The Hopkins County Fiscal Court moved forward on several initiatives Tuesday, approving the first reading of the Fiscal Year 2026 budget and allocating funding for major public safety and infrastructure projects.
During department reports, County Attorney Lee Riddle addressed concerns about emergency response delays in the Mannington area of Hopkins County involving volunteer fire departments.
click to download audioJudge-Executive Jack Whitfield explained that the Mannington area had been served by volunteer firefighters from neighboring Christian County.
click to download audioMagistrates approved several Public Works bids and a request from District 5 Magistrate Billy Parrish to provide $15,000 to the Richland Fire Department, which now operates three stations after taking over the Grapevine Fire Department.
click to download audioIn new business, the Fiscal Court approved the first reading of the $65.3 million Fiscal Year 2026 budget, along with a pay application to Pollard and Sons Excavating, LLC for approximately $57,000 for work on the new Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office—an amount Judge Whitfield said should be the final payment to the contractor.
Magistrates also approved a nearly $750,000 payment to Downey Construction for pay application #9 for the new Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office, along with a resolution supporting a $1.9 million economic development fund application.
click to download audioMagistrates also approved a health services agreement with Deaconess Clinic and reappointed Robert Tucker to the Southwest Hopkins County Water District.
Under old business, magistrates unanimously approved the amended insurance policies and procedures on second reading.
