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 to keep you informed.
What happened in NKY government last week?
Boone County Fiscal Court: Tuesday, Oct. 1
Boone County is considering a text amendment to its planning and zoning code that would regulate the types of solar panel installations that can be developed. Boone County Judge/Executive Gary Moore wants to preserve its rural farmland for agricultural uses instead of for large-scale, ground-mounted solar panel farms.
Moore cited other communities around the commonwealth where he felt like this trend was prevalent, specifically Hardin County, a rapidly industrializing county southwest of Louisville where solar companies have purchased thousands of acres with the intent of installing ground-mounted solar farms. The prospective amendment will be authored and deliberated by the Boone County Planning Commission’s Technical Design/Review Committee.
Read more about the solar panel regulations here.
Covington Board of Commissioners (Caucus): Tuesday, Oct. 1
North by Hotel Covington has secured a mortgage with First Financial Bank to bring its investment structure more in line with conventional funding models. The City of Covington owns the building, but the property has changed hands several times throughout the past five years, and the city takes no part in its operation.
The city was able to secure about $25 million in IRBs during the pandemic when conventional financing wasn’t available. The move re-prioritizes the debt payments from the city’s bonds to the mortgage, bringing the debt structure more in line with other developments in the city.
Read more about the mortgage here.
Highland Heights City Council: Tuesday, Oct. 1
The Highland Heights City Council discussed the spending of remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds during their recent meeting. The city has spent the funds on several projects, including a redesign of Sunset Drive, three vehicles for the police and public works department, a social worker position inside the police department and a North US-27 entrance sign. The funds will also cover the first phase of a greenspace study, which will include new playgrounds, sports activities and an outdoor event space.
Read more about the funding here.
Fort Wright City Council, Wednesday, Oct. 2
Fort Wright is collecting non-perishable donations for residents affected by Hurricane Helene in North Carolina until October 10. The city is working with state agencies to ensure the donations are delivered to the affected areas and is heeding advice on what they don’t need in donations, such as clothes, toys, and pet supplies. The donations will be delivered by city staff and first responders using a donated trailer.
Read more about the relief efforts here.
Southgate City Council: Wednesday, Oct. 2
Southgate City Council is considering an ordinance to allow golf carts to be driven on the streets, but some members have raised concerns about the proposal. The ordinance would repeal the section of city code prohibiting golf carts and replace it with language outlining which streets might be authorized for the vehicles.
The ordinance also outlines inspections and city permitting, establishes speed limits and required equipment, establishes hours of operation, and sets the age limit for those who can obtain an operator’s license. However, some council members have expressed concerns about the subjectivity of the ordinance and whether it is needed at all. The council will vote on whether to add the ordinance or keep the golf cart prohibition on the books at the next meeting scheduled for Oct. 16.
Read more about the golf cart proposal here.
Kenton County Planning Commission: Thursday, Oct.3
The Kenton County Planning Commission has approved a zoning change that would allow for the development of 67 new single-family lots west of Independence’s Glenhurst neighborhood. The proposed subdivision, which is located in the unincorporated county, is being developed by Parkland Homes and Arlinghaus Builders. The development plan calls for a density of 2.83 housing units per acre, with homes with at least three bedrooms and base prices of about $350,000. The county’s recommended land use calls for a density of only two units per acre, and the planning commission recommended that the developers conform to their concept plan before recommending the zoning change.
Read more about the zone change here.
Alexandria City Council: Thursday, Oct. 3
Alexandria is considering 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 city is reviewing its zoning laws for cannabis operations and is trying to regulate the time, place, and manner in which vape and cannabis products are sold. The moratorium does not affect any business approved for a license on or before Oct. 1. The city’s ordinances do not mention vape regulations, and it is looking to make the provision a little more clear.
The ordinance is expected to be passed at the next meeting on Oct. 17.
Read more about the moratorium here.
What’s happening this week in NKY government?
Edgewood City Council: Monday, Oct. 7
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Edgewood City Building
The agenda can be found here when it’s published.
Independence City Council: Monday, Oct. 7
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: 5409 Madison Pike in Independence
At the last Independence City Council meeting the city welcomed a new K9 team, Belgian Malinois Cairo and Officer Ben Bridges, who are currently undergoing training at Shallow Creek Kennels. The duo is expected to be out on the street in November. Cairo is named after the Navy Seal dog who assisted in the raid of Osama bin Laden’s compound in 2011. Mayor Chris Reinersman expressed his excitement for the new team, which will be back in Independence in six weeks.
Read more about the new K9 team here.
Newport Board of Commissioners (caucus): Monday, Oct. 7
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: 998 Monmouth Street
What you need to know: David Andre with GoZero will give a presentation on composting.
Click here to view the agenda.
