By Ryan Clark
NKyTribune Reporter
Commissioners will wait a bit longer before moving forward on a project to build a sidewalk to connect the city’s parks, they decided at their caucus meeting Tuesday night.
Last week, Mayor Joe Meyer requested to hear a presentation regarding the plan, referred to as The Licking River Greenway project. Specifically, he wanted to hear the financials of the deal – and what exactly the city would be paying for.
Parks and Recreation Manager Rosie Santos told the commission that the project Master Plan came from a 2008 meeting of the Vision 2015 venture, which attempted to investigate ideas to improve the region. Covington, along with Newport, Wilder and Taylor Mill, agreed to participate in the plan, which would connect many parks in the area.
Covington, Santos said, was leading the way in the effort, and completed a first phase of the work in 2012. This latest phase would add another mile of trail. The asphalt sidewalk, with access points to the river, would improve the environment, generate education and recreation opportunities, and add value to the homes there, she said.
The project would build the sidewalk from Eighth Street to the floodwall, along the top of the floodwall to Twelfth Street, up the hill and down to Sixteenth Street, which would then tie in to Clayton-Meyer Park, effectively connecting Clayton-Meyer to Austinburg and Randolph Parks.
“It’ll be good to connect the three major parks in Covington,” said Commissioner Bill Wells. “It’s a great project.”
Several people in the audience who came to hear the presentation responded by clapping, showing their approval of the idea.
There was only one problem. The $700,000 project is over budget, to the tune of about $122,000.
“I am totally in favor of spending the $591,000,” said Meyer, referencing the original budget. But I am not in favor of going above what we budgeted.”
Commissioners discussed if they could cut some of the work from the plan.
“If we’re going to be responsible financial stewards, we need to,” Meyer said. “That’s my position.”
With estimates originally completed in 2014, inflation and the amount of passed time could have contributed to the eventual larger numbers, city manager David Johnston explained. He also suggested that his staff could review the proposal over the next week or two to search for places to trim funding.
The commission agreed to allow him to investigate, and they will revisit the idea in the near future.
“It’s just another project where we’re 30 percent over budget,” Meyer said.
Afterward, the commission did agree to move forward with a CSX inspection linked to the project, which will cost $9,595, and they also accepted a $50,000 grant in additional funding for the project from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
ALSO TUESDAY:
Commissioners heard a possible golf cart regulation ordinance amendment. In August, UPS notified the city that the company would be using golf carts, or other small vehicles, to deliver packages to some areas.
It then became the responsibility of the commission to decide whether or not those vehicles would be legal – and they had a 60-day window to do so.
Due to concerns over safety, theft and possible zoning problems (“Where are all these vehicles stored?” Senior Assistant City Solicitor Michael Bartlett asked) the commission decided to move forward to a first reading banning the vehicles, with the thought of revisiting the issue in the future.
“We’re not saying we’re banning it forever,” Johnston said.
Commissioners moved forward with the $1.6 million Scott and Sixth Street Project, which will transfer utilities underground and improve sidewalks. Due to funding, commissioners decided to start with the area between Fourth and Sixth Streets, then reconsider moving on with the project if they have leftover funds.
The next Covington Commission meeting will be held at 6 p.m., Oct. 10 at the Covington City Hall at 20 West Pike St.