By Patricia Scheyer
NKyTribune reporter
PARK HILLS
Park Hills city council held a special meeting before their regular caucus meeting to pass some legislation before the end of the month. Council members all agreed on the increased salary set for the mayor, at $1200 annually, as well as the increased salaries for the council members, at $3,000 annually, to be instituted after the November election starting in 2027.
They also all agreed on a Municipal Order which allows Police Chief Cody Stanley to apply for a grant to the Haverkamp agency for a police K9 dog. Currently the department does not have a K9 officer, and if they can get the grant and the dog, Officer Chelsea Little will be the partner and dog handler.
Council agreed to pass a Municipal Order for a submission to the Kenton County Planning and Zoning for a text amendment and zone changes in the RM zone to increase the density, in preparation for a project on the Szechuan property.
During the caucus meeting council members discussed the budget for the 2026/2027 year.
FLORENCE
Florence city council witnessed the swearing in of four new police officers. Mayor Julie Aubuchon administered the oath of office to Ryan Burkart, Jacob Deaton, Steve Donald III, and Landon Rogers while their families looked on.
Council unanimously passed the second reading of an ordinance that changes the concept development plan for a 10.7 acre site at 7606 through 7654 Mall Road in the Village of the Mall for a 990 square foot coffee house and drive through service for Dutch Brothers Coffee.
Three other ordinances were read for the first time but also voted on unanimously by council. The first was a budget amendment for the 2025-2026 budget. Several adjustments were made.
The second provided for an update to police rules and regulations. The police department was just notified that their accreditation was approved for another four years.
The third ordinance is a brand new one that deals with motor vehicle queues that block public roadways. CAO Joshua Hunt clarified that this ordinance is meant to provide for the safe and efficient movement of traffic. Council member Angie Cable asked where the drivers’ responsibility ended and the business’s responsibility started and Hunt replied that it is usually the responding police officer’s call, but he said that both could be cited. He also said that churches and schools are exempt from this ordinance.
Hunt said he hopes this will force a conversation with businesses for a permanent fix. Cable asked if this was going to be part of the process for planning and zoning approval going forward, and Hunt said that queuing on public roads would never be approved by the city or by planning and zoning. He said this just gives the police the ability to address the situation immediately.
BOONE COUNTY
Boone County held a caucus meeting on Tuesday in the middle of the afternoon for the purpose of presenting the budget.
There was a small period of public comments in a town hall style. Jill Charles stood up and spoke eloquently about the law and how the law is not being followed on all matters of development. She told the court that people on the Planning Commission are considered experts, but especially in the case of the wedding center in Union, the law, KRS 100.213 was not followed and the relevance to following the Comprehensive plan was not adhered to. She said the center was voted down but the vote was very close and shouldn’t have been close at all. She said trust in the ‘experts’ erodes when they do not follow the guideline that they themselves set up. She pointed out that many developments have been approved because the rules have not been followed. She said development is inevitable, but unplanned development is not.
Bryan Mauer stood up and deplored the $4 million dollars to fund the jail, as well as the prisoners that he says are being held indefinitely and should not be.
A proclamation was read for National County Month in May.
The proposed fiscal budget was presented by County Administrator Matthew Webster and Financial Director Lisa Goetz. Webster said the recurring revenue is $83 million, up 2.3 percent. The general fund recurring expenditures are $65.8, up 3.1 percent. Reserves are listed at $28.4 million, a percentage of 30.04 percent, which is good, since the desirable rate is 30 percent.
Assistant County Administrator Rob Franxman gave a report on transportation and infrastructure projects, Jason Gamble gave a report on technology projects, David Whitehouse told about the new parks projects, and Matt Dowling gave a report on capital projects.
COVINGTON
Several Covington residents graduated from the Mayor’s Academy Tuesday night at the regular Covington Commission meeting. Each participant received a gavel as a present, as well as Mayor Ron Washington’s thanks.
City Administrator Sharmili Reddy announced that the guest card expansion is good Thursdays through Saturdays, from 5:30-10:30 p.m., and they are able to be booked through the app. She said they will be good for all Reds and Bengals games, and she thanked meetNKY for helping to fund them.
She also said that two RFP’s will go out for the housing initiative for 30 sites, to further the pipeline for income based housing.
There are apparently more announcements of closures for the Brent Spence bridge, and Reddy said to pay attention because if anyone has a problem they should call the city.
The first reading of an ordinance accepting Covington’s Motor Vehicle Authority’s offer of dedication of a 4 foot by 192.5 foot public right of way to be added to the existing 10 foot wide east/west oriented alley south of Fifth Street between Scott Street and Electric Alley, approving the dedication plat, execution of the plat by the mayor, and recording the platt in the office of the County Clerk.
KENTON COUNTY
Kenton County Judge Executive Kris Knochelmann read a proclamation for Correction Officer Week, for those under Marc Field’s leadership.
He also read one honoring Police Week, and those under Chief Spike Jones’ leadership Both weeks are in the beginning of May.
Two people have been chosen from 10 nominees for Jon Draud’s Pioneer Awards. Former Sheriff Chuck Korzenborn is the first winner of the award,and Karen Finan is the other winner of the award.
Commissioners voted to approve Prus Construction as the Construction Manager at Risk for the new county Park. They were chosen from among 7 bids for their track record and work in the field.
“This is something to be proud of for the next 100 years,” Knochelmann said of the new park. “And before Jon asks, when will dirt start to move? In October.”
The first reading of an ordinance was held which provides for the credit of its occupational license fee for new employees as part of an economic development project by RA Jones and Company under the Kentucky Business Investment Program.