By Patricia A. Scheyer
NKyTribune reporter
KENTON COUNTY
Kenton County Fiscal Court approved a lease contract with Sanitation District 1 for the rental of half of the building owned by SD-1 located on 1045 Eaton Drive in Ft Wright. The rental agreement is for Kenton County to pay $17,228.57 every month for five years. There will be three options for renewal, with the monthly rent increasing roughly $2,000 per month every year through 2046.
“The lease for the 15,000 square feet of space within Sanitation District-1’s Fort Wright building provides a solution to two critical needs to enhance public safety–dedicated training space for the Kenton County first responders, and enhanced training space for the Kenton County first responders,” said Meg Erpenbeck, Communications Manager for the County.
“There will also be training and operational readiness for the Kenton County Emergency Communications Center.”
This space will ensure that the community’s first responders can access the training, the resources, and the preparation necessary to best protect Kenton County residents, she said.
The agreement is a type of investment in the people who protect the community every day.
They already have a station at the Kenton County Government Center which is a backup option, but this building will eliminate the ramp up time to bring the systems online, and be designed to support a ‘flip of the switch’ transition.
“If the primary dispatch center in Independence goes down, personnel could relocate to Fort Wright, activate operations, and immediately resume service,” she said. “This strengthens our ability to ensure residents receive critical emergency communication support without interruption. The Government Center will remain a viable backup option, particularly during large scale events or natural disasters.”
Even though the price seems a little high to many, Erpenbeck said the county secured the space at the same rate paid by the Kenton County School District, which occupied the space before it moved.
Judge Executive Kris Knochelmann announced that the county would like to name the Four Seasons pavilion event center in the new Fox Ridge Park after Commissioner Jon Draud, and the other commissioners heartily agreed. This is another feather in the cap of the commissioner, who has battled some health problems of late, but still attends the meetings and always has an opinion on the legislations that are passed, as well as other things, and his sense of humor lightens the atmosphere. Draud will retire at the end of December, and he will be missed.
“I have served 65 years in various roles, and it’s all coming to an end soon,” Draud said. “I believe in parks and I think this park will be the finest in the Northern Kentucky area. I have loved being part of the fiscal court, it has been a highlight of my career. Thank you for the honor.”
The event center will be called the Dr. Jon E. Draud Pavilion.
Daniel Woodie, a resident of Ohio, came to chastise the court for adding rules to obtain the open record documents, saying they were unreasonable, and he called for the removal of Attorney Stacy Tapke and Assistant County Attorney Christopher Nordloh. He accused them of trying to get Florence council member Angie Cable to change her requests, and making it difficult to get the records.
Attorney Tapke said later that this was an ongoing litigation between her office and Woodie about the open records law, and what is and isn’t a law.
Commissioners also voted to accept the County Attorney’s review and recommendation regarding the Smart Communications Holding’s protest of the county’s contract award to Combined Public Communications LLC.
FORT MITCHELL
Fort Mitchell council passed the second reading of an ordinance amending another chapter to solidify rules and regulation for ebikes of all definitions and escooters within the city.
Mayor Greg Pohlgeers added that it also allows him to define ‘walk your wheels’ zones in the city, beginning with Beechwood Road.
Council listened to the first reading of an ordinance agreeing with the Kenton County Planning Commission’s recommendation for a Grandview Drive Map amendment, and a revised concept development plan.
A resolution passed that authorizes applying for a local assistance road program grant which would be an 80/20 match. Some of the roads that would be included for the funds are Plantation Drive, Huckleberry Hill, Beechwood Road, and Pleasant Ridge to the railroad tracks.
Response is not expected until late spring of next year.
Mayor Pohlgeers announced a plan that they are working on to make employees of the fire department to have a 24 hour on, 72 hour off schedule. This is the result of investigation about the ability to keep firefighters, and what would be necessary to make the department competitive so that they don’t have to approve a large pay bump every five or six years. He said that all current full time firefighters would receive a pay increase so that they would receive basically the same amount in a fiscal year, but they would be working fewer hours. Pohlgeers said it is a great benefit and would be very good for mental health. Monetarily, he said it will be about a $150,000 impact to the budget, but since it is scheduled to start in January, the amount would only be about half of the initial sum. Pohlgeers said it will be a great recruitment tool.
Currently the employees of the fire department work a 24 hour on and 48 hour off schedule.
LAKESIDE PARK
Lakeside Park City Council voted to pass the second reading of an extensive amendment to an ordinance specifying exactly what rules people have to follow if they have an electric bike of any definition, or an electric scooter. Some of the rules are a speed limit of 15 mph, wearing official safety helmets that fit, installing a light or lights on the vehicle, as well as a back light, which have to be on 1 hour before sunset and 1 hour before sunrise, and installing audible sound gadgets to be able to let other people know of their approach. More than one person is not allowed on a bike or scooter, and hooking a bike or scooter to a car or truck is not permitted. Penalties are clearly spelled out, a written warning for the first offense, a $50 fine and any court costs for the second offense, and a $100 fine and court costs for the third offense.
