COMMISSION RECAP: 21 AUGUST PART TWO

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

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FACEBOOK: The River City News

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by Michael Monks 

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COVINGTON DISPATCHERS OFFERED EMPLOYMENT IN KENTON CO
It was announced Tuesday night that all twelve Covington dispatchers seeking employment in the new consolidated emergency dispatch center in Kenton County will be offered conditional employment. The conditions include background checks and drug screenings. The newly named director of the center, Ed Butler, told The River City News after the meeting that while the salaries are lower than what Covington offered, the pay will be comparable due to the facts that there will be no city taxes and no union dues deducted from the paychecks.
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The city commission unanimously approved declaring property belonging to the Covington dispatch center as surplus property, including its top-of-the-line CAD (computer-aided dispatch) system. The new county center, which expects to take over 911 emergency and police dispatch services for the City of Covington on or around September 30, will use the CAD and current county dispatchers will being training on it the week of September 17 with the goal of implementing it on September 25.
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The new dispatch center received 85 applications for employment, including twelve from Covington (there are fifteen dispatchers employed in Covington) and expected to have five additional spots to fill once the Covington dispatchers join the county center.
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Covington dispatchers are used to being represented by a union and Butler said that he has no concern that the new employees will try to form a new one in the county.

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POLICE CHIEF SPELLS OUT SAVINGS PLAN

Covington Police Chief Spike Jones presented to the City Commission Tuesday night his plans for cutting $500,000 from the police department's budget. "We are a back to basics police department now," Jones said. "You call the police, we respond and provide good customer service." Part of the plan, instigated by a departmental review conducted by Cincinnati-based consulting firm Management Partners, includes the eventual elimination of the rank of captain within the department. That process will happen gradually, though the commission heard a first reading of an ordinance that would reduce the number of captains from five to four in the coming weeks. 

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The administrative restructuring was presented as a chart that place the chief at the top with an executive officer directly below him with three captains overseeing the day-to-day operations at Twentieth & Madison with one in charge of patrol and SWAT, another in charge of administration, and another in charge of criminal investigations. "By working through attritions and engaging in a "hiring frost" it was possible to preserve our current staff without having to layoff junior staff members," Jones's presentation said. "This attrition strategy also moved us closer to the command structure model proposed by Management Partners."
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Following the reduction of officers through retirements and resignations over the past two months, the department was able to retain seventy-four sworn officers on the streets, the number on the force at the beginning of the process assigned to patrol shifts. Meanwhile, officers previously assigned to the former narcotics unit and community relations unit were combined to create a tactical unit called the D-Team as recommended by Management Partners.

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The total savings from the plan come from $150,000 saved from leaving positions open, $120,000 saved through the changes to the captain position, $100,000 from changes to the sergeant position, and $180,000 from changes to specialist positions. Removing the $150,000 lost when Covington Independent Public Schools moved to using the Kenton County Sheriff's Office as school resource officers instead of the Covington Police, the final total arrives at the hoped-for half million in savings. 

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REPORTER OBJECTS TO LATE AGENDA ITEM ABOUT FIRE DEPT CUTS

"The commission is not authorized to consider this." A reporter from the Cincinnati Enquirer took exception to an item on Tuesday night's city commission agenda and took his case to the podium. One commissioner threatened to have him removed from the meeting. What went down, and what the agenda item was about, at the link.

Full story: The River City News 

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COMMISSION VOTES TO KEEP PROPERTY TAXES AT SAME LEVEL

Property taxes collected by the City of Covington will remain at the same 0.2995 rate that has been for at least the past five years, keeping the city around the middle of the pack in relation to other NKY cities and their property tax rates. Commissioner Steve Casper explained that there was discussion to take what is known as the compensating rate, as the Covington School Board likely will, but it was never on the table to take a full 4% increase. 

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CITY TAKES OWNERSHIP OF CITY CENTER PARKING GARAGE

The Commonwealth of Kentucky gave Covington a free parking garage which the City Commission unanimously accepted. The City Center parking garage is the one adjacent to City Hall between 7th & Pike Streets along Scott Boulevard. City Manager Larry Klein explained that the garage was built and owned by the Commonwealth but was declared surplus property. "This is a great economic development tool to have a parking garage Downtown," Klein said. "We feel very fortunate to link that garage to make it a permanent attachment to City Hall, and as an economic development tool."
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RIVERCENTER GARAGE TO GET A PAINT JOB

Another garage owned by the City of Covington will be freshened up thanks to a $153,931 contract awarded to Covington-based Flannery Painting. City Engineer Tom Logan expects the paint job to take approximately forty-five days.

