- Covington will vote on establishing a Business District common consumption area under its entertainment destination center license.
- Dayton will hear a school traffic pattern presentation, consider a $2.17M contract for River’s Edge Riverfront Commons Phases II & III, and commit to a “Read Ready Dayton” early-learning initiative.
- Bellevue will consider appointing a new Alcohol Beverage Control Administrator and authorizing the purchase of land next to Bellevue Beach Park.
This week in NKY government meetings: Dayton will consider bids for phases two and three of the River’s Edge Riverfront Commons project, and Bellevue will appoint an alcohol beverage control administrator.
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?
Boone County continues zoning debate on curbing commercial truck parking
Boone County is tackling the growing issue of commercial truck parking due to its rise as a logistics hub linked to the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and I-75. Increased truck traffic has prompted concerns over quality of life, leading the fiscal court and planning commission to explore zoning code revisions. While initially considering a new zoning district, officials, including Zoning Administrator Michael Schwartz, recommended integrating truck parking as a conditional or permitted use within existing Commercial-3 and Industrial zones, and defining asset categories like freight terminals and trailers to clarify distinctions. The goal is to reduce roadside parking, provide safe alternatives, and establish clear, flexible guidelines without overregulating. The court will continue reviewing proposals after the 2026 completion of the comprehensive plan, with public input and further legislative action to follow.
Read more about the zoning debate here.
Campbell County to open Crypto exchange account to assist scam victims
To combat the growing wave of cryptocurrency scams, Campbell County is opening a business account with the Kraken crypto exchange, not for investment purposes, but to facilitate the return of recovered stolen funds to victims. County officials emphasized that the account will be used exclusively for court-ordered restitution, allowing crypto assets recovered through investigations led by Detective Steve Kush to be converted to cash and returned via restitution checks. This initiative is a collaborative effort among the finance director, police department, and county attorney’s office, with leaders stressing that it is a practical response to the rising number of scams, including impersonation schemes that frequently target residents.
Read more about the Crypto exchange account here.
Highland Heights could see a potential occupational license fee raise
Highland Heights is considering raising its occupational license fee tax on wages earned within city limits, from 1.0% to 1.5%, with the first reading of the ordinance presented Tuesday night. City Administrator Michael Giffen said the additional revenue would support major development projects, including future phases of the Commons at Highland Heights park, the Sunset Drive realignment, and new sidewalks along North US-27. The increase would also strengthen the city’s ability to secure larger grants. Mayor Greg Meyers emphasized that the change would help maintain the city’s high quality of life, and if approved, the new rate would take effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
Read more about the potential occupational license fee raise here.
Erlanger appoints new city administrator
Mark Collier, a founding member of LINK nky and current economic development director for the City of Erlanger, has been appointed as Erlanger’s new city administrator, effective Sept. 1, succeeding Peter Glenn, who is retiring. Collier was appointed at a city council meeting and will be officially sworn in at the September meeting. With a background in journalism, private business, and local media, Collier brings a fresh perspective to the role, having previously served as Erlanger’s assistant city administrator and economic development director, as well as a Fort Thomas City Council member. Erlanger Mayor Jessica Fette praised Collier’s leadership, collaborative work on projects like the Eons park complex, and his communication strengths. Collier noted the city might not immediately fill the economic development director role, aiming instead to incorporate its responsibilities into his new position.
Read more about the new city administrator here.
Erlanger considers motorized scooter ordinance
Erlanger may soon begin regulating motorized scooters, as Councilmember Jennifer Jasper-Lucas called for a discussion on proposed safety guidelines at the upcoming caucus meeting on Aug. 19. During Tuesday’s council meeting, she cited concerns from residents and business owners about riders operating scooters without helmets, using them on streets, and handling electronics while riding. Jasper-Lucas emphasized that her goal is not to stop scooter use or issue citations, but to establish guidelines for safe operation within city limits. She referenced Edgewood’s existing scooter ordinance as a potential model and noted that Erlanger’s skateboard ordinance may also need updating.
Read more about the motorized scooter ordinance here.
Independence considers solutions amid complaints over loose dogs
In response to growing complaints from residents and concerns about police resources, the Independence City Council is exploring potential operational changes to how the city handles loose dogs. Councilmember Carol Franzen, who volunteers with Kenton County Animal Services, raised the issue after receiving complaints from neighbors about a non-vicious dog repeatedly getting loose. Franzen noted that outside of regular hours, Animal Services only responds to vicious dog reports, leaving police to handle other loose dog calls, which she said is not an effective use of their time. While Franzen initially thought the city’s ordinance needed adjusting, city attorney Jack Gatlin suggested the problem may be operational rather than legal. Animal services does have some weekend hours and is training a new officer to improve availability. With 733 animal-related calls in Independence in 2024, Franzen proposed seeking community volunteers to help transport dogs during off-hours. No action was taken, but Mayor Chris Reinersman stressed the importance of creating practical solutions.
