A Farewell to Covington's Retiring Employees (& Other Notes From Tuesday Night)

by Michael Monks
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In his first full Covington City Commission meeting since officially assuming his new job as fire chief, Chuck Norris was met with the difficult task of announcing that eleven members of the department would be leaving.
"This is 241 years of experience," Norris said, choking up when referencing the retiring Dale Brown whom the chief described as the brother he never had, and who was also the only one of the eleven absent.

The announcement comes after months of bitter back and forth between the fire department's union, Local 38, and city administration/commission. When a projected $4.0 million budget deficit led the city administrators and the four commissioners to demand concessions in health care benefits for public employees, Local 38 was the most visible and outspoken union.



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  Mike Holtman, as president of the union was often its most public face and was also among the eleven firefighters retiring. He served the City for eighteen years. Others from the fire department to retire (with years served in paranetheses): Captain Todd Whitaker (24), Lieutenant Dale Brown (25), Lieutenant Paul Fangman (21), Lieutenant John Glueck (27), Lieutenat Paul Ober (16), Lieutenant Donald Studer (22), Engineer James Wagner (25), Engineer David Winterman (23), Lieutenant/Paramedic Chris Van Meter (20) and EMT David Hodge (20).
The police department was also well-represented at City Hall Tuesday night and when three of its members announced their retirements, a lengthy line of high-fives overtook the back of commission chambers. Captain Teal Nally and Lieutenant Kevin Stivers leave after twenty-five years, while Detective Ron Wietholter steps down after thirty.

While the fire chief lamented the loss of 241 years of experience within his department, two men retired from their positions within the public improvements department with a combined 77 years between them. Charlie Menke and Tom Overbay have served Covington since 1972 and 1973 respectively. "(Menke) could have been a meteorologist with the way he predicts the Ohio River," said PI director Tom Logan. "He is not a first responder but he helped keep people safe."

"It's been a real ride," Menke said. Overbay was not present. Mayor Denny Bowman cast the sole vote in opposition to the retirements, hinting that he believed that each was forced out earlier than they wanted to leave, casualties of the budget deficit.

EDITORIAL: OK, Covington, we've aired our dirty laundry. Now let's wash it.

Bev Nicholson retired from the finance department after thirty-eight years of service. Pat Hartman also retired from the same department where she has worked since 1997.

OTHER NOTES FROM TUESDAY'S MEETING:
--Covington Police were recognized for their actions on three occassions: following a shooting in Mainstrasse that led to multiple arrests almost immediately (Mainstrasse shooting story here.), a mass round-up of suspected drug traffickers, and arrests at a suspected drug house in Helentown.

--After scoring a bidder on a new sprinkler system at the RiverCenter garage that came in much below the estimate, public improvements was approved to spend the savings on other improvements at the garage.

--Commissioners passed a symbolic motion of support for the housing department's letter attempting to win a Choice Neighborhoods Initiative Planning Grant for City Heights from the US Department of Housing & Urban Development. The money would go toward improving the buildings' infrastructure along with upgrades to gas & water lines.

--Two ordinances having second readings before a vote at the next legislative meeting: a move to make Latonia's Church Street a one-way with traffic from East Southern to 36th Street and one authorizing industrial bonds for St. Charles Care Center.