Union City Commission: Monday, Oct. 7
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: 1843 Birstow Drive
What you need to know: Union plans to discuss a municipal order authorizing the execution and delivery of an estoppel certificate to effectuate the disposition of a leasehold interest and springing executory interest in real property to Fifth Third Bank.
Click here to view the agenda.
Wilder City Council: Monday, Oct. 7
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: 520 Licking Pike
What you need to know: Wilder will hold a first reading on an ordinance to remove the cap on franchise fees for the use of public streets, alleys and other public grounds in the city for the transmission and distribution of natural gas and electricity for consumption within the city.
The city will also discuss an ordinance amending the parking restriction for Brigadier Court—a city-maintained street.
Click here to view the agenda.
At its last council meeting on Sept. 16, the city approved its tax rate for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, keeping the current property tax rate at .231 and lowering the tangible tax rate to .44. The decision comes after a public hearing on Sept. 3 to hear residents’ thoughts. Real estate property tax is essentially a tax on everything you own that’s nailed down, while tangible personal property is another form of property that isn’t real estate. The council passed the tax rates for the upcoming fiscal year by a vote of 4-2.
Kenton County Board of Education: Tuesday, Oct. 8
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: 1045 Eaton Drive in Fort Wright
Click here to view the agenda.
Covington Board of Commissioners: Tuesday, Oct. 8
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: 20 West Pike Street
What you need to know: The commission will discuss an order to execute an addendum to an agreement with Pepper Construction regarding the construction of a new city hall. An addendum is an item of additional material added at the end of a book or document, typically in order to correct, clarify, or supplement something.
The commission will also consider an order approving an award of home funds to Neighborhood Investment Partners for the rehabilitation of 25 units of affordable rental units.
The commission is holding a second reading for a franchise agreement with electric companies. At the first reading held in April,the board considered a new ordinance that would require electric providers to bid on the right to use city land and space to install their cables, poles, equipment and other infrastructure. The ordinance would also allow the city to enact a franchise fee, or tax on utilities, of up to 5%, which would be passed on to the consumer.
The proposed ordinance would last for 20 years. Duke Energy, the primary provider in the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati Region, has been the focus of much of the conversation. The city and Duke have been in negotiations for at least two years, and if the city and Duke are unable to reach an agreement on the matter, Duke could potentially sue.
Read more about that issue from the first reading held in April.
Click here to view the agenda.
Dayton City Council: Tuesday, Oct. 8
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: 625 Second Avenue
What you need to know: The city is holding a second reading of an ordinance amending the text of the City of Dayton Zoning Ordinance to repeal old subdivision regulations and update the zoning ordinance with new subdivision regulations.
The city is also having a second reading of an ordinance for the creating of a franchise for the distribution of electrical and natural gas energy within the city.
Dayton is holding a first reading of an ordinance amending sections of its zoning code to regulate the operation of liquor stores, vape stores and medical cannabis operations in the city.
Click here to view the agenda.
Elsmere City Council: Tuesday, Oct. 8
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Elsmere City Building
Florence City Council: Tuesday, Oct. 8
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: 8100 Ewing Boulevard
The agenda can be found here when it is published.
Walton City Council: Tuesday, Oct. 8
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: 44 N Main St.
At the last council meeting on Sept. 16, the Walton City Council set its property tax rates for the next fiscal year, with the compensated tax rate for real property being $0.091 per $100 of property valuation ($0.91 per $1,000) and the tax rate for personal property being $0.110 per $100 of property valuation ($1.10 per $1,000). The revenue produced by the property tax will go towards Walton’s general fund, which is used to provide city services and cover operating expenses. The new tax rates will not generate any additional money for the city, with the exception of new property.
Read more about the new tax rates here.
The agenda can be found here when it is published.
Bellevue City Council: Wednesday, Oct. 9
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: 616 Poplar St.
What you need to know: Bellevue property owners will pay a lower tax rate for the 2024/2025 fiscal year. The new rate is .339 or $3.39 per $1,000 assessed value, a 15% decrease from last year’s rate of $3.98 per $1000. The city is taking 4% more revenue this year to pay city employees and keep up, yet the tax rate is going down.
Council will vote on the tax ordinance at the Oct. 9 meeting.
Read more about the tax rate here.
The agenda can be found here when it is published.
Taylor Mill City Commission: Wednesday, Oct. 9
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, Oct. 10
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: 99 Center Street in Florence
What you need to know: Under new business the school board has “Amendment 2.” Amendment 2 will appear on ballots in November. Kentucky Constitutional Amendment 2, otherwise titled the Allow State Funding for Non-Public Education Amendment, would add language to the state’s constitution that could enable the General Assembly to provide public funding for non-public education.
Click here to view the agenda.
Ludlow City Council: Thursday, Oct. 10
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: 51 Elm St.
The agenda can be found here when it is published.
