The Hopkinsville Beautification Commission has its plate full of ideas and is raring to go after the commission’s second meeting Monday night.

Within the next couple of months, the newly established commission’s projects include Yard of the Month, hanging flower baskets downtown, the elementary students’ Cleanup Walk, the Adopt-a-Spot Program and establishing a mission statement for the Beautification Commission.

“I think we can get the Yard of the Month program started by June very easily,” said Anne Casey, Mayor Dan Kemp’s administrative assistant who chaired the meeting, because Chairman Kelly Jackson was absent due to a family funeral.

The commissioners agreed that each ward should have a Yard of the Month recognized with a small sign by the Beautification Commission.

Commissioners will be the judges for Yard of the Month.

“Commissioners should rotate wards,” said Councilman Pam Neely, who sat in on the meeting.

Another agenda item the commissioners discussed is hanging flower baskets downtown.

“Flowers make you feel welcomed to the town,” said Mike Perry, the city grounds maintenance superintendent.

He said the hanging basket project will go before Long Range Planning on Friday for approval.

Terry Rudd, Hopkinsville’s street superintendent, encouraged the commissioners to get involved with the Partners Against Litter Cleanup Walk on May 9.

“This is a very exciting day for elementary school kids — they think that it is grand,” Rudd said.

He said last year 1,000 kids participated.

“It is important because it teaches kids about reducing trash,” Rudd said.

Community efforts to keep the city beautified such as, the Adopt-a-Spot program will continue, Casey announced.

She said there are 19 Adopt-a-Spots, as of Monday.

In other business, the commission discussed adopting a mission statement.

Casey said she and Jackson liked the East Providence, R.I., Beautification Mission Statement.

Its statement is: “To encourage projects and efforts which help to rejuvenate and beautify open spaces and properties throughout East Providence.”

Commissioners Bruce Bader, Sylvester Moore and Richard Smith volunteered to work on a mission statement and present it to the commission at the next meeting May 5.

Smith was also appointed by the commission to serve as the Beautification Commission vice chair.

Source:
KY New Era , April 8, 2008
By Melanie George, New Era staff writer