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UPPER FLOOR RESIDENTIAL REHAB FUNDS SPOKEN FOR

It was announced Tuesday that one of the incentives to lure more development Downtown have been entirely claimed by four applicants. The City of Covington has been offering $20,000 matching grants toward the development of upper floors of Downtown buildings so that more market-rate housing would be available. The city commission adopted the guidelines for furnishing those funds, though Commissioner Steve Casper announced himself as "present, not voting" because his landlords are among the applicants that promise thirteen new apartments. 

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$100,000 INVESTMENT YIELDS $1.8 MILLION RETURN FOR CITY

The city commission voted to extend its working agreement with the National Development Council, in the amount of $60,000 payable from CDBG funds. The NDC oversees the Grow America Fund in which the City invested $100,000 and which, according to assistant community development director Rebecca Volpe, has yielded a $1.8 million return. Volpe explained that those funds are used to help Covington-based small businesses in their expansion efforts. "With everything we're trying to do in terms of economic development, we need to leverage these funds even more," Mayor Chuck Scheper said.
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Volpe, meanwhile, confirmed that she has accepted a new position with Northern Kentucky University as the director of the Small Business Development Center and will be leaving the City. Her final city commission meeting appearance will be September 4 and will mark the exit of the top two managers of Covington's community development department this summer. Director Jackson Kinney resigned June 28. 

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MORE TRAFFIC TROUBLE COMING TO SOUTH COVINGTON

In addition to the massive effort at expanding Taylor Mill Road and Old Taylor Mill Road, the city commission approved work to begin on nearby Wayman Branch. Pipes underneath the road are separating causing damage to it. In fact, the damage is so bad, that the road would have been shut down were it not for the hard work of the city's road crews. "This road would have had to be shut down but road crews were able to widen it and keep traffic moving," said engineer Tom Logan. The work of replacing a culvert and restoring the roadway will be performed by Straight Edge Construction in a contract worth $126,305. Sanitation District 1 will reimburse the city half that cost.
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OTHER NOTES

-Bryce Rhoades was named assistant city solicitor, replacing Alex Mattingly who is now city administrator in Elsmere. Rhoades, a resident of Covington, was most recently a law clerk at the Kentucky Supreme Court.

-Constance Norman resigned from the police department for personal reasons

-A contract was awarded to Joseph Decosimo and Company, LLC for the city's auditing services

COMMISSION RECAP: 21 AUGUST PART ONE

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

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FACEBOOK: The River City News

@theRCnews on Twitter  

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by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

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Cincinnati Enquirer reporter
Mike Rutledge

As the Covington City Commission meeting got underway, a reporter from the Cincinnati Enquirer moved from his seat to the podium and interrupted the proceedings. "Excuse me, Mayor," Mike Rutledge said, before introducing himself for the record. "The commission is not authorized to consider this." Rutledge, the Enquirer reporter assigned to covering Covington city government, took issue with a late addition to the commission's agenda, item number four under "new business", an ordinance abolishing positions in the fire department. Though the ordinance was only up for a first reading and not a vote, Rutledge argued that the public should have been given a twenty-four notice that the item would appear on the agenda. 

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City Solicitor Frank Warnock disagreed, explaining to the reporter that a schedule for commission meetings is approved at the beginning of each year and that items can be added at will to the agendas for regularly scheduled meetings. Warnock contended that Rutledge had confused a regular meeting with a special legislative meeting that does require the public notice. "This is not a special meeting, you are not quoting the law accurately," Warnock said. The solicitor was also filling in for the city clerk and his own assistant, both of whom are in Lexington for certification and that because of their absence he had been doing the work of three employees. 

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Covington City Solicitor
Frank Warnock

Typically, city clerk Maggie Nyhan sends out the city commission's agenda via email on Friday afternoons to the press and the public. By the time Tuesday's meeting started, the fire department issue was added while a few issues related to the city arborist's position were removed. At the end of the meeting, Warnock, sitting in Nyhan's seat instead of his usual spot next to the commissioners on the dais, asked if yet another item should be added, one that was typed out on a separate piece of paper on the clerk's table. The mayor decided to table it. (After the meeting Warnock told The River City News that that item dealt with the elimination of dispatcher positions as the city prepares to become part of the county emergency dispatch center.)

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At one point in the roughly five-minute exchange, Rutledge, who has published stories critical of how he perceives the city commission to operate behind closed doors particularly regarding the issues of personnel changes, became agitated, arguing that he had requested documents since late October that had still not been furnished. City Commissioner Shawn Masters urged the mayor to end the discussion and threatened to have Rutledge removed from the meeting. "If you're trying to suggest that there is an underhanded approach here, I take great offense to that," Mayor Chuck Scheper said to the reporter.

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"I take offense to your discussing personnel matters behind closes doors," Rutledge shot back. 

