16 PROMOTIONS FOR COV FD, 1 NEW COP, AND 1 CO-OP GOES FULL-TIME

by Michael Monks
Email Michael
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-River-City-News/244172412265645
@theRCnews on Twitter

Mayor Denny Bowman's family continues serving the City of Covington as Tuesday night his nephew Joseph Bowman was among sixteen members of the fire department promoted. "Twenty years from now when he retires, he's gonna run for mayor," Bowman joked.

Here's a list of the fire department personnel approved unanimously by the city commission to their new positions:

Brian Bamberger, 19 years of service to Cov. FD, to Assistant Chief
Ronald Stolz, 22 years, to Battalion Chief
Wayne Keller, 15 years, to Captain
Scott McVey, 18 years, to Captain
Tara Lytle, 10 years, to Lieutenant/Paramedic
Mike Lee, 7 years, to Lieutenant
Marty Disibio, 18 years, to Lieutenant/Paramedic
Chuck Spenlau, 21 years, to Lieutenant
Chris Alsip, 7 years, to Lieutenant/Paramedic
Dave Geiger, 12 years, to Lieutenant/Paramedic
Josh Campbell, 6 years, to Lieutenant/Paramedic
John Hofstetter, 10 years, to Lieutenant
Chris Vogelpohl, 7 years, to Lieutenant/Paramedic
Craig Vogelpohl, 6 years, to Engineer
Douglas Veselsky, 6 years, to Engineer/Paramedic
Joseph Bowman, 6 years, to Engineer

The commission also accepted the resignation of police officer Joshua Johnson who served a little more than a year after arriving from Ashland, KY. Approved unanimously to fill an officer position with the department was Douglas Ullrich, a 2003 Elder High School and Xavier University graduate who previously served in law enforcement in Valdez, Alaska. Lt. Col. Spike Jones joked that Ullrich said in the interview that if the City were faced with grizzly or polar bears, that Ullrich is the go-to guy.

Andrew Juengling found himself as the subject of three items on the commission's agenda: 1) accepting his resignation as co-op in Community Development, 2) approving his new role as full-time zoning specialist in the same department, and 3) appointing him to an unexpired term on the parking violation hearing board.

More News At The Homepage - Click Here

MURDER SUSPECT ARRESTED

by Michael Monks
Email Michael
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-River-City-News/244172412265645
@theRCnews on Twitter

Less than twenty-four hours after a man's body was found near the floodwall in RiverCenter, a suspect has been arrested and charged with murder. Dexter Stallings, 47, was apprehended in an apartment on West 6th Street following the execution of a search warrant by Covington Police.

Dexter Stallings, 47, is charged with murder

The victim has not been identified, pending notification of family. Covington Police are also awaiting details from the medical examiner before releasing details on how the man was killed.

Stallings is being held in the Kenton County Detention Center in South Covington.

COVINGTON SUPERINTENDENT DEFENDS DISTRICT, RESPONDS TO CRITICS

by Michael Monks
Email Michael
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-River-City-News/244172412265645
@theRCnews on Twitter

Critics have lashed out over a $10,000 pay raise. Citizens want answers over a 4% increase on property taxes. A Louisville-based blog continues with out-of-context attacks. Even an alleged office remodel has caught fire with a handful of posters on Facebook. It has been a busy week for Covington Independent Public Schools Superintendent Lynda Jackson. And today is only the second day of school.

"I'm very passionate about making sure the students have everything they need," Jackson said today in her office during an exclusive one-on-one interview with The River City News. "I'm in the schools daily. I can't apologize for fighting for these kids because they are our children, they live here in this city and they deserve to have what every other child has."

Last week, Covington's school board voted 3 - 1 (with one member absent) to increase property taxes 4%, a move that caused some outcry in the online community and even led one City Commissioner to call for a state audit of the district.

"We are already audited every year as part of the Kentucky Department of Education requirements," Jackson said. "What I'm going to do is put (the auditor's annual report) on the website for people to read." School district budgets are very complex with funds coming from different sources, Jackson said. For example, the general fund comes from tax revenue, there is money from the state dependant upon enrollment numbers, and then federal money is used for free and reduced lunch programs.

The 4% increase is expected to generate a little more than $800,000 toward the overall $16 million that comes from property taxes. Without the full 4% increase, the maximum allowed by state law without direct voter approval, the district would have had to make budget cuts from $140,000 - $612,000, or more with no increase at all.

"Most school districts are only budgeting for 95% of what they need because of the economic shortfall," Jackson said. "We have to make sure that we can continue to provide the services to the students. We felt like we had to take 4% and most districts did take (the increase)."

