Government briefs: Roundup of meetings in Covington, Newport, and Kenton County

By Patricia Scheyer
NKyTribune reporter

COVINGTON

Covington City Commissioners listened to the first reading of an ordinance naming an alleyway between 9th and 10th street, and Madison Avenue and Scott Street as Dr John D. Redden Way. As soon as it was read, an amendment to the ordinance was also read.

An ordinance had its first reading at the meeting last week that allows a 20-year franchise to Owen Electric to provide electricity to all the customers in Covington.

An order passed that permitted Mayor Joe Meyer to execute a lease amendment with Pike Star LLC which extends the city’s lease for the property at 112 West Pike Street for two additional years.

Another order passed that allowed Mayor Meyer to execute a two-year sublease agreement with Bad Girl Ventures Inc. doing business as Aviatra Accelerators for the property located at 112 W Pike Street.

An order passed which authorizes the mayor to sign an operating agreement with Rumpke for the running of the solid waste transfer station on Boron in Covington.

NEWPORT

The city of Newport held a special meeting last week to pass five orders for five new firefighters, Benton Clift, Trenton Stolz, Tyler Ivasile, Brian Robinson, and Tyler Massie. Fire Chief Frank Peluso told the commissioners that he hopes to hire four more firefighters, and three of those four should be listed on the agenda for the next meeting.

Police Officer Christopher Armstrong was recognized for 21 years of service in the Police force, usually in some of the more onerous jobs that an officer can do.

The second reading of the ordinance setting the tax rates for the city was read, and a few residents objected to the rate that was adopted, at compensating rate plus 4, which set the real estate rate at 2.15 per $1000 of valuation. The tangible rate was set at 2.59 per $1000 of valuation. Both rates were reduced, the real estate was 2.60 per $1000 and the tangible was 2.74 per $1000 of valuation last year.

“I understand that it is hard when you get those tax bills in the mail,” said Mayor Tom Guidugli just before the final vote. “None of it is fun, because it does get more expensive. However, someone that is living in their house at this point will actually get a tax deduction if their property wasn’t re-assessed this year. Most people were. Some people were actually happy to have the rate reduced.”

The rate passed unanimously.

An ordinance passed which creates the World Peace Bell Hotel area improvement district and allows the levying of an improvement district tax on the daily room rate charges of the hotel operations. It was mentioned that the developer of the hotel asked for the fee to be levied on the patrons, and the fee to go exclusively to infrastructure, particularly in the garage.

A resolution passed which allows Mayor Guidugli to enter into any documents which permits $7,500,000, a state grant, to be given to the city of Newport instead of the county, and for that money to be used for improvements to the James Taylor Park.

KENTON COUNTY

Dr. Sara Pizano, from Team Shelter USA, and a liaison with the Joanie Bernard Foundation, came to talk to the Kenton County Fiscal court about the importance of spaying and neutering cats, especially those who live outside. She said since 2016 they have spent $2 million in the 8 counties in Northern Kentucky, and performed 30,000 spay and neuter operations. She said this is a better, more proactive approach to controlling the cat population than filling the shelter with cats.

Commissioners approved asking for bids for the development of the new county park.

They also approved an easement with the Northern Kentucky Water District for a water line project on Webster Road.

The first reading was held on an ordinance amending the zoning map of Kenton County, for approximately 120.5 acres located on the south side of Harris Pike between Stafford Heights Road to the west and Oliver Road to the east from the R-1C and R-1B to R-1C (RCD) zones.

Director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Steve Hensley reported that there was an incident involving the Haz Mat team at the airport involving a chemical gas substance on a plane, and a person was taken into custody by the FBI.

He said there has been an uptick in missing persons, including one that didn’t have a happy ending, although every search team was out trying to find him alive. Another case was a juvenile who was found sleeping under his crib, he reported.

Commissioner Jon Draud congratulated Judge Executive Kris Knochelmann for being awarded the Frontiersman Award by the Chamber of Commerce and for becoming a grandpa.

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