Highland Heights Mayor Greg Meyers Offers Thoughts on Reelection

LINK nky recently corresponded with Highland Heights Mayor Gregory Meyers about issues important to his upcoming reelection campaign. Read our conversation below.

Note: Some responses have been edited for space and clarity.

LINK: Why are you running, and what would be your top priority if elected?

Greg Meyers: This will be my fifth term as Mayor, and it is an honor to continue to serve the Highland Heights community. The city is in good financial shape, and I want to continue the good momentum from the many things I am proud we have accomplished while I have been in office. The annexation of NKU into the community was a huge step for the city, but going forward I want to help advocate for the development of some key pieces of land, particularly the site across from Lowe’s.  It has also long been a dream of mine to see a pedestrian bridge constructed over US-27.

LINK: Highland Heights, NKU and the Brighton Center recently celebrated the grand opening of the Opportunity House on Alexandria Pike, which provides wrap-around services and affordable housing to underprivileged young adults looking to continue their education and enter the workforce. What other measures do you hope to institute or explore to address the issues of workforce development and poverty alleviation in the local area?

Greg Meyers: NKU and the city are great partners, and we will always look for ways to improve the quality of life for the students and our citizens. Businesses in town are growing and looking for skilled labor, so working with NKU to ensure we are matching the students with the desired job qualifications will be at the forefront of the city and NKU’s initiatives. 

LINK: There was discussion at a recent council meeting about re-instituting ad-hoc committees and other committees, such as a finance and a communications committee, in an effort to increase the council’s ability to better govern the city. What other measures might need to be instituted in order to ensure that the council is staying involved in the day-to-day operation and well-being of Highland Heights?

Greg Meyers: We have a very dedicated City Council that really wants to help and see the city continue to succeed.  Many are very eager to offer their time, but as legislators in our form of government, we want to ensure this is done in the appropriate manner.  Recently, a few members have stepped up to work with the staff on improving communications between the city and our citizens and will lend their knowledge on improvements to our website, newsletters and our social media presence.  After the 1^st of the year, we will work closely with a few others on preparing the budget for the upcoming year and getting them more involved with that process.    

LINK: What are your hopes for the proposed green space near the city building?

Greg Meyers: We have just completed a request for funding (RFP) for a green space study near the city building, and I am excited to see what the group comes up with for the public to consider.  It is my hope that we can come up with ideas that the community supports, are financially feasible and will add value to the community. 

LINK: The past few years have seen a lot of activity from the Tree Commission. What else can the city do to ensure that it remains environmentally conscious?

Greg Meyers: The Tree Board has been tremendous.  The city is committed to giving them the resources they need to continue to do what they have been doing, thus beautifying our city. 

LINK: With heightened concern around the region related to pedestrian and cyclist safety, what do you think should be done to improve this area in our city?

Greg Meyers: US-27 is a busy corridor that is not going to see less traffic anytime soon.  Looking at ways we can work around this reality, it has always been my dream to have a pedestrian walking bridge over the highway to bring the two sides of the city and our businesses together. I will also be looking at areas to add or improve our sidewalks and connection nodes to our amenities and to campus and neighborhoods. The plans for the US-27 smart corridor will hopefully help bring funding opportunities to us to accomplish these goals.    

LINK: Cities have benefited from federal funds to recover from the pandemic, but that one-time cash infusion is unlikely to happen again. What steps should be taken to ensure that the city remains on strong financial footing?

Greg Meyers: I want to put the federal stimulus money to good work in our community, but by mandate, those funds will need to be spent and gone in just a few years.  Because of this, those funds are treated much differently than the day-to-day finances and overall operating budget.  The city will continue to operate with the appropriate mindset that we need to live within our means.