By Patricia A. Scheyer
NKyTribune reporter
PARK HILLS
A recurring problem took center stage at the regular Park Hills city council as Attorney Daniel Braun read an ordinance concerning the procurement policy for the city. All the council members agree on the procurement policy. However, Council member Sarah Froelich had written up a municipal order format in an effort to be more transparent and to help residents be able to locate the policy with minimum effort. The disadvantage of the municipal order format is that municipal orders are not part of the codification process so they are not readily available to the public. A resident would have to go to the city building and ask the city clerk to obtain the order, and orders are filed by date of enactment, and not typically codified. Froelich said they could solve that by posting the policy on the website, making the process a two-step procedure. Attorney Braun and Mayor Kathy Zembrodt as well as Council member Pam Spoor advocated an ordinance format which would attach the actual policy as an exhibit. This way the policy would be available through the code of ordinances which is updated annually and available online, making it a one-step process.
The ordinance was tabled so that the council members could discuss the issue at the caucus meeting.
Council agreed to a municipal order which hires Brian Cornett as a part time police officer.
An executive order passed which listed the members of the Park Hills Economic Development and Business Committee.
LAKESIDE PARK
A resident of Campus Drive, Tim McKinley, came to the regular meeting of Lakeside Park to see if the city had any more information about what the state plans to do with his neighborhood in their effort to figure out changes for the new bridge. He said many plans have been proposed and discarded, but each one seems more outlandish and over-engineered. Mayor Paul Markgraf said they will see if there are any firm plans for the area.
An ordinance was read for the second time which sets the compensation for the office of mayor at $14,000, and if a City Administrator is hired, that amount would be reduced to $10,000 beginning in January 2027.
The second reading of another ordinance was held allowing qualified manufactured homes to be on the same level as single family homes, in accordance with HB 160 which passed last year and will become effective on July 1, 2026
The first reading of an ordinance was held regarding fencing and amending the rules for fencing around swimming pools.
ELSMERE
Elsmere City Council passed a municipal order that authorized Mayor Marty Lenhof to accept the agreement with the KYTC for the Garvey Avenue improvement project.
A second municipal order accepting the bid of TMS Construction for concrete maintenance in the amount of $1,848,300.
Another municipal order authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement with the Northern Kentucky SWAT team.
A municipal order authorized the execution of a sale of several properties in the city, and since no sealed bids were received for the properties, those properties will be listed by Copperwood Realty and the price adjusted to $250,000 with an appropriate realty fee.
Council passed a municipal order which authorized the city to ask for bids for a Freightliner vehicle with ice and snow equipment for a price not to exceed $325,000.
Elsmere police Chief Russell Wood explained that the city is attempting to retire Canine officer Onyx, and in the process of obtaining another police dog. They have found an 18 month old Belgian Malinois, and over the next few months training will occur between the new dog and Officer Jesse Wenning. The plan is to have Onyx retire and become part of Officer Wenning’s family.
COVINGTON
Covington City Commissioners passed an order authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement with St Matthews Fire Protection District for the purchase of a used 2009 Pierce tractor drawn aerial for the fire department.
Commissioners also passed an order authorizing city staff to foreclose on 5 properties as part of the city’s housing initiative.
The second reading of an ordinance passed which amends the neighborhood code to allow “changeable copy” as a part of the principal detached sign within the Auto Urban Commercial district, and adding a formula for the measurement of sign illumination.
Vice Mayor Shannon Smith recognized two women who work for the city as part of Women’s History month. First was Cindy Lewis from HR who is a veteran with 20 years of experience for her job, and she likes to listen to classical music. The second is Susan Ellis, the City Clerk, who was recognized as the top clerk in the entire state, and she was also renowned as the ‘Clerkiest Clerk’ in the state. Smith said Ellis always makes her smile. She said Ellis takes great pride in her work and is a wonderful person.
FLORENCE
Florence Mayor Julie Aubuchon read a proclamation honoring the Cooper High School Varsity Cheerleaders for becoming National Champions. She announced that March 10 was their day in the city.
Brent Cooper, president and CEO of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, gave an update on the organization and what it does for the businesses in the area.
Council voted unanimously to reduce the Insurance Company License Fee rates from 5 percent to 4 percent. City Administrator Josh Hunt stated that this represents a 20 percent reduction in the current code. The insurance premium is applied to policies written within the city, and is collected and remitted by the insurance companies, instead of billed directly to the residents and businesses by the city of Florence. This is the third tax reduction enacted by the city since 2024. In addition to the insurance tax cut, the city reduced the property tax by 3 percent both in 2024 and 2025, resulting in a 6 percent cut over a two year period.
