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MAYOR SCHEPER HOPES FOR PRODUCTIVE TERM
Newly named Covington Mayor Chuck Scheper expressed optimism at the start of his first meeting Tuesday night. "You'll have to bear with me," Scheper said. "I'm not used to presiding over a public forum like this. I'm thrilled to be able to serve and look forward to a productive fourteen months."
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HERO POLICE OFFICER HONORED
Officer Matt Hugenberg was recognized at City Hall for his quick action that saved the life of a 3-month old baby that was not breathing. Hugenberg performed CPR on the child until firefighters showed up. By the time the baby was placed in an ambulance, he was awake and breathing on his own. The baby was in attendance with his mother Tuesday night. "I'm just very thankful that Hugenberg was there," Mayor Scheper said. "I'm sure it's something you'll remember for the rest of your life."
"Every Covington officer would have done the same thing I did," Hugenberg said.
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INTERIM ARTS DISTRICT MANAGER HIRED WITH RELUCTANCE
It was announced earlier this year that Covington would request a zoning change for its Arts District back to the Central Business District. That request was to be considered next week, but Commissioner Sherry Carran announced Tuesday night that the request would be postponed. In the meantime, current Arts District manager Natalie Bowers is on maternity leave and the commission voted to hire an interim manager for six months. Katie Rentzke will take over the job for six months following the 4 - 1 vote.
"It was not long ago that we went line by line with the budget," Commissioner Shawn Masters said in casting the dissenting vote. "$50 million in infrastructure needed, we've asked employees to sacrifice, we've (browned) out a pumper." It was explained at Tuesday night's meeting that the interim hiring of Rentzke would not cost the city any additional funds.
"When we have had cutbacks, my first inclination was not to fill the position," said Commissioner Steve Frank. "It needs to be redefined. The Arts District is now a city-wide initiative."
"The title is just a misnomer," said Commissioner Steve Casper. "We're not changing form over substance."
"We need to change the job title because it doesn't reflect the position," said Commissioner Sherry Carran, adding that the manager helps all arts organizations in the city. Mayor Chuck Scheper noted that $10,000 of his salary will be redirected to fund the interim manager.
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COMMISSIONERS VOTE TO SUPPORT ANTI-BULLY LEGISLATION
Following the suicide of Woodland Middle School student Sam Denham, the Covington City Commission expressed an intention to pass a resolution urging the Kentucky state legislature to pass anti-bullying legislation. Tuesday night that resolution appeared on the agenda and passed unanimously. Commissioners will work with Kenton County and Covington schools to address the bullying epidemic.
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ANIMAL CONTROL REDIRECTED TO KENTON COUNTY CONTROL
The City of Covington will no longer handle its own animal control duties. Instead, the task will be outsourced to the county at a cost of $120,000 per year. City Manager Larry Klein said the move will save the city money and that the city will still have a full-time animal control officer assigned to Covington, but employed by the county. Covington's current animal control officer will be reassigned.
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TRANSPORTATION INITIATIVES PRIORITIZED
Covington's Transportation Task Force presented its recommendations to the commission which were accepted unanimously. The top five most important projects according to the task force include Hands Pike, Kentucky 16 (Taylor Mill Road/Winston Avenue) from Grand Avenue to Kentucky 177 (Decoursey Pike), Licking River Greenway, and the widening of both 4th & 5th Streets to Interstate 75. The task force also recommends evaluating whether the 11th & 15th Street bridges should be removed, replaced, or turned into pedestrian bridges. The task force recommends eliminating from consideration the widening of Kentucky 8 between Swain Court and Western Avenue, the 19th Street realignment, the widening of US 25 from I-71/75 to 12th Street, and adding three lanes to the 4th Street bridge.
"It would be very easy to go through $50 million doing some of these," Commissioner Steve Frank said. "We were not crying wolf in saying we needed to redirect funds."
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OTHER ITEMS OF NOTE
-Austin Ross, 27, was hired as a police officer. The Moeller High School graduate and Xavier University student is currently a full-time officer at the College of Mount Saint Joseph and a part-time officer in Arlington Heights.
-The commission approved the purchase of up to 4,000 pounds of salt for the roads this winter.
-The city will seek two Brownfield grants to prioritize properties in town that may need to be cleaned up.
-Covington will enter into an interlocal agreement with Bellevue, Dayton, Ludlow, Fort Thomas and Newport to use Southbank Partners to coordinate the cities' efforts with the Riverfront Commons project.
-Joan Lee's resignation from the Urban Design Review Board was accepted; Former Commissioner Jerry Stricker was appointed to the Northern Kentucky Independent District Board of Health and the Kenton County Local Board of Health; Matthew Dowling was appointed to the Telecommunications Board of Northern Kentucky; William Dickson was appointed to the Urban Forestry Board.
-Holiday trash pick-up will not be a terrible inconvenience this year. Christmas falls on a weekend this year, so the only change is Thanksgiving: Thursday pick-up that week will be Friday and Friday's pick-up will be Saturday.
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