By Andy Furman
NKyTribune staff writer
The distance is only 1.8 miles. Yet, the travel time was just shy of three months.
The Telecommunications Board of Northern Kentucky has a new home – finally.
“Our move from 3414 DeCoursey Avenue in Latonia to our new offices here at 1650 Russell Street in Covington, finally is over,” James Morelock TBNK’s Executive Director told the Northern Kentucky Tribune at an open house last week.
Morelock, a TBNK lifer at the tender age of 30, said the move started July 1st – and even more amazing – he did most of the heavy lifting.
“We took one of our work vans and transformed it to a moving van,” he said, “and it wasn’t pleasant with no air conditioning on the second floor at the Latonia building.”
What they did, he says, was load desks, racks and all equipment needed for a television operation.
“I did the wiring on my own,” said, “and set up the Master Control.”
So why the move?
“Easy,” he said, “certainly it’s more efficient for us, yet we’ve downsized from 7,200 square feet to 2,700.
“We now have sunlight in our offices – there were no windows at our Latonia center.
The lack of sunlight creates a drab environment.
“And,” he added, “we are really now in the heart of the city. We’re right next door to the Public Works.”
Amazingly, during the move, not one minute of on-air time was lost.
“We did it over a weekend, and on Monday morning we were ready for our meetings,” he said.
Of course, leave to Morelock – always looking for answers – to find some history in the new digs.
“This building,” he said, “was home for Tubby’s Clubhouse.”
Of course, there’s only one Tubby – that would be former UK basketball coach Tubby Smith (1997-2007).
For Morelock the move was, well like moving from home.
He grew up on West 41 st Street in Latonia – just two blocks from the TBNK offices on DeCoursey Avenue.
“I toured the building in both elementary and high school. I knew I would work there some day.”
Morelock took those tours while a student at Latonia Elementary and Holmes High School – his media career was launched at Northern Kentucky University.
“I did my own videos when I was 12 and 13,” he recalled. “And I followed area bands with my camera when I turned 18.”
The Telecommunications Board of Northern Kentucky – a non-for-profit operation – video tapes and broadcast all participating government meetings in Kenton County.
“We’re actually a branch of the Kenton County government,” he said.
Since he started at TBNK he has updated the computer system with a new brand of software and has added more portable equipment.
As for programming, Kenton County government meetings are a year-round staple on TBNK, but Morelock says high school sports – football and basketball – are a major part of the broadcast menu.
In the past, The Behringer-Crawford Museum in Covington concerts were broadcast, along with Crestview Hills concerts staged at Thomas More University as well as city festival coverage.
“We have an in-house studio for talk shows,” he said.
The Telecommunications Board of Northern Kentucky is where local volunteers, interns majoring in communications, and local community organizations come together to create and air Northern Kentucky focused programming.
“We are now positioned to be here for the long haul,” Morelock said. “As for our budget, it’s the healthiest it’s been in years.”