This week in NKY government meetings, the Kenton County School Board is considering construction bids for the Piner Elementary renovation, and Kenton County will discuss reorganizing the structure of its police department.
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 considers 882-unit Union development
Union’s rapid suburban growth continues as developers eye a 78-acre farmland parcel along Longbranch Road for a large-scale housing project that could bring 882 new units to the area, including townhomes, patio homes, condominiums, and apartments built by Fischer Homes. Grand Communities LLC has requested a zone change from agricultural to suburban residential to make way for the subdivision, which would sit near the expanding Ballyshannon neighborhood. Plans include a “town center” with amenities like pickleball courts, gathering spaces, and a gym, though the apartment component depends on widening Camp Ernst Road. At a Boone County Planning Commission hearing, officials and residents raised concerns about the project’s density, traffic, and school impacts, noting the shift from farmland to multifamily housing. The zone change will next go to a committee on Oct. 15 before a full commission vote on Nov. 5.
Read more about the development here.
Fort Wright to see lowest property tax rate since 2008
Fort Wright residents could see a tax break next year as city council held the first reading of its proposed 2025-2026 property tax rates this week. The plan would lower the real property rate from 2.15% to 1.99% — a 7.44% decrease — while keeping the tangible property rate steady at 3.85%. Mayor Dave Hatter called it a “fairly substantial tax cut,” noting that city revenues are up and expenses remain steady. Residents will receive tax bills with the new rate in November.
Read more about the tax rate here.
Longtime Boone County leader Charlie Walton remembered
Beloved Boone County educator and former elected official Charles “Charlie” Walton, who died Aug. 25 at age 78, was honored at the Sept. 30 Boone County Fiscal Court meeting with state and county proclamations recognizing his decades of service. Walton, a Dayton native, served as principal of Florence Elementary from 1993 to 2005 and later as a Boone County commissioner from 2011 to 2018. Rep. T.J. Roberts, who now holds the seat Walton once did, praised him as a respected conservative voice and public servant whose impact was deeply felt across the community. Judge/Executive Gary Moore shared personal reflections on Walton’s legacy as a “pillar of the community” before inviting Walton’s widow, Laurie, and grandson, Graham Hahn, to accept the proclamations on behalf of the family.
Read more about Charlie Walton here.
Social media posts spark Boone County residents to ask for changes to ethics policies
An overflow crowd packed the Boone County Fiscal Court meeting Tuesday night as residents called on Commissioner Chet Hand to apologize or resign over recent social media posts labeling Democrats as “the party of political violence, intolerance, hate, anger, and evil.” More than a dozen speakers urged stronger ethics and social media policies for elected officials, with some stressing the harmful impact of divisive rhetoric on schools and children. Hand, however, refused to apologize, saying, “The answer is emphatically no.” While some residents, including Florence City Council member Lesley Chambers, urged the community to focus on unity and problem-solving, others, like Boone County Board of Education member Carolyn Wolfe, pleaded for moderation from public leaders. Calls for updating the county’s code of ethics are expected to continue in the coming months.
Read more about the ask for ethics policy change here.
Fort Thomas writes off $322K after audit reveals years of accounting issues
An audit of Fort Thomas’ finances uncovered years of accounting problems, prompting city leaders to write off $322,000 as an “error of the past.” Conducted by Chamberlin Owen for fiscal year 2024, the audit revealed unbalanced fund transfers, outdated accounts, improperly recorded federal funds, and a failure to reconcile the city’s general fund cash accounts — some issues dating back over a decade. Former finance director Joe Ewald corrected some discrepancies before leaving, but interim finance director Linda Chapman has since overhauled the city’s accounting system, reconciling accounts and fixing processes. Auditor John Chamberlin said the lack of proper reconciliation and weak internal controls were the most troubling findings, and council members emphasized the urgency of hiring a qualified new finance director to restore confidence in the city’s financial oversight.
Read more about the audit here.
Seven-story mixed-use development coming to Newport’s Monmouth Street
A seven-story mixed-use development with 121 residential units and ground-floor commercial space is set to rise on Monmouth Street in Newport, filling a long-vacant lot next to the city’s new parking garage and two Hilton hotels now under construction. Developed by Cincinnati-based Urban Sites, the project will feature apartments ranging from studios to two-bedrooms, along with amenities such as a gym, coworking space, bike storage, and a rooftop lounge. About 8,600 square feet of retail and restaurant space is planned to activate the block and connect Monmouth Street with Newport on the Levee. The project stems from a 2019 development agreement tied to PILOT and state TIF financing that also supports the city’s parking garage, making completion of the full site critical to preserving those incentives. City officials hailed the approval as a major step in Monmouth Street’s revitalization, with construction expected to overlap with the hotel openings.
