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THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
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by Michael Monks
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Most of the items on Tuesday night's Covington City Commission agenda were overshadowed by the surprise announcement that domestic partner benefits for city employees in same-sex relationships would be approved. That piece of legislation was a last minute addition to the agenda and was supported unanimously by all five commissioners who offered only quick comments following the sudden vote, which was taken at the end of the meeting:
"This city is all about diversity and all-inclusiveness," said City Commissioner Shawn Masters, the board's only openly gay member. "It follows the heart of what this city is all about." Months ago during a gay pride celebration, Masters and Commissioner Steve Frank stood before a crowd at the Artisan Enterprise Center and promised that Covington would soon offer benefits to its gay employees.Read the full report on the domestic partner benefits at the link.
Domestic Partner Benefits Approved for Covington
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Other items on the agenda:
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APPROVAL OF WORKING AGREEMENT WITH AFSCME UNION EMPLOYEES
The third and final working agreement was unanimously approved as the commission accepted the new contract with the union representing the city's dispatchers, public improvements workers, and clerical employees. Like the agreements signed between the City and the police and fire unions, the agreement is in effect through December 31, 2015.
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STREET SWEEPERS PURCHASED A FEW YEARS AGO WERE NOT EQUIPPED FOR USE IN COVINGTON
The City is selling two 2008 model street sweepers to a Mr. William Clark in the amount of $138,000 and will enter into competitive negotiations with CMI Equipment Sales to purchase two new street sweepers. Director of Public Improvements Tom Logan explained to the commission that the previously purchased street sweepers (the ones being sold) turned out not to be able to handle the responsibility of cleaning urban streets. City Commissioner Sherry Carran asked why on dead-end streets or cul-de-sacs when the sweepers have to back up to leave, that debris is often dropped back on the ground and left. Logan explained that that was part of the problem with the previously purchased sweepers and that the new ones will be able to handle the turnarounds.
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COVINGTON GIVING FIRE DEPARTMENT BOAT TO MONROE TOWNSHIP, OHIO
A 1988 22-foot Boston Whaler will be offered to the fire department of Monroe Township in Adams County, Ohio (just east of Augusta, Kentucky). The commission voted to declare the boat as surplus property, clearing the way for the transfer of ownership. Fire Chief Chuck Norris explained that as part of the Port of Cincinnati, Covington has benefited through the securing of grants and other funding and that by giving this boat to Monroe Township, it is a way for the city to give back to another Port member city and, "it helps our position as we apply for future grants," Norris said.
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OTHER NOTES
The City will purchase a new ambulance at a cost of $154,452 from Muster Emergency Vehicles (payable from capital improvements fund); Vehicles formerly used by the fire department were declared as surplus property; the city amended its development agreement with the Center for Great Neighborhoods in relation to the Neighborhood Stabilization Program; The commission accepted the bid of Heitzman Contracting in an amount not to exceed $89,750 for the roofing work needed at 118-120 East 15th Street (a property that is part of the Neighborhood Stabilization program and will be paid for by that grant); Elizabeth Barlik's employment as a legal assistant was approved; May 19 was declared National Kids to Parks Day in Covington.
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UPDATE ON INSIGHT CABLE SALE TO TIME WARNER
Tim Broering of the Northern Kentucky Telecommunications Board explained that all changes to cable service would be gradual as Time Warner takes over Insight Cable. One key change for sports fans is that while Insight Cable offered the NFL Network, Time Warner has never been able to reach an agreement with the football channel and it would likely go away. However, Time Warner offers the Major League Baseball Network, something absent from Insight's line-up. Another feature for HBO subscribers will be HBO Go, an online portal to every HBO series and all of their episodes viewable on-demand, something Insight was never a part of (EDITORIAL: Yes!!!!!!!). Additionally, Broering expects that Insight's highly lauded broadband internet service would remain in tact even as Time Warner takes over ownership. As for any rate increases: "Short-term, they won't change the rates," he said. "What that short-term means, hard to tell." Subscribers to basic cable (the first 20 channels) will see no change.
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A PRESENTATION BY THE CHILDREN'S HOME OF NKY
Julie Raia, Director of Quality Improvement at the Children's Home of Northern Kentucky, presented to the commission Tuesday. The Home, in Devou Park, has identified a new theme for its work this year: Building Bridges. It is an appropriate theme, Raia said, because the Home was founded by 19th century Covingtonian Amos Shinkle who also financed the building of the Roebling Suspension Bridge. Two interesting, and perhaps disappointing, statistics Raia shared while talking of how kids end up at the Home after committing a "status offense" included the fact that Kenton County ranks number one in Kentucky on juvenile status offense arrests, and that at Holmes High School, 55% of students are considered "truant".
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CONGRATULATIONS TO GINA ESTES
Covington's Gina Estes was recognized by a resolution at City Hall Tuesday for her accepting her new role as Chair of Preservation Kentucky. "She will represent Covington and the Commonwealth with exuberant enthusiasm," said Beth Johnson, the city's historic preservation officer. Estes spoke briefly about some events coming up at Preservation Kentucky and urged everyone to purchase the "PK" license plates noting that after the first 900 are sold, $10 for each sale, including those first 900, will go to PK.
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| Gina Estes |