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As the meeting regained its regular order, acting fire chief Dan Mathew took to the podium to explain the item that suggests that positions in the fire department would be abolished. Mathew explained that nine positions would be affected, though no layoffs were likely to occur and that all the changes would be handled through attrition. Three captain positions, three lieutenant positions, and three engineer positions are on the table for changes while the department will consider hiring a full-time fire marshal. That new position would handle fire inspections while working a regularly scheduled 8-hour shift as opposed to a regular firefighter's shift of twenty-four hours on and forty-eight hours off with a "kelly day" every three weeks. 

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Mathew expects retirements and promotions to free up the affected positions at which point they will not be filled. The entire process would run its course over the next two years, Mathew said. The acting chief expects that the daily staffing of the department would remain at twenty-seven, though that decision rests solely with the city commission and its agreement with the firefighters union.

NEWS ROUND-UP -- TUESDAY MORNING 21 AUGUST

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

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FACEBOOK: The River City News

@theRCnews on Twitter  

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by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

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NEIGHBORS CONFUSED OVER PARK'S REMOVAL

Following The River City News report that Father Hanses Park had been entirely removed late last week, Lewisburg residents spoke out on RCN's Facebook page to discuss the situation. The park was removed, according to parks & recreation director Natalie Gardner, over neighborhood concerns for safety. The playground equipment had also been reportedly damaged by fire. "Being an active member of the neighborhood association, I never heard any concerns from residents and living six houses down from the park for the past ten years I don't recall any major fires there," said Dan Krebs. "I do consistently recall parks & recreation complaining about maintaining it. Something doesn't smell right. Over ninety percent of the park was steel. I helped paint it in the past. The only thing that could have burned was the slide portion, but the whole park is gone. We requested and have been waiting years for one new picnic table. I'm sure a new park will get here sooner. I think there's more to the story."

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"If the problem is troublesome kids trashing the park, removing the playground equipment hasn't fixed anything," said Marissa Tucker. "At least with the park the kids congregated in one place. Now they have no central location and will be causing trouble throughout a much bigger, harder-to-patrol area. The root  of the problem still remains and as someone who frequently works with the neighborhood kids, finding any kind of solution to this ongoing problem just got much harder."

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A letter from City Hall to the neighborhood association on August 14 read, "The Recreation Department will be addressing the neighborhood’s concerns regarding the safety and condition of Fr. Hanses Park. We are aware of the fire damage and general destruction to the playground equipment as well as the ongoing battle to keep the park clean. We will be removing the damaged playground equipment in the near future. There have been significant improvements made in the materials used for playground equipment and we are searching for a more fire-resistant alternative to replace what is currently there. We ask for your patience as we strive to enhance Fr. Hanses Park providing a safe and enjoyable recreation experience for the Lewisburg community."

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ANOTHER JAM-PACKED CITY COMMISSION MEETING SCHEDULED

The Covington City Commission will convene Tuesday evening at City Hall for a legislative meeting. Highlights of the agenda include:

• A presentation from Police Chief Spike Jones on how the department is implementing the changes recommended by an outside consulting firm as part of a budget-cutting effort
• The commission will vote on cutting the number of available police captain positions from five to four (with the eventual goal of eliminating the position all together)
• The commission will vote on accepting a deed of conveyance on the City Center parking garage from the Commonwealth of Kentucky
• A contract worth $153,000 will be on the table for repainting the RiverCenter garage
• Guidelines for the upper floor residential rehab program will likely be adopted (this is part of the list of incentives available to attract more businesses and residents to Downtown Covington, with word being that there has been much interest in this particular part of the effort)
• A contract will be on the table worth $126,000 to replace the culvert and restore the pavement on Wayman Branch in South Covington
• Bryce Rhoades will be named assistant city solicitor, replacing Alex Mattingly who departed to become city administrator in Erlanger Elsmere.

As always, the most comprehensive coverage of the Covington City Commission will be found right here at The River City News.

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SPECIAL CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION CAUSING CONFUSION

While both races to replace Geoff Davis in Congress will happen on the same day, the ballot deadlines are different:

The general election ballot must be certified on Sept. 10 but candidates have until Oct. 9 to file to run in the the special election.
Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes has filed suit in the Franklin County Circuit Court, asking a judge to move up the special election filing deadline to Sept. 10.

Full story: Cincinnati Enquirer/Scott Wartman 

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TEA PARTY, ANTI-TEA PARTY RALLIES IN FRANKFORT

Here is one description of what is shaping up for Tuesday in Frankfort:

On August 21, 2012, Senator Mitch McConnell and Senator Rand Paul will be speaking at a Tea Party rally on the front steps of the Capitol, in Frankfort, Kentucky.
The rally, free to the public, is to begin at 11:30 a.m. Aug. 21 on the front steps of the Capitol and last about 90 minutes. The Lexington and Northern Kentucky Tea Party groups will co-sponsor the event with Louisville's. And, as the Hillbilly Report says, "It's Time For The Progressive Community To Shi*t Or Get Off The Pot."

