Magistrates have given the green light for special-purpose vehicles to be driven in unincorporated areas of Hopkins County, following the passage of the ordinance at Tuesday’s fiscal court meeting.
Executive Assistant Laura Harvey presented the second reading of the street-legal special purpose vehicles ordinance that outlines various exceptions and prohibitions.
click to download audioDistrict 2 Magistrate Buddy Cardwell said he would support the ordinance, though he expressed concerns that additional safety limitations should have been included.
click to download audioDistrict 7 Magistrate Hannah Myers voiced concerns, calling the ordinance an enforcement challenge for the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Department and a safety issue.
The ordinance was approved by a 5-1 vote, with Magistrate Myers opposing and District 3 Magistrate Vicki Thomison absent from the meeting.
Judge Executive Jack Whitfield noted that, for now, special-purpose vehicles remain prohibited in the incorporated areas of the county.
click to download audioIn new business, magistrates unanimously adopted the Hopkins County 2025 tax rates as proposed by Judge Whitfield, setting the real property and tangible property rate at 13.7 percent per $100 assessed value.
click to download audioDistrict 4 Magistrate Ronnie Noel pointed out that the tax rates have not been raised during his tenure on the fiscal court.
click to download audioFiscal Court also declared August 3 through 9 as Farmers Market Week in Hopkins County.
