Council members unanimously approved an ordinance on first reading presented by City Clerk Crissy Fletcher to rename a 768-foot section of West First Street to Phillip Meacham Way.
Officer Meacham was fatally shot on Paulette Court while off duty on March 29, 2018, when he was investigating a man who was driving a vehicle and unlawfully using flashing blue lights. Following the shooting, the suspect fled the scene and was shot and killed later that night by law enforcement officers in Clarksville.
In other business, the council approved a resolution supporting the creation of a Harm Reduction Program. The program is through the health department and would allow intravenous drug users to exchange hypodermic needles and syringes in order to reduce and prevent the spread of infectious diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C. Emily Greene with the Christian County Health Department said the program is also about education and offering treatment to substance abusers.
The health department can now move forward with the program after getting approval from the city council Tuesday night and approval from Christian County Fiscal Court last week.
During the mayor’s comments, Wendell Lynch briefly spoke about his recent veto of the nonpartisan elections ordinance which was passed by city council on second reading by a 6-5 vote at the July 7the meeting. He said the public was highly interested in this issue and shared some results from social media.
City Attorney Douglas Willen explained to council the mayor’s veto was returned within the required ten-day period as set forth by law. If the council wishes to override the veto, Willen said they would need to reconsider the ordinance no later than the August 4th meeting, and eight affirmative votes is needed in order for the ordinance to become effective.
During recognitions, Hopkinsville Police Officers Jaclyn Dliest and Jeremiah Kline were sworn-in by Mayor Lynch.