Event details: Facebook 

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DON'T MISS MONDAY EVENING'S NEWS!

Kenton County added to list of disaster areas in Kentucky; City Commissioner: energy efficient equipment has saved Covington more than $500,000; Plus, why the guy who owns the new Mainstrasse Popeye's thinks his business will work at a corner location where so many others have failed.

Full story: The RC News: Monday Evening Round-Up 

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GAY KY BOY SCOUT LEADER SAYS HE WAS FORCED OUT

After telling executives of the organization of his sexual orientation, a long time scout leader had to go:

Greg Bourke, who has been a registered Scout volunteer for five years, told The Courier-Journal that he relinquished the role last week after the pastor at the church where his troop meets said the facility might lose its Scouting charter if he stayed. A Boy Scouts policy enacted in 1991 and reaffirmed last month doesn't allow gays to join. Bourke said after the affirmation, he wrote to Boy Scout executives asking whether he was still welcome.

Full story: AP 
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QUICKIES
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New rules expose bigger funding gaps for public pensions Washington Post 
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Newport seeks bids for market-rate housing project Building Cincinnati 
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ABC's Nightline covers story of sexually assaulted Louisville teen who faced jail time after tweeting out the identities of her juvenile attackers ABC 
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Northside branding efforts ramp up Building Cincinnati 
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UK, UofL athletes banned from using long list of words on Twitter Courier-Journal 
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UK Football Coach Joker Phillips selects Maxwell Smith to start as quarterback Herald-Leader 
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HOW DOES COVINGTON SCORE ON THE PHILANTHROPY CHART?
Not bad... The Chronicle of Philanthropy recently compiled data on the charitable giving made by Americans and then breaks it down into searchable state, city, and even neighborhood information. 
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In total contributions, Kentucky ranked 31 out of the 50 states, giving $135.8 billion. Greater Cincinnati ranked 26 out of 366 metro areas by giving a total of $975.6 million. Kenton County ranked 331 out 3,115 counties across the country giving $74.9 million (Boone Co ranked 443 and Campbell Co ranked 613). Covington ranked 1,253 out 11,522 cities giving $19.1 million. You can also break the search down by specific zip code at the link below.
Chronicle of Philanthropy 
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WHY THE RICH DON'T GIVE...
Interesting, related piece:

Rich people are certainly giving a lot. Those with annual incomes of $200,000 or more represent 11 percent of the tax returns but account for 41 percent of the money donated, according to the report. But as a share of their income, the richest people in the U.S. are giving at a significantly lower rate than the less affluent.

The study looked at tax returns for people with reported earnings of $50,000 or more from the year 2008 – the most recent year for which data was available. The report found that for people earning between $50,000 and $75,000, an average of 7.6 percent of discretionary income was donated to charity. For those earning $200,000 or more, just 4.2 percent of discretionary income was donated.

Full story: The Atlantic Cities 
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HOT AGAIN THIS WEEK... SHOULD GROWN MEN WEAR SHORTS?
From The New York Times:

It’s a sentiment echoed by many style arbiters: men of a certain age and distinction, the thinking goes, cannot wear shorts and be taken seriously. This applies not only to the workplace, but also in social settings. Much of the fashion establishment seems to agree. “I avoid them,” said Glenn O’Brien, the fashion editor and writer of GQ magazine’s “Style Guy.” “If it’s like 100 degrees, or if I’m just going to Whole Foods, I will break down and wear shorts, but I try to avoid them for business.”

Full story: The New York Times 
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HIGH SCHOOL PRODUCTION OF 'OUR TOWN' FEATURES LINE MEMORIZATION
LOL:

Surprised audience members reported Sunday that Morgantown High School's production of Thornton Wilder's Pulitzer Prize–winning play Our Town features line memorization, a marked change from last year's staging of Guys And Dolls.

Full story: The Onion (satire)

CRACKS EMERGE IN UNIFIED COMMISSION DURING SPECIAL MEETING

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

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FACEBOOK: The River City News

@theRCnews on Twitter  

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by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

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Round two of the public meetings at City Hall to discuss its reorganization plan as recommended by Cincinnati-based consulting firm Management Partners was mostly like the first one that focused on the police and fire departments. This one, with an emphasis on code enforcement, housing, and community development, started with a presentation by the firm's Wayne Chapman who recapped some of its recommendations followed by many comments from the public, mainly in support of strengthening code enforcement, not outsourcing it as recommended. 

