By Patricia A. Scheyer
NKyTribune reporter
PARK HILLS
Park Hills city Council listened to the second reading of an ordinance establishing a new Chapter 34 for establishing and adopting a new procurement policy. Council member Sarah Froelich again asked for the ordinance to be tabled, since as a council the members have not read the internal procurement policy, and she wanted to make sure everyone understood it. She made a motion to table it and council member Emily Sayers agreed as did Council member Laura Cardosi. However, Council members Pam Spoor, Greg Claypole and Steve Elkins voted no on tabling the ordinance, so Mayor Kathy Zembrodt broke the tie by voting no. Then a motion was made to pass the ordinance, and again, Froelich, Sayers and Cardosi voted no, and Spoor, Claypole and Elkins voted yes, and again, Mayor Zembrodt voted yes to break the tie.
The ordinance passed.
The second reading of another ordinance which creates a new chapter 116 establishing a procurement code passed on the first vote, without fanfare.
The second reading of an ordinance which establishes the order of business and conduct of meetings required a lot more discussion about agreeing on exactly the correct wording for the ordinance.
Two first readings of ordinances were held, one for the amended 2025-2026 budget, and one for the new 2026-2027 budget.
A municipal order passed which approved a School Resource Officer for Covington Catholic High School, with only one no vote from Sarah Froelich.
Another municipal order approved the health insurance for the city, and yet another municipal order approved the appointment of Mike Conway as the city’s representative to Kenton County Planning and Zoning.
A resolution passed which declares Park Hills as a Purple Heart City.
Council approved an event permit for a neighborhood Block Party.
LAKESIDE PARK
Lakeside Park city council started off with a public hearing about the Municipal road aid from the state in the amount of $40,742.
A resident, Pat Perkins, came to the meeting to ask council if they would help with parking on her street, since she says a lot of people are parking on the street making parking a definite premium. She would like for residents to have garages, or at least to park in their driveways.
A municipal order passed which authorized Mayor Paul Markgraf to send an application to the Kenton County Planning and Zoning to amend the city’s zoning on existing free standing garages. This would allow any non-conforming, free standing garage or edifice built before 1994 to be rebuilt or replaced, if they are not taller than one story, and they don’t exceed the footprint of the old one.
The second reading of an ordinance passed which amended the rules for littering in the city.
The first reading of an ordinance was held which will adopt the annual budget for the city.
FLORENCE
Florence Mayor Julie Aubuchon administered the oath of office to two members of the Fire Department. Wallace LeMaster was promoted to Fire/EMS Captain, and Kyle Brant was promoted to Fire/EMS Lieutenant.
Mayor Aubuchon also declared the month of May as ALS Awareness Month. Richard and his wife were present to accept the proclamation, as Richard is suffering from the disease.
The second reading of an ordinance passed which amended the 2025-2026 budget. Another second reading of an ordinance passed which related to the Police rules and regulations and amending any prior ordinances pertaining to the same rules and regulations.
A municipal order passed which appointed Robert Pagan to the Boone County Board of Assessments Appeals for a three year term.
ELSMERE
Elsmere Police Chief Russell Woods gave a report on what his department had to deal with in the last month. He talked about an assault at the Marathon station where the victim was taken to UC Medical Center with a brain hemorrhage. He said the suspect was caught and is in the Kenton County Jail.
He also related how a 25-year-old male on a gas powered mini bike caused a lot of havoc by traveling at 70 mph through the city. When police followed him to a trailer park, residents pointed out where he was hiding because he was driving recklessly. Chief Woods told council that there is a zero tolerance policy for high speed drivers on gas powered mini bikes.
Woods also told council they conducted an active shooter training at Dorothy Howell elementary, which went very well.
More semis have been traveling the roads in the city, according to Chief Woods, and he attributed it to the industrial park. But he said they get on the streets going the wrong way, and they need to pay more attention to the signs and where they are going. He said they have cited quite a few trucks, and they need to know they will be cited and the fines are not cheap.
A municipal order passed which allowed the city to accept the municipal road aid funds in the amount of $175,588.13.
A resolution passed which allowed the city to sign a Memorandum of Understanding for a grant for the Garvey Road sidewalks in the amount of $143,000. The grant is a FHWA grant.
TAYLOR MILL
Taylor Mill Police Chief James Mills presented three Police Officers with an award from the state of Kentucky for Occupant Safety and Impaired Driver Enforcement. Awards were given to Officers Trenton Bailey, Logan Herzog, and Sergeant Billy Roberts.
Fireman/Medic Trent Hanson was promoted to Lieutenant and will be in charge of EMS services.
Stu Bowns, who lives on Stone Hill Court, said there is a problem at his intersection, where there are three stop signs. He said drivers do not pay any attention to the stop signs, and they frequently blow right through the signs. He said he was almost hit by a car, and he worries about the children who live in the neighborhood.
He came prepared to offer a solution, and not just complain. He said he priced portable speed humps that can be installed in the spring and taken up in the winter, for about $250 a hump. He also displayed a sign he put up by the stop sign, which says ‘stop sign for sale, like new, seldom used’ which is getting a lot of attention.
Several first readings of ordinances were held. The first was a change to the city liquor license, a move that was necessary because the state changed some rules. The city changed the rules to mirror those of other neighboring cities, setting the hours at 6 am to 2:30 am on Sundays, and changing some of the fees.
The second first reading concerns a pay classification for the city which is updated every year.
The third introduced the new budget, and the fourth amends the previous budget from last year.
A resolution passed which accepts the municipal road aid fund.