By Patricia A. Scheyer
NKyTribune reporter
INDEPENDENCE
Independence council members passed the second reading of an ordinance approving a budget amendment for the new budget. Mayor Chris Reinersman explained that they did the amendment because of some grants they received which adjusted the amount of money in the budget.
He said the city received a grant from the Kenton County Economic Development fund in the amount of $1 million, a grant that requires a $100,000 match from the city for the property at the corner of Cox Road and Taylor Mill Road. He also said the police department received a grant for new rifles, and a $270,000 grant for a VR training unit for the department.
CAO Chris Moriconi told council he was at the Planning and Zoning meeting for the accessory building issue that the city had, and his was the only item on the agenda.
PARK HILLS
Park Hills city council listened to the first reading of an ordinance which amends the 2026-2027 Capital Improvement Fund budget plan to make it easier for the new council to understand. Council member Sarah Froelich suggested some additional cleanup of the words, in addition to the overall amendment.
Park Hills Mayor Kathy Zembrodt gave an update on the work on Amsterdam road, and news on different projects within the city.
Council talked about the electronic city sign on Amsterdam road which they sent out an RFP for, and they have a few quotes for replacing it. Council members said they would like to review the options, and then discuss it further at the next meeting.
Council member Froelich asked if they could put something in the city’s code about how they demolish buildings for the safety of all the residents. She passed out literature to everyone so they could consider it for the next meeting.
FORT MITCHELL
Fort Mitchell city council approved the second reading of an ordinance rezoning the Grandview Drive Map amendment and revised concept development plan to change the area from business park to Planned unit development so they can add six single family townhomes to the plan.
Council also listened to the first reading of an ordinance which allows alcohol sales on Sundays to be equal with all the other days of the week.
Another first reading of an ordinance sets the meeting dates for council for next year.
A first reading aired that changes the pay scale for the new fire department schedule changes. With the change from 24/48 to 24/72 in the schedule, the pay scale will need a raise of $150,000, so there is a financial impact. Council had to do the first reading of a budget amendment due to this financial raise. Mayor Greg Pohlgeers said this change will help the city recruit and retain fire employees. Discussion was extensive, but the end result seemed to be approval.
A municipal order passed which set the snow removal fee for shoveling snow from private streets at $.07 per linear foot, up from $.06.
A resolution passed which commits council to a pledge of practicing and promoting civility.
Another resolution passed which authorized title resolution for Regal Way.
Mayor Pohlgeers honored the Beechwood Tigers Volleyball team for their best season ever by giving them their own day, November 10.
Resident Gayle Frommeyer came to the meeting to ask if the city could do a better job with the Christmas decorations.
KENTON COUNTY
Kenton County commissioners took the first step toward securing General Obligation bonds for the new Fox Ridge Park in the amount of $61,205,000, with the possibility of increasing the amount up to $6,125,000, or decreasing the amount in any denomination. The second reading of the ordinance will formally allow the bonds for the park. Commissioners also approved the financial advisor for the bonds.
Daniel Mathew was approved as the new Director at the Animal Shelter, and Aelysia Shaw and Olivia Blackburn were approved as Animal Shelter Technicians for the Animal Shelter.
Michael Myers was approved as Public Services Technician in the Public Works Department.
Donna Bloemer, Emily Hanna, and Mike Meadows were appointed to the Kenton County Ethics Commission.
Kurt Pohlgeers and Terry Foster were reappointed to the local board of Health.
Jailer Marc Fields said that this court has been very supportive for his department allowing him to accomplish a lot. He praised the court for being the best fiscal court in a decade and he said he can’t thank the court enough.
Commissioner Jon Draud told Fields he has been the best jailer in a long while and he was happy about the progress made in that department. Commissioners Beth Sewell and Joe Nienaber chimed in with similar comments.
LAKESIDE PARK
Lakeside Park Mayor Paul Markgraf thanked all the people who voted in this election, saying that as he walked around the neighborhoods he talked to people, and said he was happy to report that most people are satisfied with what he and the council are doing. He said people felt they were well protected and that the people at the city building were friendly.
Markgraf acknowledged Veterans day and thanked councilman Dennis Landwehr for his service.
Markgraf clarified snow emergencies, in case snow comes this week, and he said he will declare the emergency four hours before, so people can get their cars off the street. He said if people anticipate the emergency they can park their cars in the city building parking lot temporarily, if they have no other place to put the cars.
Council member Mary Ann Thaman reported on the festivities that will take place this year. The light up Lakeside Park event is November 30 at Barleycorns from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. and there will be carriage rides but people have to sign up for the rides at the city building on November 30. Luminaries can be purchased at the city building on November 30. The giving tree is up at Barleycorns now so that people can take a child’s name and buy a present and then return it, unwrapped, with the receipt, to Barleycorns or the city building by December 7.
The Letters to Santa effort will go on from November 29 to December 11. Thaman said some responses to Lakeside Park residents could be hand delivered because of the postal service inefficiency.
TAYLOR MILL
Taylor Mill Commissioners approved a budget amendment for the second reading.
They also approved the appointment of Chris Weatherall and Kelli Bailey to the Board of Adjustments by way of Municipal Order.
CAO Devon Golden explained the third item, which was a request for a zoning text amendment for a resident who would like to put an accessory structure adjacent to his driveway. The accessory structure is bigger than usual accessory structures but it is on a 7 plus acre lot. She said Independence is having a similar issue. Golden said she wrote the request but awaits feedback to instruct her further in the matter. The next move would probably be a public hearing by the planning commission, and the commissioners agreed to have Golden move forward with the matter.
The Northern Kentucky Water department will have a town hall Q and A on where they are with the water tower, and how they plan to proceed with the project. The meeting will be November 18 at City Hall at 5:30 p.m.
Commissioners approved participation in the SD-1 Cost Share program for 707 Winston Hill Road, a project which was approved last year at the same address, but due to a problem with the contractor the entire project has to be redone. That would eliminate the city’s participation in any other project with SD-1 until next fiscal year.
Due to the holidays, commissioners decided to reschedule both the November and the December caucus meetings. The November caucus meeting will happen December 2 at 10 a.m. and the December caucus meeting will be cancelled.
The annual tree lighting ceremony will be Sunday, November 29, from 3-5 p.m. at Pride Park. It will include a trackless train for rides, and a petting zoo.
The Letters to Santa program will begin on November 30 and run through December 18 with a mailbox outside the city building.