Park Hills Mayor Kathy Zembrodt announced Monday night that next month’s meeting will be in person at the Gardens, next to Covington Catholic High School, on May 9 at 7 pm.
During the regular April Council meeting, Zembrodt said that her negotiations with Gardens owner Chuck McHale proved fruitful, and they at last agreed on a rental price in a verbal agreement.
“Our business meetings will be held there at the Gardens, and we will go in the side entrance, the one that faces Covington Catholic,” Zembrodt announced.
The city will be able to store their tables and microphones at the Gardens so they won’t have to carry them to each meeting. This was a concern for many councilmembers.
This is a major change for the city, because since the pandemic, Park Hills city council has been forced to remain on a virtual status due to the lack of a space big enough to hold council members and the public.
Park Hills city council has a council room on Amsterdam road above the city offices, but it is only able to accommodate about 15 people above and beyond the mayor and council, along with department heads and TBNK. Adding to the limited capacity is the narrow set of stairs which are not ADA compliant for handicapped people.
They have also met in a room in the firehouse, but again, there is limited space.
Several years ago, council was meeting in a church on the Covington Catholic property, but when the school wanted to expand, they needed to demolish the church, and the council was without a large enough space to meet.
They worked out a deal with Notre Dame, and met there for a few years, but when the pandemic hit, there were several older nuns at the convent, and no one wanted to endanger the sisters by meeting. However, now that the pandemic is better, they are still not open to city meetings at the convent.
Council has continued their meetings virtually but for the last six months the pressure has been on to find a place to meet where they can invite the public. Mayor Zembrodt stepped up her efforts and they have a place for now.
Flags to show support for veterans
Last month, at the regular March council meeting, Mike Conway, a resident and president of the Tree Board, and another resident, Pat Flannery, came to the meeting to further explain their idea to put flags on poles in certain places in the city, to show support for the veterans, and to brighten up the entrances to the city.
Conway said he took into account the concerns council expressed at the last regular meeting, and he said he reduced the number of flags from 40 to 30, to be installed on poles from the entrance to Notre Dame Academy to Ft Mitchell garage, and a few on the other side of the highway. He also talked to the businesses along the highway, and everyone was enthusiastic that the city was doing something to make the highway look better.
“It’s our front and back door,” Conway told council. “It is one small step in improving Dixie Highway.”
He also said that a developer on Amsterdam said he would pay to put six flags on Amsterdam.
The total cost would be $4,500 the first year, for the flags, and the company, Flags USA, to put up the flags before Memorial Day and take them down after Veteran’s Day. Then it would be $2,100 every year after to put up and take down the flags, and replace them if needed.
Council showed that they were still divided on the matter, and one of the issues is that the city wants to put up stone monument entry signs at the entrances to Park Hills, which could cost $4,000 to $6,000 apiece. The budget may or may not accommodate the cost of both the flags and the signs. Members of council have made it clear they will support the stone entry signs over the flag project if it comes down to a choice.
Conway wanted a vote on the issue to see how council feels on the issue, but that was an issue also.
“I don’t want to see it die,” Conway said. “It’s an investment, not a cost.”
Council agreed to give Conway some more time at the caucus meeting on April 25, so they could see if they would have a better idea if they could afford the cost.
Other agenda items discussed at the meeting
Council passed the second reading of an ordinance which permits childcare to be a conditional use in all residential zones.
Sidewalks were discussed, and Councilmember Kevin Downes asked the mayor if the city should be fixing all the sidewalks, because there is so much work and the city won’t be able to afford it. Mayor Zembrodt said they wanted to make sure all the sidewalks are up to standard, then turn them over to the residents to repair in the future.
Councilmembers asked for legislation to be brought to the next meeting for the mayor and council’s salaries to be increased, since it hasn’t been increased for over 10 years. The proposal is for the mayor’s salary to be increased from $3,600 to $10,000 per year, and council members’ salaries to go from $1,200 to $2,500 per year. This is to go into effect for the next elected council and mayor.
The parade will be in person this year, and the city is asking for anyone who would like to volunteer to help to notify the city. They would also like to know if there are any active or retired veterans who would like to be part of the parade.
There will be an Easter egg hunt this Saturday at 11 a.m. in Trolley Park.
Clean up day is April 23, and the city will provide gloves and bags, as well as tee shirts.