COV SCHOOLS APPROVE TAX INCREASE, COMMISSIONER WANTS STATE AUDIT

by Michael Monks
Email Michael
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-River-City-News/244172412265645
@theRCnews on Twitter

A $10,000 raise for Covington Independent Public Schools Superintendent Lynda Jackson motivated angry posts at Facebook and even led to the creation of a page there called Covington KY 411 that mostly takes aim at the district's shortcomings. The tone got angrier following Thursday night's school board meeting in which the district's portion of property taxes will now rise from $105 per $100,000 value to $111 per. The move is expected to bring in $800,000 in revenue.

Board members Krista Athey, Mike Fitzgerald and Jerry Avery voted to pass the increase. Denise Varney voted no. Glenda Huff was not present.
As of this writing, there has been no public response from the district, the superintendent or the publicly elected board members. The River City News will post their comments as soon as we hear back from them.

"The Covington School Board's decision to raise taxes, once again, is a huge blow to the viability and quality of life in Covington," City Commissioner Shawn Masters tells The River City News. Both Masters and fellow Commissioner Steve Frank expressed their opinion at Tuesday night's Commission meeting, urging the public to understand that if property taxes are raised, that the schools would be to blame.

"We are already challenged with attracting residents given the state of this economy and to have one of the highest, now higher, school tax rates in the state, well, it's just disappointing," Masters continued.

Amid the online and political attacks on the schools and Jackson, former board member and current Chairman of the Kenton County Democrats, Col Owens posted an op-ed in the Cincinnati Enquirer, highlighting several points that make Covington's situation a unique one:

COV SCHOOLS CONSIDER TAX INCREASE; DAYTIME CURFEW APPROVED, ACLU TO SCRUTINIZE

by Michael Monks
Email Michael
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-River-City-News/244172412265645
@theRCnews on Twitter


The Covington Independent Public Schools will host a public meeting at 6PM Thursday as the district decides whether to raise its tax rate on property owners. If a move is made by the schools raising property taxes, the Covington City Commission wants the public to know that the increase did not come from City Hall.

"I think that at a time when we have to learn to live within our means" the schools should too, said Commissioner Steve Frank, Tuesday night. "If you see property taxes go up, it's not us, it's the schools." The commission voted unanimously to keep its portion of the tax rate at the same level as the previous year.

Daytime Curfew Approved
Covington City Commission also unanimously approved the daytime curfew for all minors that should be in public or private school during regular school hours. City Solicitor Frank Warnock indicated the American Civil Liberties Union is expected to "scrutinize" the curfew ordinance. Mayor Bowman asked if the ACLU would be scrutinizing the longer-standing curfew in Newport that served as the model for Covington's. That answer was not immediately known.

GOODBYE ARTS DISTRICT, HELLO TEAM PUMA

by Michael Monks
Email Michael
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-River-City-News/244172412265645
@theRCnews on Twitter

Covington's failed attempt at redefining the once thriving central business district into an arts and technology zone is finally over. The City Commission passed a resolution Tuesday night to submit an application to the Kenton County Area Planning Commission that would change the zoning along Pike Street corridor back to the central business district.

"(The arts zoning) really made it more difficult to get the right kind of businesses," said Jackson Kinney, Covington's Community Development Director. "It was counterproductive. Arts businesses thrive in mixed use environments."

Splat! goes the Arts District

The Arts & Technology District never really gained traction and today many of the vacant buildings that were expected to be revived remain vacant, a sad display behind a sculpture of legendary Covington artist Frank Duveneck.

"Not having this arts zone will bring in the businesses that arts businesses want to be near," Kinney added.

The death knell for the arts zone may be part of the newly announced Covington Center City Action Plan, the so-called plan-of-plans, that seeks to combine nineteen previous plans that also sought to revitalize the central business district. Denver-based Progressive Urban Management Associates will oversee the new plan.

"We know you've been planned to death here," said PUMA President Brad Segal. "We want to do different things to move forward."

MAYOR VERSUS WORLD AT COVINGTON CITY HALL

by Michael Monks
Email Michael
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-River-City-News/244172412265645
@theRCnews on Twitter

It was a ceremonial resolution to honor City Manager Larry Klein for receiving the 2011 City Manager of the Year award from the Northern Kentucky Area Development District. "Aye", responded Commissioners Sherry Carran, Steve Casper, Steve Frank and Shawn Masters.

"I disagree," said Mayor Denny Bowman. "I vote no."

That resolution was near the bottom of the Commission's agenda for Tuesday night's meeting and followed several other 4 - 1 votes, with Bowman on the steadfastly defiant, losing end.

