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The Covington City Commission meeting Tuesday night started an hour earlier than usual bust lasted a full three-and-a-half hours with a packed agenda and plenty of public comments regarding the daytime curfew, which passed unanimously. It had been over a month since the commission's last meeting at City Hall, though Mayor Scheper and the commissioners have met in caucus and in retreat offsite. Below is the recap of what happened:
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DAYTIME CURFEW PASSES UNANIMOUSLY
Though there were some reservations at least one commissioner and a couple public speakers, the new ordinance was met with mostly enthusiastic support and praise. A full report on this issue with comments and photos is at the link.
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HOLY CROSS FOOTBALL TEAM HONORED
The Commission unanimously voted to congratulate officially the Holy Cross football team on its state title. The southwest corner of 36th & Church Streets was officially approved to be named "Champions Corner". "We're very proud of you and hopefully this is the first of many," said Mayor Chuck Scheper. On the celebration at the school Sunday, "The people had to be there to experience the energy and excitement you created," said Commissioner Sherry Carran.
"These young men to absorb this and enjoy every minute because it will be one of the best experiences of their lives," said Head Coach Bruce Kozerski.
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UNSETTLING FINANCIAL OUTLOOK FROM "BUZZKILL" BOB DUE
"Buzzkill" is the nickname the City's finance director gave himself. Bob Due closed the meeting with an update on the budget which shows that Covington is around $734,000 worse off this year than last and that payroll & benefits are up over $300,000 from this time last year. "It's still early in the impact of the contingency plan," Due said. "We have to be more aggressive in our development of the future." The future looked bleak Tuesday night with Due projecting that by 2017, the City's cumulative debt would reach over $19 million.
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PART-TIME RANGERS HIRED FOR DEVOU PARK
CORRECTION TO THE EARLIER POST: Before the City approved a contingency budget, there were two full-time and one part-time rangers in Devou Park. The new budget reduced the two full-time employees to part-time, eliminating their pensions, vacations, hospitalizations, and sick leave. Upon the change, one of the formerly full-time rangers resigned, leaving two part-time rangers to cover the park before the hiring of the three individuals listed above.
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STEWART IRON WORKS BUILDING APPROVED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL UPGRADES
A $240,000 environmental remediation of the Stewart Iron Works building was unanimously approved. $200,000 comes from a federal EPA Brownfield grant and the remaining $40,000 was a private donation from the building's previous owner. During inspections, high amounts of lead and other contamination were discovered. Commissioner Steve Frank said that he was opposed to the purchase of the building and that because of its condition, the previous owner probably should have paid the City to take it. But, he said, since it's not City money involved, he supports the remediation.|
TRANSFER FROM INSIGHT TO TIME WARNER APPROVEDTBNK Executive Director Tim Broering could not predict whether customers' cable rates would go up, but assumed that there would be a typical rate increase as there is every year. as Time Warner sets to take over NKY's cable monopoly.
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LICKING RIVER GREENWAY TRAILS PROGRESS CELEBRATED
The Commission passed a resolution thanking all the partners and volunteers that have helped make great progress on the Licking River Greenway Trails, and outdoor project involving Covington, Taylor Mill, Wilder, and Newport. Recreation director Natalie Gardner shared photos of the progress from the first phase which includes a stretch from Levassor Avenue to Clayton-Meyer playground. This YouTube video was also shared:|
FIRE DEPARTMENT ACCEPTS $10,000 GRANT FROM LIBERTY MUTUAL
Covington's citizens were thanked for their effort in helping the fire department win an online competition from Liberty Mutual that involved a survey on fire safety. The $10,000 check was presented Tuesday night and will be used to fund fire safety education projects.
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CITY HEIGHTS-POLICE PARTNERSHIP SHOWING RESULTS
Police Chief Lee Russo lauded the achievements by the two officers assigned full-time to City Heights: 30 arrests for trafficking, 4 outstanding warrants for trafficking, 10 evictions; vehicles, cash, and guns seized, cameras have been installed at the guard shelter, 64 people have been banned from the property (and more will likely be banned following the new ownership of the streets as explained below), and 2 vicious animals were removed from the property.
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CITY HEIGHTS STREETS TURNED OVER TO HOUSING AUTHORITY
In a move that is expected to increase safety and ban many others from entering the housing project, the commission voted unanimously to cede control of the streets in City Heights to the Housing Authority of Covington. Once the City completes current repairs (some time in the spring) the control will be enacted.
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NEW FLOORING APPROVED FOR 3RD FLOOR
A Covington business was awarded the contract to replace aging carpet inside City Hall's third floor. Earl Franks Sons & Daughters will remove the carpet and lay down tile for the City's tenant, a department within state government. The cost to the City is nearly $35,000, a bargain for 10,500 square feet of flooring. With all of the available office space in the region, the commission agreed that it was in the best interest to work to retain the tenant. "As a landlord you hav certain responsibilities you must maintain," said Commissioner Steve Casper. "10,500 square feet to be accomplished with $35,000 is something."
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QUICK HITS
-Bishop Charles Fann was honored for receiving the NAACP Outstanding Service Empowerment Award. Fann is also chairman of the City's Human Rights Commission.
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| Charles Fann |
-An award was given to the City by the Guard and Reserve Award, so the commission voted to thank employee Scott Eckstein for nominating the City and the Department of Public Improvements.
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-Human resources manager JoAnn Simpson thanked the Department of Public Improvements and the Police Department for not suffering an injury on the job in 213 and 258 days, respectively. She also thanked the code enforcement department for not suffering an injury in over five years.
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The Devou Park advisory committee requested and received a reallocation of funds so that the Bandshell renovation could be completed. The money reallocated comes from money already designated for Devou Park projects, but because the Bandshell could be completed before others are begun, the reallocation was requested.
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14 properties were accepted as surplus and placed for sale through the homebuyer assistance program, for which new guidelines were also approved.
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A home on Bakewell will undergo renovation from a 3-family to a single family, and the commission approved allowed the owner to pay property taxes only on the pre-rehab value of the home, agreeing that it was a good investment for the neighborhood.
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Police Officers Greg Andrews and Justin Wietholter received a promotion and pay raise of 11.232%.
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Commissioner Sherry Carran was reappointed to represent he City on the Northern Kentucky Area Planning Council.
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Michelle Sherrill was appointed to the board of commissioners for the Housing Authority of Covington.
Michelle Sherrill was appointed to the board of commissioners for the Housing Authority of Covington.
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Chris Meyer was appointed to the Urban Design Review Board.
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Devou Park Golf Course representatives presented an update on gross receipt and how the renovations have gone. Golf rounds are down this year all around the region because of the wet weather. Though, the course's customers are enjoying the new golf carts and paths.
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Rachel Winters, Executive Director of the NKY Emergency Shelter, gave an update on the various individuals being served by the shelter this year. Most of them are over fifty years old. The shelter is also looking for a new home as Gateway College intends to buy the building from the County.
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