Mayor Paul Markgraf mentioned that an adult riding an electric vehicle was killed very early Saturday morning in Park Hills, and he doesn’t want to see any more accidents.
He also asked people to do some research on people who are running in the November election before they vote, so they can make an educated decision.
The project of replacing the markings for crosswalks in the city, changing them to a more visible piano keys type of markings is almost complete.
Mayor Markgraf read a proclamation declaring October to be city government month in the city.
PARK HILLS
Park Hills City Council immediately went into executive session at the start of their regular council meeting Tuesday night to discuss a real estate matter for the Szechuan property.
When they returned to the council room, council passed a Municipal Order which authorizes Mayor Kathy Zembrodt to enter into and execute a development agreement with B&Z Watercrest, LLC. The plan is to build 24 units on 2.14 acres, which is the site of the old Szechuan restaurant. The units will be townhouse homes, and the owner plans to close on the property very soon.
Another Municipal Order passed which appoints Peter Craig as the city’s representative to the Kenton County Planning Commission.
Police Sergeant Thomas Bradford reported that the department applied for a grant from the Haverkamp Foundation to get a police dog but they haven’t heard back yet. He also said the first ever golf outing netted about $10.000 to be used for a police dog and drones among other things.
Council said they wanted everyone to know the fire department is again hosting the ‘Halloweenies’ event where they give out hot dogs to kids on Halloween, starting at 6 p.m. There will also be a Pumpkin Parade and hayride from 4-5 p.m. on October 25 at Trolley Park.
TAYLOR MILL
Taylor Mill Commissioners passed the second reading of an ordinance setting the tax rate for the year. The ad valorem rate for real estate taxes is $.367 per $100 of assessed value, and $.529 per $100 of assessed value for personal tax. City Administrator Devon Golden said that this is the compensating rate.
Another second reading passed that set the waste collection rate at $256.43 for the year. This is a continuation of an existing contract.
The first reading of an ordinance spelling out a budget amendment was held.
The city decided to accept the bid of Brennan Electric, out of Miamitown, Ohio, for $136,110 for the fire station. CAO Golden said they received two bids and the other one was about $142,000, so even though the city had only budgeted $110,000, she said they were aware that the cost was more than they had budgeted for. So commissioners passed the municipal order accepting the lowest bid.
Another municipal order passed accepting the quote for the Community Center at $5,925 from Independence Mechanical, out of Independence. The price will replace both the furnace and the air conditioning, because even though the furnace is not broken, the city can get a better deal if they replace both the furnace and the air conditioning at the same time.
Commissioners also approved the SD-1 private cost share agreement for a property at 4818 Droge Avenue. The cost to the city will be approximately $5600, but the total cost of the project will be $18,677. The city had budgeted about $10,000 for taking part in this program so they will have some money left over.
It was announced that Taylor Mill will receive just over $144,000 for road repair on Old Taylor Mill Road, between Rumpke and McDonalds, and there will be a 20 percent match.
Mayor Dan Bell announced they will receive $4.1 million for Winston Avenue repair.
COVINGTON
Covington Commissioners listened to a presentation by Cincinnati Off-road Alliance and Tri State Trails, which are two companies who are trying to connect Covington and Newport by walking and biking trails that are protected, and also to connect them with Cincinnati. The request to the city is to help vet the routes, to contribute funding in the future, and to apply for grants to help. Sharmili Reddy, City Manager, told commissioners that additional things have to happen before the project is implemented.
Chris Robinson, a resident of Banklick street, came to say that the tax bill he received is ridiculous.
Commissioner Tim Downing told the other commissioners that home solicitors have been really out of control, especially in the Latonia and South Covington area. He said they can be very rude and persistent, and he wanted a FAQ document that can be put out to the public to get the word out to solicitors, that they cannot go to houses with a sign that says ‘No Solicitors’ or they will can be fined. It will also give residents an idea of something they can do about solicitors, especially if they don’t have an occupational license. The other commissioners agreed and voted affirmative on a motion to get a FAQ document out.
The first reading of an ordinance was held which deals with renaming portions of state routes associated with the completed Kentucky 1501, which is Hans Pike, realignment project.
Commissioner Downing also asked for an order which is about remediation of the firefighters, and he wanted a timeline from the commissioners. They all agreed about air quality and the condition of air inside the fire houses.
Mayor Ron Washington announced that the city has acquired over $4 million for Winston Avenue, from Ritte’s Corner to 43rd street.