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But then the City Commissioners weighed in. "A huge number of people are afraid of retaliation and that's why they are not here," said Commissioner Sherry Carran, triggering gasps and outbursts from the packed Commission Chambers. "That's not easy to say but what my personal experience has been." Carran noted that she and her husband have made substantial investments in their Botany Hills neighborhood having torn down eleven troubled properties. "Outside of where we're investing not much is happening (in terms of blight in the neighborhood)." Much of Carran's ire was focused at developer Wes Bitlinger whose had a colorful exchange online with Commissioner Steve Frank who posted photos of several of Bitlinger's properties online.
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Commissioner Shawn Masters was not happy with Carran's remarks. "I want to say I am sorry to the employees who were questioned for retaliation. That pisses me off," Masters said. "I think we have some of the finest staff." He accused the City Manager and others of already having their minds made up about what to do with code enforcement. When the code enforcement director was told to cut $500,000 from his department's budget, "That by God tells you something."

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The tense turn the meeting took contrasted greatly with most meetings since Mayor Chuck Scheper was appointed to take over for Denny Bowman who resigned last September. A common refrain at commission meetings and other civic engagements is that this city commission is unified, often voting unanimously on most of the pressing issues facing Covington. That changed during Thursday night's special meeting.
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"For five years I have lived next to some of the biggest hell holes around and guess who owns them? The City of Covington!" Masters, who lives in Covington's Westside, spoke passionately for several minutes about the blighted properties and other issues. "Until we take care of our problem, how can we hold others accountable?"

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"I am offended that a city commissioner would say that our own employees would retaliate," Masters continued. "There has been a lack of communication and respect between certain people on this dais and code enforcement." The two-term, commissioner who is not seeking reelection, said that union employees were brought to the table to discuss changes in their departments but that that has not been the case for code enforcement. "If we do away with code enforcement this will be a death blow to this city."
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Masters moved on from code enforcement but was not finished with his remarks, many of which were met with applause. "While I was on vacation there were across the board raises given to every single non-union employee. Raises of $80,000 to $100,000 (total) backdated to last January." The heated words were followed with a warning. "I'm going to be letting people know exactly what is going on."
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City Manager Larry Klein explained the raises, saying these employees had gone without pay increases for three and a half years and that the 1.5% increase for one year may not even be repeated next year. "(These employees') health care plan saved the City money for a long period of time," Klein said, adding that the employees do not get overtime and are not even paid extra for their work at commission meetings. 

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"Show me someone who requested a raise," Masters barked.
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"One employee in public improvements came up a couple weeks ago and thanked me for their seventeen cents-a-week raise," Carran answered.

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Masters shot back arguing, "We can't give a merit raise because the City Manager hasn't given any evaluations yet!"

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Between the arguing on the dais and the unsolicited outbursts from the audience the room was at a tipping point of becoming out of control. Mayor Chuck Scheper began to wind the meeting with a calm conclusion. "Everyone in this room cares about this city," the mayor said. "I wish we could have a resolution soon. This is a terrible situation for folks in this world of not knowing what's going to happen."

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Asked after the meeting to elaborate on her position that code enforcement employees could potentially retaliate against those who spoke against them, Carran said she has heard of more code citations being written against targeted residents and on other occasions code enforcement breaches confidentially by revealing the sources of code complaints to the people who are cited. Former president of the Covington Neighborhood Collaborative, Terry Simpson, backed up Carran saying that he personally had been revealed as the source of a code enforcement complaint on one of his neighbors.  

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NOTE: More on the substance of the meeting will be detailed in a separate article.

NEWS ROUND-UP -- WEDNESDAY MORNING 8 AUGUST

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

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FACEBOOK: The River City News

@theRCnews on Twitter  

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by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

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CITY COMMISSION RECAP

The Covington City Commission held a legislative meeting Tuesday night and The River City News was there. Here is your recap:

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Food Truck Ordinance Passes Unanimously

It was a lengthy discussion at City Hall but the Covington City Commission unanimously approved the food truck ordinance. "We are trying to change the future of this city, trying to get more active, more energy in the city and I believe this is worth trying," the mayor said.

Full story: The River City News 

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Other zoning issues pass, one issue is tabled

In addition to food trucks, the city commission took up other issues related to zoning, most emerging from the Center City Action Plan and Mayor Chuck Scheper's effort to "make it easier to do business in Covington." Zoning changes receiving unanimous approval from the mayor and commissioners were the allowance of community gardens in residential neighborhoods, the allowance of fences to be installed on vacant properties, allowing micro-distilleries and micro-breweries to operate in areas where they were previously barred, and permitting certain retail operations to operate with conditions in residential neighborhoods.
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But the sticking point was the allowance of second-hand stores which are currently only permitted in the Latonia Shopping Center and in the area around the Fifth Street exit near Interstate 75. According to Covington zoning specialist Andrew Juengling, the second-hand stores would include retail clothing, furniture, appliances, and sports/recreational equipment. Antique stores and vintage clothing stores would not be allowed in the commercial areas in question. "We received a number of calls n the past regarding the opening of second-hand shops and one opened without a permit," Junegling said, explaining why the issue came up. He added that any proposed second-hand stores that would be viable businesses and not a detriment to the area while filling a vacant storefront would have to go before the board of adjustments for approval as each could only operate on a conditional basis. 