An ordinance defining job titles and salaries that would increase pay for some non-union employees who are taking on additional responsibilities: 4 - 1.

An order to hire a new law clerk to replace one that resigned: 4 - 1.

An appointment to the position of division supervisor (recreation & facilities) in the Department of Public Improvements: 4 - 1.

An appointment to the position of division supervisor (urban forestry and parks) in the Department of Public Improvements: 4 - 1.

"These people are great people, I like every one of them," said Bowman. But the firing of public workers and early retirements of others amid a $4 million budget deficit followed by raises and new hires did not sit well with the Mayor.

"It bothers me that we can tell our citizens to go to thirty 'road shows'" and scare them into believing that bankruptcy was imminent, the Mayor said. "Then, all of a sudden, boom, $450,000 for computers."

An ordinance to upgrade the city's computers and operating systems: 4 - 1.

"We had to do reorganzation in public improvements," said Klein, justifying the pay increases. "We have one that went from supervising two to supervising eleven. They'll keep doing their old job in addition to their new job."

WHINE & DINE: Ruby's Desperate Pouting for a Taxpayer Subsidized Restaurant

by Michael Monks
Email Michael
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/The-River-City-News/244172412265645
@theRCnews on Twitter

Is Mother Nature secretly working as a Covington City Hall agent? Afterall, she is the only entity that has spoken publicly about not wanting Jeff Ruby's The Waterfront along Covington's Ohio River shoreline, when she instructed the then-high-rising waters to wash it away nearly six months ago. So why then has the bombastic restaurateur suggested to the Cincinnati Enquirer that the City of Covington has apparently come "down with amnesia", and has not made a single offer to keep the 25-year old floating restaurant?

Ruby told the Cincinnati Enquirer's Mike Rutledge: "I'm disappointed in Covington. I spent 25 years in Covington, and not Newport, and I thought Covington would respect that."

Cincinnati Enquirer: Ruby May Try To Move Waterfront To Newport

But if talk of non-egagement surprised Covington's leaders, talk of engagement has also surprised their counterparts in Newport, where Ruby now says he is interested in taking The Waterfront.

"We're always interested in new businesses in the city, but I wouldn't do anything to sabotage or to harm a neighboring city - I just wouldn't do it," Newport City Manager Tom Fromme told Rutledge, adding in the article that no one from the City of Newport has spoken to Ruby or his alleged co-conspirators at Newport-On-The-Levee.

"I believe we have extended every courtesy possible to Mr. Ruby," Covington City Commissioner Shawn Masters tells The River City News. "I certainly do not want to see Covington lose The Waterfront, but at the same time we must be prudent in investing in the overall riverfront, not just one establishment."

Covington Commissioner Steve Frank took to Facebook to write, "The question on any investment is one of payback. At $2 million, what rate of return would the city have to reap each year to justify the expense," in regards to the amount of money necessary to stablize and improve a location for The Waterfront. Frank also noted that the City collects $50,000 in rent in addition to payroll taxes.

The Cincinnati Enquirer article explains that $2 million figure was the conclusion of a federally-funded study that explored the relocation of The Waterfront to Covington Landing. The Waterfront wanted direct pedestrian access to its first floor instead of the second. Klein tells the Cincinnati Enquirer that the price was too high for the city, in the mindst of budget cuts and layoffs.

The money quote from Klein to the Enquirer:

"(Ruby) and the city have never arrived at a single concept of whether he wanted to be on the land or be in the water. They kept going back and forth. And I don't think we could accomodate his timeline, either. I think he wanted to be able to open his doors as soon as possible and you don't implement a $2.5 million plan overnight."

So is Jeff Ruby lying? He says Covington officials did not engage, when clearly that is not the case. Ruby says Newport is interested, only no one at Newport City Hall has any record of that.

The fact is, Mother Nature has spoken and so has Jeff Ruby. And only one of them appears to be speaking the truth.

NKU PRESIDENT TO STEP DOWN

by Michael Monks
Email Michael
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-River-City-News/244172412265645
https://twitter.com/#!/theRCnews

Dr. James Votruba's fifteenth year as President of Northern Kentucky University will be his last in that role. In announcement today during the Highland Heights school's state of the university address, Votruba informed the campus community of his decision.

When reached late last night by telephone, Dr. Votruba granted a one-on-one interview with the River City News.


Dr. James C. Votruba



"I think the university is in great shape right now for a transition," Votruba said. "One can always stay another year or two but this is timing. Timing on transitions is very important and the timing now could not be better because the university is in a strong position academically and financially, given the times."

