This week in NKY government meetings, Newport is considering issuing $5 million in IRBs for a Nexigen office project.
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?
‘We’re big enough to absorb the risk’ Campbell County moves to self-funded health insurance
Campbell County is moving to a self-funded health insurance model for fiscal court and detention center employees, taking on the responsibility of directly paying health claims rather than relying on an insurance company. County Administrator Matt Elberfeld said the shift makes sense now because the county is large enough to handle the financial risk and the traditional insurance market has become less competitive, with fewer carriers offering quotes and rising renewal rates regardless of claims performance. Under the new plan, the county will continue working with United Healthcare through an administrative services-only arrangement, meaning employees should see no change in coverage or benefits. To protect against major claims, the county will purchase stop-loss insurance, which will go before the fiscal court for approval in November. Officials project the move could reduce cost increases to 3–9%, compared to an estimated 13–14% hike if the county remained fully insured, though the spending will vary depending on claims each year.
Read more about the move to self-funded health insurance here.
Park Hills Council debates whether member walked out: ‘This is crazy’
A dispute over how to record the events of a contentious Sept. 29 Park Hills City Council meeting dominated Tuesday’s meeting, as officials debated whether Council Member Sarah Froelich had left the room before a vote took place. Froelich walked out of that earlier meeting, apparently to prevent a quorum on a zoning ordinance vote, prompting a resident’s complaint to the Kentucky Attorney General. The disagreement now centers on whether Froelich’s departure invalidated the vote or counted as an abstention. Froelich presented a notarized affidavit and emails from residents affirming she left the building, while Mayor Kathy Zembrodt, City Attorney Dan Braun, and others insisted video evidence showed she was still in the room. The heated exchange highlighted ongoing tensions within the council, with conflicting accounts from officials and attendees about what transpired that night and no resolution as to how the minutes should reflect the incident.
Read more about the city council walkout here.
Park Hills considers how to formalize meeting conduct
Tensions flared at the Park Hills City Council meeting on Tuesday as officials debated a proposed ordinance to formalize meeting procedures using a simplified version of Robert’s Rules of Order. The measure, introduced by Mayor Kathy Zembrodt and City Attorney Dan Braun, followed weeks of discord — including a September meeting where a council member walked out — and aims to promote respectful and orderly debate. Council Member Pam Spoor supported the ordinance as a way to restore civility, while Council Member Sarah Froelich presented an alternative proposal that relied less on Robert’s Rules. After discussion, the council agreed to revise the ordinance by removing a consent agenda provision and clarifying the quorum requirement. Zembrodt also addressed what she called “disrespectful” behavior at prior meetings and “disinformation” on social media, while several council members spoke about the personal toll of public criticism. The meeting also touched on an email from a resident that city officials described as a “veiled threat,” tied to ongoing disputes over council conduct and transparency.
Read more about the meeting conduct here.
Florence police captain retires, two officers promoted
After 29 years with the Florence Police Department, Captain Greg Rehkamp has retired, opening the door for two internal promotions. During the Oct. 14 Florence City Council meeting, Mayor Julie Metzger Aubuchon swore in Lt. Mike Geis as the new captain and Sgt. Erik Daniels as the new lieutenant. Geis, a 17-year Florence police veteran and Northwestern University Command School graduate, has served in multiple roles, including SWAT and criminal investigations. Daniels, a former Marine Corps sniper, previously led the department’s criminal investigative unit for six years. Family, friends, and fellow officers attended the ceremony, where city leaders praised both men for their service and dedication.
Read more about the retirees and promotions here.
Covington moves toward creating Transportation Improvement District
Covington is moving toward creating a Transportation Improvement District (TID), holding a first reading on Oct. 14 for an ordinance that would set up a board to pool and direct multi-source funding to local infrastructure projects (from construction and property acquisition to studies and professional services). City Solicitor Frank Schultz said the TID could open future state funding opportunities; if approved, Covington would join Florence and recent county-level TIDs in Boone and Kenton (common across Ohio counties). The district would be governed by a six-member board (five voting Covington residents—including two tied to a chamber or countywide business group—and one non-voting member appointed by the Kenton County Planning Commission), adopt bylaws, hold public meetings for project approvals, and submit semiannual activity and financial reports; the City Commission retains final project consent. Terms would be staggered for continuity, and Mayor Ron Washington urged residents to review the ordinance ahead of a second reading on Oct. 28.
Read more about the Transportation Improvement District here.
