UPDATE: The Newport Schools Board of Education will meet at the high school this week to coincide with the end of the academic year, rather than in their typical meeting location at the central office. The relevant lines have been updated.–LINK nky editorial, May 27, 2025.
The Memorial Day holiday has prompted several cities to cancel or reschedule their meetings, but there are still things going in local civic life, most notably an update on the Brent Spence project and a vote on a tax incentive for Fischer Homes.
Keep reading to find out what happened in local government over the past two weeks and what you need to know for this week.
What happened in local government the last two weeks?
Fort Mitchell discusses proposed budget
Date: Monday, May 19
Key takeaways: Like many cities in the region, Fort Mitchell considered its budget last week. In the face of economic uncertainty, city leaders proposed keeping the budget “tight,” as the mayor put it, although some changes were recommended. Read more.
Newport to pitch bar ID requirements, learns about water main replacement, possible shelter
Date: Monday, May 19
Key takeaways: In a nearly three-hour meeting (not including a special closed session that wasn’t open to the public), the Newport Board of Commissioners learned about a roughly $12 million water main replacement project, performed a first reading on an ordinance that would reform the city’s bar ID requirements and heard a presentation about a possible pavilion shelter near the Pepper Pod restaurant on Monmouth Street.
Union sends Union Square to bid
Date: Monday, May 19
Key takeaways: Union heard more updates about the Union Square project, which will see the construction of massive public town square plus a new city building and event space. The city commission voted to send the project out to bid. Read more.
Boone County Fiscal Court debates proposed five-story hotel
Date: Tuesday, May 20
Key takeaways: A proposal to build a five-story hotel near the Triple Crown subdivision sparked debate over building height, traffic concerns and the project’s fit within a rapidly developing area along Richwood Road. Read more.
Florence sees $33K donation to veterans organization and welcomes new police officers
Date: Tuesday, May 13
Key takeaways: Members of the Honor Run Half Marathon came to the Florence city council meeting on May 13 to present a check for $33,000 to a local veterans organization. The meeting also saw the welcoming of new police officers and the recognition of weeks celebrating law enforcement and public service. The meetings scheduled for both May 20 and May 27 were canceled.
Campbell Media honors Bellevue Stories
Date: Wednesday, May 14
Key takeaways: Campbell Media, the county’s public access broadcaster, won two Blue Chip Community Media Awards for two stories involving Bellevue and shared the accolades with the city. Read more.
Campbell County Fiscal Court discusses budget
Date: Wednesday, May 21
Key takeaways: Much of the Campbell County Fiscal Court meeting was spent discussing the next fiscal year’s budget. They court performed a first reading of the proposed budget. Read more.
Fort Wright likely to raise solid waste collection and recycling fees
Date: Wednesday, May 21
Key takeaways: The Fort Wright City Council discussed a new contract with Rumpke, which would likely lead to increased waste fees for city residents. Rumpke was the only company to bid on the waste collection contract. Read more.
What’s happening in local government this week?
Crescent Springs City Council
Date, time & location: Tuesday, May 27 at 4 p.m. at the Crescent Springs City Building on Buttermilk Pike
On the agenda: Only one thing is on the agenda for this special meeting, the approval a grant for a sidewalk project on Amsterdam Road. Read the full agenda here.
Kenton County Fiscal Court
Date, time & location: Tuesday, May 27 at 5:30 p.m. at the Kenton County Government Center on Simon Kenton Way
On the agenda: The Fiscal Court will vote to issue payments to contractors involved in the construction of the new government center garage, vote on a tax incentive for Fischer Homes to help them establish their new headquarters in Covington and vote on several other grant approvals, contracts and tax rates. Read the full agenda with voting item attachments here.
Covington Board of Commissioners
Date, time & location: Tuesday, May 27 at 6 p.m. at Covington City Hall on Pike Street
On the agenda: The commission will hear an update on the Brent Spence Corridor Project and vote to codify recommendations from its committee on government transition, which will establish salaries and benefits for elected officials under the mayor-council government, among other measures. Read the full agenda here.
Newport Independent Public Schools Board of Education
Date, time & location: Wednesday, May 28 at 6:30 p.m. at the Newport High School on East 6th Street.
On the agenda: The agenda for this meeting will be available here once it’s finalized.
Cold Spring City Council
Date, time & location: Wednesday, May 28 at 6:30 p.m. at the Cold Spring City Building on Alexandria Pike
On the agenda: This is a special meeting, the agenda for which will be available here once it’s finalized.