Read more about the solutions discussed here.
Alexandria development draws community concerns, legal challenge
Alexandria residents attended the Aug. 5 Planning and Zoning meeting to voice concerns about a recently approved subdivision on Grandview Road by developer D.R. Horton. Although the development was not on the agenda, residents raised issues related to septic systems, stormwater, geotechnical stability, and landslide potential in the Kope formation. A June 3 approval granted a variance for smaller lot widths on 36 of 46 lots. Two residents, not present at the meeting, filed a legal appeal on July 3 in Campbell County Circuit Court challenging the approval, citing environmental, safety, and procedural issues. During public comment, residents, including Jen and Adelaide Koenig and Keith Kennedy, expressed fears about property damage and unstable terrain. Planning and Zoning Director Cindy Minter said the comments would not be part of the official record due to the absence of the developer and the issue not being on the agenda. Alexandria Mayor Andy Schabell encouraged residents to contact the city through its website or by phone, and Minter stated the city would forward the residents’ concerns to the developer.
Read more about the resident’s concerns here.
Union greenlights $20M bond package for Town Square project ahead of August groundbreaking
With a groundbreaking ceremony set for later in August, the Union City Commission is moving ahead with its multi-million-dollar Union Town Square project, which will transform a 22-acre lot between US-42 and Old Union Road into a walkable park centered around a new city building. Launched in summer 2022, the project aims to create a contemporary, functional indoor and outdoor space for both city operations and public use. On Aug. 8, the city approved financing measures, including issuing up to $20 million in bonds to refinance prior land purchases and fund construction. Funded by the City Growth Fund—sourced from payroll taxes—the $13 million project will also be supported by Union’s recently implemented payroll tax. The city contracted Mark Spaulding Construction for the build, with designs from Summit Architects + Engineering and MKSK Studios. Moody’s assigned the city an Aa3 bond rating, citing financial stability and sound fiscal planning.
Read more about the project here.
What’s happening this week in NKY government?
Park Hills City Council: Monday, Aug. 11
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at 1106 Amsterdam Road.
The agenda can be found here.
Fort Mitchell City Council: Monday, Aug. 11
The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at 2355 Dixie Highway.
The agenda can be found here.
Cold Spring City Council: Monday, Aug. 11
The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. at 5694 E. Alexandria Pike.
The agenda can be found here when it is published.
Kenton County Fiscal Court: Tuesday, Aug. 12
The meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. at the Kenton County Historic Courthouse, 5272 Madison Pike in Independence.
The agenda can be found here when it is published.
Covington Board of Commissioners: Tuesday, Aug. 12
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at 20 West Pike St.
What you need to know: The city will vote on an ordinance amending the Covington Code of Ordinances to utilize the city’s entertainment destination center license to establish the Covington Business District common consumption area.
Read more about the common consumption area here.
The agenda can be found here.
Florence City Council: Tuesday, Aug. 12
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at 8100 Ewing Blvd.
The agenda can be found here when it is published.
Elsmere City Council meeting: Tuesday, Aug. 12
The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at 3921 Dixie Highway.
The agenda can be found here when it is published.
Dayton City Council: Tuesday, Aug. 12
The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at 625 Second Ave.
What you need to know: Dayton Schools Superintendent Rick Wolf will give a presentation to the city council regarding the traffic pattern on 5th Avenue between Clay Street and Berry Street.
The council will discuss an order-resolution accepting the bid of Prus Construction Company and authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract with this company in the amount of $2,165,770.50 for the construction of Phases II and III of the River ’s-Edge Riverfront Commons project.
The city will also read an order-resolution expressing its commitment to improving kindergarten readiness in the city of Dayton and working with partners to establish a place-based early-learning initiative known as “Read Ready Dayton.”
The agenda can be found here.
Walton City Council: Tuesday, Aug. 12
The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at 44 N Main St.
The agenda can be found here when it is published.
Newport Board of Education work session: Wednesday, Aug. 13
The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at 30 W 8th St.
The agenda can be found here when it is published.
Bellevue City Council: Wednesday, Aug. 13
The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at 32 Van Voast.
What you need to know: Bellevue will discuss an order appointing Sam Shelton to the Bellevue City Alcohol Beverage Control (“ABC”) Administrator.
The council will also talk about an order authorizing the mayor to execute documents to purchase real estate adjacent to the Bellevue Beach Park.
The agenda can be found here when it is published.
Taylor Mill City Commission: Wednesday, Aug. 13
The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at 5225 Taylor Mill Road.
The agenda can be found here when it is published.
Ludlow City Council meeting: Thursday, Aug. 14
The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at 51 Elm St.
The agenda can be found here when it is published.