Votruba assumed the role of NKU's President in August of 1997 when the school was, as he a described, both a community college and a four-year undergraduate institution. Since then, NKU has increased its admission standards, its number of graduate and doctoral programs and now boasts of 16,000 students on a transformed campus that now includes multiple completed and new construction projects spearheaded by Votruba.

The Bank of Kentucky Center, a new student union and the new College of Informatics building are the latest high-profile, multimillion dollar construction projects that now define the campus as a growing metropolitan university.

"Fourteen years ago the budget was $85 million," Votruba said. "Today it's $210 million. "Ten years ago we had fifty-two undergraduate programs and today we have seventy. We had ten masters programs and today we have forty-nine and two doctoral programs."

Votruba arrived in Highland Heights from East Lansing where he was Vice Provost for university outreach and a professor of higher education at Michigan State University. His Bachelor's degree in political science, his master's in political science and sociology and his doctorate in higher education were all earned at Michigan State, a school that many thought would lure Votruba away a few years ago when its presidency was vacant.

Instead, he stayed at Northern Kentucky where his wife, Rachel, was also on faculty and where his daughter, Emily, graduated.

"We're an NKU family," Votruba said. "I get contacted by headhunters pretty regularly asking if I'm interested."

For Votruba, it's about legacy and impact, though.

"I never saw a place that looked like more fun than NKU, it's about that simple," he said. "I like building. It's more difficult to build at larger schools. This has been a good fit for me and the community has been a good fit. You have to decide if you're going to unpack your bags and leave a legacy."

Votruba will remain in the NKU and Northern Kentucky community. After stepping away as president following the 2011-12 academic year, he'll leave campus for a full year and then return as a facutly member in the education doctoral program.

"I'm a teacher, fundamentally. It's the way I've approached my work here and my entire career and I'm excited about the doctoral program in educational leadership because it's an opportunity to educate the next generation of leaders, not only at a university, but superintendents and principals who have a lot of responsibility," Votruba said.

"I'm also excited about more flexibility in my life for Rachel and me to spend time with our children and our grandchildren."

He and Mrs. Votruba have three children and six grandchildren. Votruba plans, after becoming a professor, to be simply that at NKU, a professor.

"I'm going to stay out of the president's business and give the new president the freedom to move in their own direction," he says.

President Votruba's accomplishments have made the NKU job more attractive and likely more competitive. He says that NKU is a good place to be a president and that Kentucky is a good state in which to be a president. The Board of Regents will likely use a consulting firm to conduct a national search for the school's next leader, Votruba said.

Votruba's are big shoes to fill. "My proudest achievement is the overall coming of age of the university as a full-blown major institution," he said. "Universities look to NKU as an example in community engagement."

The President says that there was not precise moment when he knew it was time to step aside and allow a new leader to come in, explaining that it happened gradually. "It's evolutionary," he says. "You listen to voices inside you, you ask yourself after fifteen years, 'this is a long time, do you want to go out while you're still on top?'"

"My father told me when I was a young man and he was still working, 'I want to know when it's time to go before someone has to tell me'. I think that's good caution."

Asked which building on campus now or in the future he would like to have his name on, he laughed. "How about that old log cabin that sits out by the Honors House," he chuckled.

Friday morning, Greaves Hall on NKU's campus was completely full for Votruba's final fall invocation, according to university spokesman Chris Cole, who also announced that the President will select a NCAA Division I conference in which the athletics teams would compete following the transition from Division II, another testament to the successful presidency of Dr. James C. Votruba.

New Facade Grant Available For Qualifying Homeowners!

The Homeowner Facade Program, funded through the Community Development Block Grant Program, is administered by the City of Covington's Community Development Department. The purpose of this program is to assist homeowners with improvement to facades (visible from the public right-of-way) of qualifying residential properties. The funds are available in two targeted redevelopment areas: Central Core and targeted streets in the Latonia area. Under this program, households which meet income and other requirements may obtain grants to assist with certain exterior improvement.

The facade improvements will be made available to address exterior code violations, which must be addressed prior to undertaking other improvements, on facades visible from the public right-of-way.   Examples of eligible repairs include roof repair/replacement, gutter repair/replacement, repair/repainting of exterior walls and trim, porch repairs, handrails, steps, and walkways. Lighting and security improvements may be eligible on a case-by-case basis. Other improvements may be eligible as funding is available.

Homeowners wishing to participate in the program must submit an application and required documentation to the Community Development Department. Funds are available on a first come, first served basis as funding permits.

Click Here For Guidelines 

Click Here For Map Showing Eligible Areas 

Questions?  Contact Jeremy Wallace, CDBG/HOME Program Coordinator, Community Development Department, at 292-2163 or jwallace@covingtonky.gov