Proposed Florence Wawa creates dilemmas for city leaders
Major changes are coming to Florence’s busy U.S. 42 corridor, with plans advancing for a new Bank of America branch and a Wawa convenience store and gas station. During the Oct. 14 city council meeting, officials approved design updates for the new Bank of America near Farmview Drive, part of a larger development that includes a Publix supermarket. The proposed Wawa, to be located at U.S. 42 and Hopeful Church Road, passed its first reading 4–2 after lengthy discussion about traffic, zoning conditions, and neighborhood impact. While city leaders said they were legally bound to follow planning commission recommendations, the project has drawn concern from residents and business owners, including Arrington and Mari Davis, whose restaurant, Lita’s Tacos, will be demolished for the new development. Council members acknowledged the difficulty of the decision but pledged to help the family find a new location in Florence.
Read more about the Wawa here.
Fort Mitchell to sponsor SRO at Blessed Sacrament School
The City of Fort Mitchell has agreed to sponsor a full-time School Resource Officer (SRO) for Blessed Sacrament School, marking a new partnership aimed at enhancing student safety. Although the school is private, city officials said they feel a duty to help protect its students, since only local governments can sponsor SROs. After nearly a year of discussions, the city council voted on Oct. 13 to move forward with an SRO contract, with Blessed Sacrament contributing funds toward the estimated $80,000 annual cost. Mayor Jude Hehman said the city has identified an internal police candidate for the position and will adjust its budget to accommodate the new role, adding that the expense is manageable. Both the city and the school hope to finalize the agreement soon so the officer can begin work this school year.
Read more about the SRO here.
Fort Mitchell mayor will not seek reelection
Fort Mitchell Mayor Jude Hehman announced that he will not seek reelection in 2026 and instead plans to run for Kenton County Sheriff. Hehman, who has served as mayor since 2015, said the sheriff’s role aligns with his management experience overseeing the city’s police and fire departments, as well as his background in business. He described the position as a natural next step in public service, noting that the sheriff’s office combines administrative and community responsibilities similar to those he’s handled as mayor. Hehman said he plans to release a formal statement outlining his campaign in the coming weeks.
Read more about the mayor not seeking reelection here.
Bellevue property tax for 2025-26 approved
The Bellevue City Council has approved a property tax rate of $0.364 per $100 of assessed real property value for the upcoming year, representing the compensating rate plus a 4% increase—the maximum allowed by the state to offset inflation. The rate for personal property was set at $0.860 per $100 of valuation. Residents can expect to receive their tax bills on bright yellow cards, which will include a QR code for convenient online payment.
Read more about the property tax rate here.
What’s happening this week in local government?
Campbell County Board of Education: Monday, Oct. 20
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at 101 Orchard Lane in Alexandria.
The agenda can be found here.
Edgewood City Council Meeting: Monday, Oct. 20
The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at 385 Dudley Road.
The agenda can be found here.
Fort Thomas City Council Meeting: Monday, Oct. 20
The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at 130 North Fort Thomas Ave.
The agenda can be found here.
Newport Board of Commissioners Meeting: Monday, Oct. 20
The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at 998 Monmouth Street.
What you need to know: The commission will discuss authorizing the issuance of up to $5 million in Taxable Industrial Building Revenue Bonds to support NXG Holdings, LLC (Nexigen) in financing the acquisition, construction, and equipping of a new commercial office facility in downtown Newport. The project will be located at 810 Monmouth St. and 825–835 York Street, within the city’s designated downtown business district. The city first entered into an inducement agreement with Nexigen on Feb. 26 to pursue the bond financing.
The agreement establishes a 30-year bond term (2026–2055), with repayment coming from lease revenues generated by Nexigen, ensuring that no city general fund or tax dollars are used. It also includes a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement, requiring annual payments of $8 per $1,000 of assessed value, distributed among the city of Newport ($1.50), Campbell County ($1.13), and Newport Independent Schools ($5.37). The order clarifies that the city assumes no general obligation debt, and repayment is strictly tied to project revenues.
The agenda can be found here.
Union Commission Meeting: Monday, Oct. 20
The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at 1843 Bristow Drive.
The meeting can be found here.
Southgate Special Council Meeting: Monday, Oct. 20
The meeting starts at 5:30 p.m.
Boone County Fiscal Court Meeting: Tuesday, Oct. 21
The meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. at 2950 Washington St. in Burlington.
The agenda can be found here.
Covington Board of Commissioners Caucus Meeting: Tuesday, Oct. 21
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at 20 West Pike St.
The agenda can be found here.
Erlanger Council Caucus Meeting: Tuesday, Oct. 21
The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at 505 Commonwealth Ave.
The agenda can be found here.
City of Florence City Council Caucus Meeting: Tuesday, Oct. 21
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at the Florence Government Center at 8100 Ewing Blvd.
The agenda can be found here.
Newport Board of Education: Wednesday, Oct. 22
The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at 30 W 8th St.
The agenda can be found here.
Ludlow Caucus Meeting: Thursday, Oct. 23
The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at 51 Elm St.
The agenda can be found here.