Read more about the development here.
Covington forum provides venue for resident concerns on housing
Covington Mayor Ron Washington and city leaders hosted the first of two community meetings on Sept. 29 to address the city’s housing crisis, drawing a large and diverse crowd of residents, landlords, and business owners eager to share concerns and solutions. Washington emphasized the urgency of the issue, citing rising costs and personal family experiences with housing shortages, while city staff outlined plans to fund new affordable housing initiatives by selling unused city properties. Attendees participated in table discussions on topics such as density, parking, neighborhood aesthetics, sustainability, and the financial barriers to both new construction and rehabilitation of older homes, with many highlighting the strain of skyrocketing local housing costs—up 122% since 2020. Feedback from the meetings will guide the city’s housing committee, with a formal report expected next summer, as Covington seeks long-term strategies to expand affordable housing options.
Read more about the resident concerns on housing here.
Kenton County picks design firm for new 225-acre park
Kenton County has selected design firm Bayer Becker to lead the development of its new 225-acre park in Independence, transforming the former Fox Run Golf Course into a community recreation hub connected to nearby Lincoln Ridge Park. Chosen over seven other applicants, Bayer Becker was praised for its expertise in natural park design and its local presence, with plans to use a “Sky Frame” concept that highlights the site’s ridges, valleys, streams, and forests to create scenic trails and layered outdoor experiences. The project, guided by master planning first introduced in 2022 and managed by consulting firm J.S. Held, aims to deliver a regional park shaped by community input and ecological sensitivity, with future amenities envisioned to include an amphitheater, adventure features, and family spaces.
Read more about the new park here.
What’s happening this week in local government?
Kenton County Board of Education: Monday, Oct. 6
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at 1045 Eaton Drive in Ft. Wright.
What you need to know: The board is set to consider Radius Construction for the planned renovation at Piner Elementary. They approved the design documents for renovations at Piner in June. The work at Piner is an augmentation of renovations that began three to four years ago, but which left out important elements like the gym, parts of the restrooms, sections of the parking lot and some interior/exterior work. The new renovations are intended to “wrap up everything that needs to be taken care of. The timeline for Piner’s renovation is approximately one to one and a half years to complete.
The agenda can be found here.
Union City Commission Meeting: Monday, Oct. 6
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at 1843 Bristow Dr.
The agenda can be found here.
Independence City Council Meeting: Monday, Oct. 6
The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at 5409 Madison Pike.
The agenda can be found here.
Edgewood City Council Meeting: Monday, Oct. 6
The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at 385 Dudley Road.
The agenda can be found here.
Covington Board of Commissioners Caucus Meeting
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at 20 W Pike St.
The agenda can be found here.
Kenton County Fiscal Court Meeting: Tuesday, Oct. 7
The meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. at the Historic Kenton County Courthouse at 5272 Madison Pike.
What you need to know: The fiscal court will discuss reorganizing the structure of the County Police Department. According to the agenda, the need to reorganize the Kenton County Police Department is to enable the current Quick Response Team Officer to serve as the team leader for the Law Enforcement Navigators program in Kenton County. This program is designed to provide mental health and social services to residents of Kenton County. This adjustment of duties will include the QRT Officer acting as the liaison between the Life Learning Center and the Law Enforcement Navigators.
The agenda can be found here.
Elsmere City Caucus Meeting: Tuesday, Oct. 7
The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at 3921 Dixie Highway.
The agenda can be found here.
Walton City Council Meeting: Tuesday, Oct. 7
The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at 40 North Main St.
The agenda can be found here.
Florence City Council Caucus: Tuesday, Oct. 7
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at 8100 Ewing Blvd.
The agenda can be found here.
Erlanger City Council meeting: Tuesday, Oct. 7
The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at 505 Commonwealth Ave.
The agenda can be found here.
Taylor Mill Commission Meeting: Wednesday, Oct. 8
The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at 5225 Taylor Mill Road.
The agenda can be found here.
Bellevue City Council Meeting: Wednesday, Oct. 8
The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at 322 Van Voast.
The agenda can be found here.
Ludlow Business Meeting: Thursday, Oct. 9
The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at 51 Elm St.
The agenda can be found here.