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City Commissioner Steve Frank was uncomfortable with the wording, particularly the allowance of second-hand appliance stores, so the issue was unanimously tabled for further discussion and will be up for a vote at a later date.

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City property tax rate to stay the same this year

The City Commission will forego an increase in the property tax rate for the third consecutive year. The vote will not be taken until the next legislative meeting, but a first reading of the ordinance indicated that the commission is on board with retaining the current 2.995 percent rate. "It's hard to raise taxes in a priod of time when people are hurting," Frank said. "We are also at or below the median city in Northern Kentucky and we had been four years ago near the top."

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Frank encouraged the Covington School Board to make an effort to forego its share of a property tax increase as well. "Where there have been increases is on the schools and I urge the schools to find ways to cut costs."

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City finance director Bob Due corrected an earlier report that indicated Covington's cumulative property value had dropped below $2 billion, showing numbers that keep the city on the other side of that figure. 

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Police captain positions not going away yet

Though the Management Partners report suggested that the Covington Police command staff was top-heavy and that the department should eliminate the position of captain, that won't happen yet. The department had five captains at the time of the report, but one retired last month and the position will not be filled , saving the City $120,000. The police department must come up with $500,000 in cuts to which that $120K will be applied. The ultimate goal is to eliminate the rank of captain and create a command staff that has two assistant chiefs.
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City settles accident involving employee for $82,500

An animal control officer was involved in a 3-car collision after dropping his cell phone while on duty, ramming into a car in front of him, which then ran into the car in front of them. The driver of the middle car had to have rotator cuff surgery and settled with the city for $82,500 to cover pain & suffering and hospital bills.
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Interim Fire Chief Dan Mathew gets $5,000 pay increase

Now that he has taken over for Chuck Norris who retired last month, interim Covington Fire Chief Dan Mathew will be paid an additional $5,000.

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"COMING DOWN THE PIKE" BECOMES POPULAR REFRAIN AT CITY HALL

When are we finally going to know for certain what city leaders are talking about when they say there are lots of good things coming down the proverbial pike? Meeting after meeting we are promised that good things are coming and Tuesday night's city commission meeting was no exception. "We're trying to bring more people in (to town) and over the next sixty to ninety days you're going to be seeing that," Mayor Chuck Scheper said. "There are a lot of projects, new activity, new businesses, new restaurants that will bring people."

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"The reviews of all the departments are winding down and by the end of the month all decisions will be made," said City Commission Steve Casper. "That will allow us to turn the corner and talk about economic development."
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"It's not all pain without any gain," said Commissioner Steve Frank. "There are a lot of good things to look forward to. Covington has suffered but folks are going to be pleased with what we are going to be able to talk about."

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Mayor Scheper finished the meeting by reiterating his C+V=G mantra with his new modification. While the C still stands for courage and the V for vision, the G no longer stands for growth, but rather "greatness". "We're shifting to greatness as a city because that's what's ahead of us," he said. Looking forward to it. 

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STEVE FRANK: $2,000 FOR IDEAS THAT COULD SAVE CITY MONEY

Got a good idea to save the city money? If it works, Commissioner Steve Frank will personally pay you two grand:

‎$2,000 for the best idea to save Covington money. We've had ideas from Management Partners, PUMA, the Covington Commission, and our own departments. Now it's time for the public to come up with suggestions for cost savings! OK armchair quarterbacks; $2,000 for the best idea (s) for either you or your favorite charity. Send them to this or my campaign facebook page and I'll post the best 5 submissions for a final vote by the public. Deadline for submission is in two weeks, August, 21'st. We need them in time for incorporation into this year's budget.

