Government briefs: Roundup of official happenings in city, county meetings this week


By Patricia A. Scheyer
NKyTribune reporter

FORT MITCHELL

Fort Mitchell council members gave a tacit nod to the first reading of an ordinance confirming the Kenton County Planning Commission’s recommendation to approve a map amendment that would clear the way for a proposed Senior Assisted Residential Living Facility. Crystal Wilmhoff, from MCL Housing Solutions, gave a presentation on the proposed facility which would be located at 221 Grand Avenue, between the Drees building and the Paul Hemmer property. The zone change would be from Business Park to Community Commercial.

Fort Mitchell

Reverend Damian Hils from Blessed Sacrament Church and Blessed Sacrament school Principal Aideen Briggs came to the meeting to ask for the city’s help about the issue of a School Resource Officer.

Mayor Jude Hehman explained that the state has recently mandated that all public schools have to have an SRO, but it was an unfunded mandate, and private schools were not included in the mandate. For another twist, a school can only go through a city or a county to get an SRO. Cities tend to have a problem if they have a Catholic school in their limits, because sometimes people don’t want to spend money on a religious school due to mixing church and state. Hehman, however, stated that he was willing to put some dollars in on this, and wanted to move forward on it.

“It’s not about spreading the faith,” said Father Damian. “It’s about the safety of the children.

He spoke about the underground tunnel that takes people from in front of the Blessed Sacrament school across Dixie Highway underground so they don’t have to fight the traffic on the highway. The city and the parish worked as a team to do upkeep on that tunnel when the KYTC washed their hands of it years ago.

Father Damian asked council to talk about it and let him know what Blessed Sacrament can do.

LAKESIDE PARK

Lakeside Park Mayor Paul Markgraf announced that most residents will have received a letter about sidewalk assessments, and he advised people not to rush out and do work fixing trip hazards, because there will be at least two special meetings on this issue. He also specified that every case is different.

“Our goal is to keep this as simple as possible,” he said. “And do it at the best possible price. But we cannot have the potential of having our little trick or treaters, or people walking on the sidewalks trip and fall.”

He said they have received a lot of calls and they will be getting back to the people to schedule a return call.

Markgraf called attention to election day and stressed to people that their vote is important. He said Lakeside Christian is a polling place, but at the bottom of page one of the website for the city there are links to sample ballots, as well as notification of days for early voting. He also explained the two constitutional amendments, encouraging people to explore the possibilities of the amendments, but trying to explain them so people knew what they are about.

An ordinance was read which repeals other ordinances and allows parking on East Lakeside between the hours of 7 and 9 a.m. Monday through Friday.

PARK HILLS

At the beginning of the regular council meeting, Park Hills Mayor Kathy Zembrodt announced that council member Monty O’Hara has had to resign his position as council member due to the fact that the sale of his house has gone through and he is moving to Louisville. People who are interested in applying for the vacant position, can submit a written and signed letter expressing interest in filling the position to City Clerk Julie Alig. It has to be submitted no later than November 4. More information is available on the city website.

Council voted to approve an encroachment permit for 1202 Old State Road so that the homeowner can rebuild a small section of wall across the right of way. When the road was resurfaced, apparently the curb is now higher, and the gap from the existing wall to the curb allows water to flow into the driveway. The new wall will form a barrier for the water, but it will be no higher than the curb.

The first reading of an ordinance updating the Abandoned Urban Property ordinance.

David Gray was appointed as hearing officer, and he will hear cases on the abandoned urban property, code violations, and parking violations.

Mayor Zembrodt announced that the long term road bond that had been amortized to be paid off in ten years has been paid off, a year early.

FLORENCE

It was awards night for first responders at the Florence Council meeting.

First, Caleb Hightchew was sworn in by Mayor Julie Aubuchon to be a Police Officer. He is working with the police now and will attend the Police Academy in Richmond in December.

People from St Elizabeth Healthcare came to present certificates and challenge coins to Firefighter/Paramedic Vince Lanning, Firefighter/EMT Brayden Collins, Firefighter/Paramedic Christian Ritchie, Firefighter/EMT Ryan Johnston, Captain Jon McNamera, and Captain Chris Fuhrmann for their actions in saving a resident who was taken to St Elizabeth Hospital in Edgewood with 100 percent occlusion of one of his coronary arteries.

On April 4 of this year the team of first responders were dispatched to Dream Street, where the person was being given CPR by Police Officers. The person was then given several rounds of medication and was defibrillated 3 times before he regained a pulse. Due to the quick response and persistent care, this patient was one of only 10 to 12 percent of people who survive a heart attack like this.

This was only the third time the hospital has given out these challenge coins.

Finally, Firefighter/Paramedic Vince Lanning was hailed by the Gateway Community and Technical College for being the Field Preceptor of the year for the 2023/2024 Paramedic Program.

Mayor Julie Aubuchon praised the people, saying, “Hats off, gentlemen, well done.”

KENTON COUNTY

Kenton County Judge Executive Kris Knochelmann presented another Pioneer, this time to Jeanne Schroer, who is well known for her phrase ‘Time kills deals.’ Schroer is a transformational leader for the Covington Urban Core and was described as ‘the brightest star that we have in our region.’ One of her accomplishments has been Duveneck Square, a totally under-utilized space that was truly transformed.

“This really means a lot to me,” said Schroer as she accepted the award. “I am surprised and grateful.”

Diane McConnell from the Enzweiler institute, and Travis Caudill, Principal of Ludlow High School, came to update the court on the progress of the Building Industry Institute program in the high school. Last year there were 147 adults who went through the program and 30 students, and this year they have 65 students, which doubled the number of students.

“This changes the lives of our students,” said Caudill. “This opens up the world of trades for our students.”

Josh Wice from Kenton County Planning and Zoning gave a presentation on the Southwest Kenton County Site Readiness Initiative. Judge Knochelmann said there could be a resolution based on the presentation at the next meeting.

The first reading of an ordinance was read which amended the official zoning ordinance of unincorporated Kenton County, adding Family Child-Care homes as a conditional use in residential zones, as well as revised definitions and height requirements to comply with the 2021 Senate bill 148.


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