This week, in NKY government meetings, Cold Spring will discuss allowing backyard chickens, while Ludlow considers working with Southbank Partners to help promote economic growth in Ludlow.
Keep reading to find out what happened in local government over the past week and what you need to know for this week.
What happened last week in NKY government?
South Kenton County residents unmoved by case for manufacturing
At a packed Kenton County Fiscal Court meeting on July 22, residents of south Kenton County voiced strong opposition to the county’s Site Readiness Initiative, a project aimed at identifying land suitable for future industrial development. Despite reassurances from county officials and professionals that no plans are set in stone and that public input is being considered, many residents expressed deep concerns about the loss of farmland, environmental impacts, and skepticism over the economic benefits of new manufacturing. The county has paused or scaled back parts of the initiative in response to earlier feedback, but residents remained unconvinced, criticizing the meeting format, questioning the motivations of organizations like BE NKY and the Port Authority, and pointing to a lack of trust in promises that eminent domain won’t be used. County leaders, including Judge/Executive Kris Knochelmann, defended the initiative as necessary planning for inevitable growth and infrastructure needs, while acknowledging that any development would take years and encouraging ongoing public engagement.
Read more about the Site Readiness Initiative for South Kenton County here.
Could Monmouth Street become a two-way?
With major infrastructure changes underway on U.S. 27 and Carothers Road, Newport officials have approved a new traffic study to assess whether Monmouth Street can be converted to two-way traffic. The Newport Commission voted on July 21 to hire TEC Engineering, which will build on past studies while incorporating new data from current road projects. Officials say the study is needed to evaluate traffic flow, congestion risks, and pedestrian safety, especially as all affected streets are state routes requiring additional coordination. The contract also includes inspections of aging mast arm poles. City leaders emphasized the need for accurate data to guide future decisions, while funding is expected to come from grants through the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments, not the city’s general fund.
Read more about the two-way study here.
Boone County approves $296K for soil fix at new parks department site
Boone County is spending nearly $300,000 to stabilize clay-rich soil discovered during construction of its new $8 million parks department headquarters in Burlington. The Boone County Fiscal Court approved the added cost after engineers found expansive clay in two key areas that could compromise the building’s structural integrity. Crews will remove 18 inches of unstable soil beneath the garage slab and apply cement stabilization in the parking lot. Although soil testing was conducted before construction, the affected areas weren’t sampled. County officials said addressing the issue now is essential to prevent future damage, with Judge/Executive Gary Moore emphasizing there was no real alternative. The 30,000-square-foot facility, designed by Hub + Weber and built by Mark Spaulding Construction, will serve as the parks department’s new central hub, replacing outdated offices in converted homes.
Read more about the site improvements here.
Newport’s parking app pilot faces opposition from local businesses
Newport business owners along Monmouth Street voiced concerns at the July 21 commission meeting about the city’s meterless parking pilot, which uses the Passport Parking app to manage parking via smartphones. While the Newport Police Department launched the pilot in the 800 block to address malfunctioning meters and complaints, some business owners worry the app deters customers—especially those uncomfortable with technology—and creates challenges for vendors and employees. Restaurant owners like Wendy Braun and Cindy Hahn expressed fears that the new system could drive away patrons and add costs for workers. Police Chief Chris Fangman defended the pilot, citing low ticket numbers and flexibility for first-time violations, while Newport City Manager John Hayden emphasized a cautious, block-by-block rollout to evaluate the program’s effectiveness before broader implementation.
Read more about the parking app pilot here.
Newport refines mural ordinance including rules for projected art
Newport officials are updating the city’s mural ordinance to include new rules for projection-style murals and to reaffirm restrictions on mural placement, limiting them to commercial and designated zones while prohibiting them in residential areas. The updates, shaped by public input and first approved by the Historic Preservation Commission in June, emphasize size and placement over content due to First Amendment protections. Projection murals—static, non-invasive light displays—will be allowed once per site annually for up to 30 days, provided they meet lighting and noise standards. The Historic Preservation Commission will act as a mural board, ensuring compliance with these regulations.
Read more about the updated mural ordinance here.
Union to give phones to commissioners after open records violation
The City of Union voted on Monday to provide separate phones to elected officials following a Kentucky Attorney General opinion that the city violated the Open Records Act. The new policy aims to ensure official city communications are kept separate from personal ones, helping prevent future legal issues. The attorney general’s May 28 opinion stemmed from a complaint by former City Commissioner Brian Garner and cited the city for failing to respond to a records request on time, improperly redacting information, and conducting an insufficient search. While the city has disputed the findings through legal counsel, it has not indicated plans to challenge the ruling further. The new phone policy takes effect immediately with minimal discussion at the meeting.
Read more about the phones for elected officials here.
‘We’ve got to step up’ Newport launches ‘Read Ready’ effort to boost kindergarten readiness
The City of Newport has adopted a resolution to launch Read Ready Newport, an initiative aimed at improving kindergarten readiness by making learning resources more accessible and connecting families with support systems. Inspired by Covington’s success with a similar program, Newport will collaborate with EducateNKY to coordinate efforts among schools, libraries, childcare providers, nonprofits, and community leaders. The program will align regional data, provide technical support, and identify funding opportunities—all at no cost to the city, as EducateNKY is covering expenses. City officials emphasized the importance of early childhood education and pledged to improve readiness rates, which currently show only 20% of children entering kindergarten prepared to learn.
Read more about the “Read Ready” initiative here.
What’s happening this week in NKY government?
Cold Spring City Council: Monday, July 28
The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Cold Spring City Building at 5694 E. Alexandria Pike.
What you need to know: The Cold Spring City Council will hold a second reading on an ordinance to allow backyard chickens.
The agenda can be found here when it is published.
Crescent Springs City Council: Monday, July 28
The meeting starts at 6 p.m.
The agenda can be found here when it is published.
Newport Board of Education: Wednesday, July 30
The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at 30 West 8th St. in Newport.
The agenda can be found here when it is published.
Ludlow City Council Special Meeting: Thursday, July 31
The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at the Ludlow Municipal Center, Ed F. Schroeder Meeting Hall, 51 Elm St.
What you need to know: The council plans to discuss and vote on a resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into an interlocal agreement with Southbank Partners, Inc. to serve as an instrumentality of the city and other Southbank cities to pursue regional, collaborative strategies to promote economic growth in Ludlow.
The council will also discuss a first reading of an ordinance adopting an amended comprehensive pay plan for non-elected city officers and employees.
The agenda can be found here.