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THE RIVER CITY NEWS WILL CO-HOST CANDIDATE DEBATES
RCN is thrilled to announce a collaboration with Reverend Richard Fowler of the Ninth Street Baptist Church. This campaign season, The River City News will produce and moderate four debates, one each for Covington Mayor, Covington Commission, Covington School Board and Kentucky State Senate district 23. Dates and times are still being worked out but expect more updates on this soon.
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NOTE: The deadline to file for the school board race is next Tuesday, August 14. 
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QUICKIES
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State Senator Thayer says Gov. Beshear is committed to being involved in pension reform cn|2 
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State official looking for feedback on taxes WKYT 
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Widow: Punishment for death of former state representative "disrespectful" Herald-Leader 
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Louisville woman advertises her unborn child on Craigslist WDRB 
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UK returns more than 2,000 unsold tickets to UofL football game Herald-Leader 
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Letters depict lives of free, enslaved families in Kentucky Herald-Leader 
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DON'T MISS TUESDAY EVENING'S NEWS!
Cincinnati TV stations catch up to the food trucks in Covington news; Why the CEO says health care reform will force you to pay more for Papa John's; Plus, more work on the Eastside as a huge housing development nears. Click it.

The RC News: Tuesday Evening Round-Up 

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COVINGTON WOMAN ACCUSED OF FAKING LABOR, ESCAPES HOSPITAL

Wow:

A woman is facing several charges after police say she shoplifted, then threatened officers, lied about having pregnancy complications and escaped from the hospital.
Tamala Grissett, 29, of Covington, is charged with escape, aggravated menacing, obstructing official business and theft. According to Hamilton County court records, Grissett took $1,297 in items from the Macy's at the Kenwood Towne Center.

Unfortunately, there's more: WXIX 

Tamala Grissett

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PARENTS UPSET WITH KENTON CO SCHOOL FIELD TRIP POLICY

Twenhofel Middle School won't allow overnight trips:

That means the school's archery team and choir won't be allowed to represent the school at the national and world championships in Orlando, Florida later this year.

Principal Shannon Gross says he's not allowing any overnight field trips for now because he's new to the job and doesn't know the students or the parents.

Full story: WXIX 
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SEE ALSO: Cafeteria food gets makeover at Kenton Co. Schools Cincinnati Enquirer 
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COVINGTON BEAUTIFICATION AWARDS TO BE HANDED OUT TONIGHT
As part of the monthly Covington After Hours, the Friends of Covington will hand out their 2012 Beautification Awards:

GATHER WITH F.O.C. WEDNESDAY for our BEAUTIFICATION AWARD CEREMONY in conjunction with Cov After Hours Event:
Wednesday, August 8, 20125:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.Molly Malone's
112 East Fourth StreetCovington, KyComplimentary Hors d'oeuvresCash Bar — at Molly Malone's 2nd floor.

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HOLMES CLASS OF 1947 TO GATHER FOR 65TH REUNION TODAY Cincinnati Enquirer 

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HOW SEWAGE REVEALS A CITY'S DRUG HABITS

Interesting:

When all the collective flushings of a city's drug-using populace combine in the bowels of the sewer system, a citywide drug profile develops. A new technique has been tested out to read and compare those drug profiles, creating an innovative way to understand and monitor the drug-using habits of different urban populations. 

Full story: The Atlantic Cities 
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HAITI MAKES BID FOR 2216 OLYMPIC GAMES
So wrong, but so LOL: 

Organizers of the LXXXI Olympiad, which would be held in the capital city of Port- au-Prince, said the event will showcase the many attractions that are sure to be conceptualized, financed, and constructed over the next 207 years.

Read it all: The Onion (satire)

FOOD TRUCKS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY BY COVINGTON CITY COMMISSION

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

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FACEBOOK: The River City News

@theRCnews on Twitter  

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by Michael Monks 

Email Michael

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Railing against "gypsies" and "hucksters" before his comments devolved into unfounded warnings about salmonella and hawk handlers in Ohio not washing their hands, Ray Niemeyer of Heringer Meats stated that there are not enough people in Downtown Covington to support food truck operations. "People are struggling to pay their taxes," Niemyer stated, adding, "Why aren't we promoting the existing businesses instead of bringing new competition?"

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The idea that food trucks would be permitted to operate in Covington commercial zones like Downtown did not sit well with Heringer's president who has been in the meat business since 1979. "They're gypsies! I've been around them for years and they're hucksters! There's a lot of gypsies out there," Niemeyer  claimed. "Are they paying property tax, payroll tax? I'd like to see how that'll be audited. If we don't pay it we get it stuck up our hind end."

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Niemeyer was not alone in his opposition. "I'm in favor of bringing more traffic to Covington but not during lunch when we have a restaurant we've been operating for forty years that we're trying to operate during lunch," said Pete Jordan, general manager of the Radisson Riverfront Hotel which has two restaurants, Kelly's and the 360 revolving restaurant perched at the top of the cylindrical tower, a Covington landmark. The 360 has not been open during lunch since 2007. "The number of people here to eat lunch in Covington has shrunk significantly."
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Pati Gilliece, co-proprietor of Chez Nora in Mainstrasse Village, who penned an op-ed earlier Tuesday at The River City News in opposition to food trucks, took to the podium to ask two questions: How much research was done and is everyone sure food trucks will do more good than harm?

