With busy schedules, not everyone can make it to their local city council or fiscal court meeting. LINK nky has you covered.
Every Monday, we are recapping what happened in local government over the past week and what you need to know for this week.
What happened in NKY government last week?
Kenton County Board of Education: Monday, Nov. 4
Kenton County Schools approved a $1.5 million contract for eight new 84-passenger school buses. The contract is a 10-year lease-to-own agreement with the Kentucky Interlocal School Transportation Association, which purchases buses in bulk and leases them out to school districts. The new buses will be equipped with air-conditioning and driver PA systems and will help the district keep its fleet updated and reduce costs on equipment and repairs. The board voted unanimously in favor of the lease agreement.
Read more about the new buses here.
Kenton County Schools approved a bid from M&M Service Station Specialists to remove two large underground fuel tanks on a Dudley Road property near R.C. Hinsdale Elementary. The project is expected to be completed by Feb. 28, 2025. The tanks are part of an old gas station, which the district purchased with the intent of expanding the parking at R.C. Hinsdale. The expansion will eventually allow for the so-called stacking of cars, which will reduce traffic and safety problems along the intersection turning into the school.
Read more about the underground fuel tank removal here.
Boone County Planning Commission: Wednesday, Nov. 6
Medical cannabis will be legal for sale and consumption in Kentucky starting on Jan. 1, 2025. Counties and municipalities around the commonwealth have rushed to set up rules and regulations to govern forthcoming cannabis businesses. Boone County has proposed zoning regulations that set zoning parameters and specific use standards and define what qualifies as a cannabis business. The Boone County Planning Commission wants to help the cities of Florence and Union, both of which voted to allow cannabis businesses within the city, finalize cannabis zoning regulations before Jan. 1. The state’s first license lottery was held on Oct. 28, and lottery drawings for dispensary licenses are scheduled for Nov. 25 and Dec. 16.
Read more about the cannabis operations here.
Fort Wright City Council: Wednesday, Nov. 6
Fort Wright Police Officer Emily Horseman rescued a neglected, emaciated dog named Ripley in late October, paying for her treatment out of pocket. The community has shown immense support, donating food, medicine and fostering costs for the next few months. The police department has signed an arrest warrant for the two individuals who likely abandoned the dog, and they are currently being tracked down. Fort Wright Mayor Dave Hatter praised the community’s generosity and kindness.
Read more about the dog rescue here.
Southgate City Council: Wednesday, Nov. 6
Southgate city council voted to join Southbank Partners, an economic development organization, expanding the organization’s outlook on regional development. The partnership will help the city plan out and achieve both annual and long-term goals, identify and facilitate grant opportunities, connect cities to other project partners and help identify and achieve broader-range development projects. The city will be the first city partner that is not a river city, representing an expansion of the organization’s outlook on regional development.
Read more about the partnership here.
Kenton County Planning Commission special meeting: Thursday, Nov. 7
The Kenton County Planning Commission has approved a zoning change that allows for the establishment of tattoo and body art businesses in Erlanger’s single mixed-use zone. The city’s Economic Development Director Mark Collier stated that a potential business tenant, Cincinnati-based tattoo artist Bret Smith, had expressed interest in a vacant property in the area. The zoning change will now return to the Erlanger City Council where it will face a final vote.
Read more about the zone change here.
Alexandria City Council: Thursday, Nov. 7
Alexandria is placing a six-month moratorium on the acceptance of licenses or permits for any business that deals with the sale of vape, cannabis and alcoholic beverage products. The moratorium is intended to be temporary while the city reviews its laws regarding vape, cannabis and alcoholic beverage products and makes any necessary changes. The moratorium does not apply to any business approved for a license on or before Oct. 1. It also will not affect the sale of existing liquor licenses.
What’s happening this week in NKY government?
Kenton County Fiscal Court: Tuesday, Nov. 12
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Kenton County Government Center, 1840 Simon Kenton Way, in Covington.
What you need to know: The fiscal court will review a request approval of the interview room upgrades for the Kenton County Police Department. They will review an order approving the employment contract for Spike Jones as the Police Chief for the Kenton County Police Department.
The agenda can be found here.
Covington Board of Commissioners caucus meeting: Tuesday, Nov. 12
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: 20 West Pike Street
What you need to know: The board will discuss the purchase of five police cruisers. They will also hold a second reading for an ordinance amending the Covington neighborhood development code, to allow “single-family detached dwelling” and “lot line dwelling” as a permitted building type within the Central Riverfront Mixed-Use district.
The meeting agenda can be found here.
Florence City Council: Tuesday, Nov. 12
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: 8100 Ewing Boulevard
The agenda can be found here when it is published.
Campbell County Planning and Zoning: Tuesday, Nov. 12
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Campbell County Administration Building, 1098 Monmouth St. in Newport.
What you need to know: The planning commission will discuss a final plat approval for a seven-lot subdivision with no public improvements. Approval of updates to the city of Southgate Code of Ordinances related to medical cannabis stores. Approval of updates to the city of Southgate Code of Ordinances related to accessory dwelling units also known as ADU’s. A zoning text amendment to add an R-3 Multifamily Residential zoning district to the Woodlawn Zoning Ordinance.
The agenda can be found here.
Elsmere City Council: Tuesday, Nov. 12
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: 3921 Dixie Highway
The agenda can be found here when it is published.
Walton City Council: Tuesday, Nov. 12
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: 44 N. Main Street
The agenda can be found here when it is published.
Dayton City Council: Tuesday, Nov. 12
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: 625 Second Avenue
What you need to know: The city will hold a second reading for an ordinance amending sections of the city’s zoning code to regulate the operation of liquor stores, vape stores and medical cannabis operations in the city.
Dayton will hold a first reading of an ordinance amending sections of the city’s code of ordinances to reflect the city’s contract with the Campbell County Planning, Zoning and Building Inspections Department to provide zoning and building inspection services to the city and to impose civil penalties for violations of these sections.
The city will consider an order/resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into an interlocal agreement with the Dayton Independent School District to have the city invoice and collect PILOT payments associated with certain real estate located in the Manhattan Development area that have been or will be financed with Industrial Revenue Bonds.
Dayton will consider an order/resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into an interlocal agreement with the Campbell County Fiscal Court and the city of Bellevue to participate in a shared Police Social Worker Program operated by the Campbell Police Department and paying for the cost of participation in this program from money the city has received from settlement agreements the Kentucky Attorney General has entered into with pharmaceutical companies.
The agenda can be found here.
Ryland Heights City Commission: Tuesday, Nov. 12
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: 10145 Decoursey Pike
The agenda can be found here when it is published.
Bellevue City Council: Wednesday, Nov. 13
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Callahan Community Center, 322 Van Voast Ave.
The agenda can be found here when it is published.
Taylor Mill City Commission: Wednesday, Nov. 13
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: 5225 Taylor Mill Road
The agenda can be found here when it is published.
Boone County Board of Education: Thursday, Nov. 14
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Ralph Rush Professional Development Center, 99 Center St. in Florence
The agenda can be found here when it is published.
Ludlow City Council: Thursday, Nov. 14
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: 51 Elm St. Ludlow.
The agenda can be found here when it is published.
