This week in NKY government meetings, Fort Thomas will discuss appointing a new council member after former councilmember Andy Ellison’s appointment as mayor.
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 Schools reject proposal for Bible study during class time
The Boone County School Board rejected a proposal from Lifewise Academy, a religious education organization seeking to remove students from classrooms for one hour per week for voluntary Bible study, by declining to advance a motion to discuss the program during its Dec. 11 meeting. Lifewise’s request was submitted under Senate Bill 19, a law allowing outside groups to provide voluntary moral instruction during the school day at no cost to districts, which became law after the General Assembly overrode Gov. Andy Beshear’s veto. Board member Julie Maddox’s motion failed to receive a second, effectively ending consideration of the proposal and making Boone County the second Northern Kentucky district to reject Lifewise, following Kenton County Schools. The decision came amid public debate, with teachers and residents raising concerns about classroom disruption and student division, while Lifewise representatives argued the program is legally supported and beneficial to students.
Read more about the rejected proposal here.
Bellevue agrees to two-year contract for Flock security cameras
Bellevue will move forward with installing Flock automatic license plate reader cameras after Mayor Charlie Cleves cast a tie-breaking vote at Thursday night’s city council meeting, approving a two-year, $24,000 contract for eight cameras with Flock Group, Inc. The cameras, first proposed in April 2025, are intended to assist police in solving crimes and will not be constantly monitored, with searches logged through an audit trail, according to police and company representatives. While council members did not raise concerns about local police misuse, several expressed unease about how Flock handles and shares data, citing lawsuits and public backlash against the company in other cities, including an ongoing Fourth Amendment challenge in Virginia. Police Chief Jon McClain acknowledged broader legal concerns but said his focus remains on how the technology can benefit Bellevue.
Read more about the flock cameras here.
Florence council member gets another term on regional planning board
Florence City Council reappointed council member Gary Winn to a one-year term on the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments (OKI), a regional planning organization that plays a key role in approving transportation projects that use federal funding. Winn, who has served on the OKI board since 2015 and on the Florence City Council since 2011, represents the city alongside a city employee member and an alternate. Founded in 1964, OKI oversees transportation planning across an eight-county region and influences major infrastructure projects in Northern Kentucky, including the Brent Spence Bridge replacement. City leaders say Florence’s participation in OKI helps the city access transportation funding, stay informed about regional projects and collaborate with communities of all sizes through a consensus-driven decision-making process.
Read more about the board appointment here.
Housing nonprofit to buy city-owned vacant lot in Covington
Covington plans to sell a city-owned vacant lot at 1323 Russell St. to Housing Opportunities of Northern Kentucky (HONK) as part of a broader effort to expand affordable housing, with the Board of Commissioners set to take a final vote on Dec. 16. The nonprofit will purchase the lot for $16,000 and invest about $315,000 to build a two-story, single-family home for buyers earning less than 80% of the area’s median income, or roughly $47,000 to $51,000 annually. HONK, which already is rehabbing a neighboring property, will sell the home through its lease-to-own program that helps families build credit and savings before purchasing. City officials say the project will turn unused land into housing for residents in need, with construction expected to be completed by the end of next year.
Read more about the nonprofit plans to buy the vacant lot here.
Dayton schools gain access to Gil Lynn Park cameras amid vandalism concerns
City council unanimously approved an agreement allowing the Dayton Independent School District to access security camera footage from Gil Lynn Park following repeated incidents of vandalism tied to student use of the park. Mayor Ben Baker said the measure is intended to protect the park, noting that police and school resource officers have long had access to cameras inside school buildings. While some council members expressed concerns about student privacy and the increasing presence of surveillance, others said the footage could help school officials identify students in need of support rather than a police response. Police Chief David Halfhill said the district retains the video footage for one week, and residents urged the city to maintain clear policies governing its use.
Read more about the vandalism concerns at the park here.