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Andrew Juengling, Covington's zoning specialist and architect of the food truck ordinance, explained that research was conducted by examining the food truck situation in Portland and in North Carolina, specifically. In addition, Juengling pointed to the success of Covington's Food Truck Invasion a week and a half ago where four hundred orders were taken in three hours. "Ideas like this will help draw people to Covington and see what we have to offer," Juengling claimed. 
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The zoning specialist's position was backed enthusiastically by Mayor Chuck Scheper who joined the four city commissioners in approving the ordinance. "We are trying to change the future of this city, trying to get more active, more energy in the city and I believe this is worth trying," the mayor said. Scheper pointed to his own experience at the Invasion saying he saw many people he did not recognize and felt a strong positive energy in the air. The mayor said he spoke with the owners of a forthcoming restaurant (that he did not name) and reported that they told him that they are not concerned at all with the competition. "The point is, we're trying to do something."
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"We do understand the concerns and we will be tracking this and if we have to tweak it, we're going to be changing it," said City Commissioner Sherry Carran. "The more activity you have on the street the more vibrant the city will be."
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Commissioner Steve Casper said that he averages five to eight meals a week in Covington restaurants and these food trucks will not change his eating habits because they do not lend themselves to the needed environment for business meetings.

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"I could be wrong in the next three to four months," said Commissioner Shawn Masters, "but I think it would behoove us to try it."
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Commissioner Steve Frank's vote in favor of the trucks was more lukewarm. "This is a tough one for me because I am not convinced we'll get our share of what belongs to us as taxes," Frank said. "I believe that if this works to our detriment that this commission will walk back any decision that is made."

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One concern for some business owners, particularly in Mainstrasse Village, is where the trucks can locate. Th food trucks are confined to private property where they must present signed proof that they have permission to operate there. Each truck will be able to open in Covington ninety days a year with only thirty of those days in one location. The days of operation do not have to be consecutive. (To read the full ordinance with all the regulations, click here.)

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City solicitor Frank Warnock explained that while the ordinance reads that food trucks cannot operate in the public right-of-way such as sidewalks or streets, he mentioned that Kentucky statute grants cities the right to control their own right-of-way and that theoretically, someday the trucks could be permitted on the sidewalks or streets. "We just have to trust the spirit of this administration and this commission and comply by our own rules," Warnock said.
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As for collecting the money, finance director Bob Due explained that there is an apportionment of net profit to Covington (sales in Covington versus total sales and number of employees in Covington versus total employees). Since the commission approved the ordinance, once it is published it becomes law granting the right of food trucks to operate in Covington. 

CHEZ NORA OWNERS EXPLAIN OPPOSITION TO FOOD TRUCKS

THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE

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FACEBOOK: The River City News

@theRCnews on Twitter  

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The owners of Chez Nora, Jim & Pati Gilliece, have voiced their opposition to food trucks operating in Covington. Pati penned the following analogy to help explain her position and The River City News agreed to publish it:

Since many of you aren’t brick & mortar restaurant owners, and you may be having trouble seeing the food truck issue from my side, let’s try this analogy: You buy a home, or rather, you have the bank lend you money to buy a home, you spend much in blood, sweat and tears to make the place a home. You enjoy your neighbors. You are happy when new ones move in, even the sexy young ones, and the ones whose offerings are somewhat limited. You still welcome them. You work together and independently to make your neighborhood vibrant. You are diligent, and soon you are able to expand your home. You demolish an eyesore in the neighborhood and make it a truly decent piece of property. You have increased property value in your neck of the woods. 

Then the ordinance is changed and an RV is now permitted to park in front of your home. They have paid all necessary fees associated with parking an RV, and that’s where they choose to park. They have not broken any rules; in fact, the city has welcomed them with open arms. Not everyone can afford to buy a house, or even rent one, so please, by all means, allow the campers, tents and pop-ups. Plus, it has worked in other cities, cities that are hip & trendy, so of course it will work here. What do we have to lose? Maybe the permanent tax base. 

And these new temporary neighbors may be fine people, but are they going to bring a covered dish to the neighborhood picnic? Are they going to help plant flowers so your street can win a garden award? Are they going to buy the declining property that is vacant and put down roots and help lift the neighborhood further. Are they going to look after your kids when they are around and you’re not? 

Don’t like it? Then you should buy a RV and park wherever you want. Basically that’s what I have been told, but what about my old building that I’ve put so much time and money into? Let it become another vacant? OK. If that’s what everyone really wants.

Chez Nora is located at Sixth & Main Streets in Covington's Mainstrasse Village. The Covington City Commission will vote on the issue of food trucks at Tuesday night's meeting. The River City News will have it covered for you.