The first reading of an ordinance clears the way for an approximate .47 acre site at 7276 to be used as a jewelry store, or a principally permitted use in the C-2 zone. The site is currently listed as medical, but the owner would like to retire and sell the building and the effort is hampered by the fact that not many options are available for the C-2 zone. A public hearing was held, and the Boone County Planning and Zoning approved other uses for the site, with 5 conditions. A jewelry store, currently located across the street, has a contract to buy the building, since it has more parking.
A resolution passed which authorized Mayor Aubuchon to execute an agreement between the state Transportation Cabinet and the city of Florence for signal improvements. The grant was awarded to Florence five years ago, but now it is ready to start the process. The signals involved are any signals on US 42 from Ewing Boulevard to Mt Zion, and will also include those on Mall Road and one on Ewing Boulevard, as well as the one by the jug handle near the Hopeful Church intersection. The signals will be changed to fiber optic wires that will be sensitive to the traffic situations on the road and will read the situations and respond accordingly.
This will hopefully reduce some of the congestion on US 42. Another feature is that emergency vehicles will apparently be able to change signals so that they have green lights all the way to the hospital. Public Services Director Eric Hall said he really wants this project to be finished this year, but whether that is possible is unknown at this time.
Total price of the project is about $3.7 million and it is an 80/20 match, but Boone County is in on the project too, so the county will pay about $500,000, and Florence will pay $200,000. After the mayor signs the agreement, the request for bids will go out and about 21 days later the company that gets the bid will set up a timeline.
BOONE COUNTY
Boone County Administrator Matthew Webster gave a presentation on what a committee has decided for commercial parking. First reading was held already, but an alternate first reading reduced the recommended amount of space from 1000 feet from commercial 3 zone or an agriculture zone to 150 feet. Another alternate first reading eliminates the 1000 foot requirement entirely. Boone County Judge executive Gary Moore said that these areas are not truck stops, but more like staging areas. He said truck parking has been a problem for years, and there needs to be a solution or the truck will continue to park wherever they can find a place.
After considerable discussion, commissioners decided to take all the items pertaining to this issue off the agenda, with the thought that they could bring one or more items back at a later date. The issue of contention isn’t just the parking for the trucks, but a staging area where semis can be stacked up to four trailers high.
The first reading of an ordinance approving the zoning map amendment was held changing the ts for Crane Worldwide Logistics from Airport to Industrial One for a 15 acre site to be used as a parking lot.
Another first reading of an ordinance approved zoning text amendments in order to allow quality manufactured homes to be in the same zone as single family homes.
A resolution passed which awarded the bid for the paving of Point Pleasant and other roads to Riegler Blacktop.
Another resolution passed which approved right of way acquisition for the Sam Neace Drive sidewalk project.
A resolution passed which authorized the Gordon Company to perform partial depth joint street repairs, involving failed pavement joints on several county-owned streets.
A resolution passed which rejected all the bids for the Hempfling park access road and parking.
Assistant County Administrator Rob Franxman gave an update on the transportation plan for the county. He was very appreciative of the resident feedback. Top of the line from the feedback is to reduce congestion, improve safety, better walking and biking trails and freight management. Thirty-seven top tier projects were identified. Franxman said they are aware of what is going on, and aware of what is needed to be done. The study now goes back to OKI.
TAYLOR MILL
Taylor Mill commissioners held the first reading of an ordinance which will rename a portion of Wayman Branch Road as High Ridge Court. The new name will be official after the second reading in April.
Fire Chief Bryan Lynch introduced the new firefighter Jonathan Baker, and his wife pinned his badge on his shirt.
An ordinance had a first reading which grants a waiver on a subdivision sidewalk for a project on Taylor Mill Road.
Police Chief James Mills explained to commissioners that their rifles are out of date and he wants to apply for a KOHS grant for new rifles.
CAO Brian Haney told commissioners that the city will be teaming up with St Elizabeth hospital for a picnic for veterans and seniors which will include a small health fair. The budget for the picnic will be about $750 to $1000 and commissioners all agreed. The event will take place on September 19.
Ed Kuehne stood up to thank the police department for keeping an eye on his residence while he was away