Fort Wright becomes latest Kenton County city to tap redevelopment fund
Fort Wright has become the fourth city in Kenton County to partner with the county’s Community Redevelopment Fund after the Kenton County Fiscal Court unanimously approved a $1.35 million allocation to the city, which will be matched by at least $150,000 from Fort Wright. Funded by a $5 million appropriation from the Kentucky General Assembly, the program supports real estate development projects intended to spur economic growth, with Fort Wright planning to use the funds to acquire and develop an underperforming property. The city joins Independence, Erlanger and Taylor Mill in utilizing the fund, which requires a 10% local match and use of funds within 12 months. Kenton County administers the program in partnership with The Catalytic Fund, a Covington-based nonprofit that provides development expertise and financing support across Northern Kentucky.
Read more about the redevelopment fund here.
Elsmere approves multiple construction bids for end of year
Elsmere City Council approved a new agreement with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet at its Dec. 9 meeting to move forward with bridge and sidewalk improvements, including $100,000 for the design of a new Buffington Road bridge and sidewalk and $594,000 for state oversight, with the city responsible for construction costs and a minimum 20% local match. Council members also approved a $353,935 bid from Eaton Asphalt for the Swan and Stallworth Reconstruction Project, as well as a separate order authorizing a 50-50 cost-sharing agreement with Sanitation District 1 to cover $244,794 in stormwater costs associated with that project.
Read more about the construction bids here.
Culver’s plan halted as Cold Spring Council votes down zoning changes
Cold Spring City Council rejected a zoning amendment that would have allowed a proposed Culver’s restaurant after a packed special meeting Monday night, where about 50 residents voiced unanimous opposition. The ordinance sought to amend the city’s special development area zoning by reducing minimum lot size and increasing maximum building height, changes developers said were needed to move forward with the project at U.S. 27 and Winters Lane. After a prior ceremonial vote in November, the council formally voted the measure down 4–2, with opponents citing concerns about traffic, safety, and preserving the city’s long-term vision. Residents emphasized that the issue was not the restaurant itself, but the potential precedent of altering zoning rules and opening the door to broader, unwanted development.
Read more about the voted-down plans here.
What’s happening this week in NKY government?
Newport City Commission meeting: Monday, Dec. 15
The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at 998 Monmouth St.
The agenda can be found here.
Fort Thomas City Council meeting: Monday, Dec. 15
The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at 130 N Ft Thomas Ave.
What you need to know: The city council will discuss appointing a council member to fill the vacancy as a result of Fort Thomas Mayor Andy Ellison’s appointment.
The agenda can be found here.
Campbell County School Board: Monday, Dec. 15
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at the Alexandria Educational Center, 51 Orchard Lane, Alexandria.
The agenda can be found here.
Edgewood City Council meeting: Monday, Dec. 15
The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at 385 Dudley Road.
What you need to know: The city will be discussing its road projects.
The agenda can be found here.
Union City Commission meeting: Monday, Dec. 15
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at 1843 Bristow Drive.
The agenda can be found here.
Boone County Fiscal Court: Tuesday, Dec. 16
The meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. at 2950 Washington St. in Burlington.
What you need to know: The UDF at 577 Dixie Highway in Florence plans to demolish the current convenience store and gas station and replace it with a more modern design, similar to other recent UDF stores, such as the one at 9520 Union Promenade Drive in Union.
Read more about the UDF plans here.
The agenda can be found here.
Covington Commission meeting: Tuesday, Dec. 16
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at 20 West Pike St.
The agenda can be found here.
Florence City Council meeting: Tuesday, Dec. 16
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at 8100 Ewing Blvd.
The agenda can be found here.
Campbell County Fiscal Court meeting: Wednesday, Dec. 17
The meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. at 1098 Monmouth St. in Newport.
The agenda can be found here.
Fort Wright city council caucus meeting: Wednesday, Dec. 17
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at 409 Kyles Lane.
The agenda can be found here.
Southgate City Council meeting: Wednesday, Dec. 17
The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at 122 Electric Ave.
Alexandria City Council meeting: Thursday, Dec. 18
The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at 8236 West Main St. The agenda can be found here.