This week in NKY government meetings, Kenton County is considering approving a payment in lieu of taxes for an industrial project in Covington.
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?
Whitewater Car Wash proposal advances after traffic concerns reviewed
After being deferred at the Feb. 4 Boone County Planning Commission meeting due to traffic concerns related to the planned KY-18 “super street” redesign, Whitewater Car Wash has resubmitted its proposal to demolish the vacant Frisch’s Big Boy at 1731 Jones Circle in Burlington and build a 4,375-square-foot car wash featuring a 126-foot tunnel, pay stations and vacuum spaces. The Texas-based, membership-driven franchise is expanding into Northern Kentucky, with two Boone County locations planned. Although some residents raised concerns about traffic impacts and the addition of another car wash near an existing competitor, a traffic study found the project would not significantly affect current or projected traffic conditions along Burlington Pike. After reviewing the updated information, the zone change committee supported the proposal and advanced it to the full planning commission for consideration at its March 4 meeting.
Read more about the car wash proposal here.
Self-storage, RV facility approved across from Campbell County High School
The Campbell County Planning and Zoning Commission approved a plan to develop self-storage buildings and a gravel lot for RV and boat storage on a 4.7-acre portion of a nine-acre site at U.S. 27 and Lickert Road, across from Campbell County High School. The project required a zone change from rural residential estate to rural commercial and a variance to allow a gravel surface for oversized vehicle storage. While two nearby residents voiced concerns about increased traffic and safety on the rural road, particularly during school hours, the applicant’s attorney argued that RV usage is highest during summer months when school traffic is lighter. The development will include a gated entrance and 24/7 key card access, and staff recommended landscaping to buffer neighboring properties. The zone change now moves to the Campbell County Fiscal Court for final approval.
Read more about the self-storage units and RV facilities here.
$1.5M street project approved as Southgate expands community park plans
The City of Southgate is moving forward with several improvement projects as it works to update aging infrastructure, including transforming former tennis courts into a new community green space and undertaking major street renovations. The park project, led in partnership with Southbank Partners, is entering its building phase with plans to break ground in May and complete the space featuring a walking path, native plants, a flagpole, water fountains and pet stations by August, though about $40,000 in funding still needs to be secured. Meanwhile, the city approved nearly $1.46 million in roadwork by Riegler Blacktop to repair portions of Blossom Lane, Valley View Drive and Tracy Lane, with construction expected to begin in April. Additionally, Southgate Independent Schools Superintendent Greg Duty is seeking state funding to create a community activity center and improve ADA accessibility, asking city leaders for support in advocating for the project.
Read more about the project here.
Fort Wright unlikely to partner with Flock
Fort Wright officials debated a potential $79,700, three-year contract with Flock Safety for license plate reader cameras during their Feb. 18 caucus meeting, with Mayor Dave Hatter strongly opposing the proposal and pledging to veto it over privacy and cybersecurity concerns. While council members Jason Collins and Bernie Wessels requested information about the service and argued it could aid crime investigations by creating “vehicle fingerprints,” others, including Council member Margie Witt, raised concerns about increased surveillance and potential data abuse. Police Chief Jonathan Colwell explained the technology’s investigative benefits, but Hatter questioned whether data could truly be deleted after 30 days as stated. Because no formal vote could be taken at the caucus meeting, the discussion was tabled, though any future approval would require four council votes and potentially a five-vote supermajority to override a promised mayoral veto.
Read more about the flock partnership here.
Dutch Bros location proposed for Mall Road in Florence
Dutch Bros is seeking approval from the Boone County Planning Commission to open a 990-square-foot, drive-thru-only coffee shop at 7606-7654 Mall Road in Florence, which would mark the chain’s first Northern Kentucky location. The proposal, submitted by Village at the Mall Holdings LLC, requires an amendment to the site’s concept development plan and has prompted questions about traffic, building materials, signage and site layout due to the busy nature of Mall Road. In response, representatives outlined a traffic management plan that includes a bypass lane, on-site traffic coordinators and optional off-duty police support, and revised the signage plan to comply with district regulations by reducing signs from 27 to 16. The Zone Change committee has advanced the proposal to the full planning commission for consideration at its March 4 meeting.
Read more about the Dutch Bros project here.
Fort Thomas Girl Scouts take pedestrian safety proposal to city hall
Girl Scout Troop 2231, made up of fifth graders from Moyer Elementary in Fort Thomas, presented a proposal to the Fort Thomas City Council on Feb. 17 seeking a solar-powered flashing crosswalk, curb extensions and a speed bump near the Campbell County Public Library on Highland Avenue as part of their effort to earn the Girl Scout Bronze Award. The scouts collected nine hours of traffic data over a week, tracking more than 2,130 vehicles and finding an average speed of 28.2 mph in a 25-mph zone, with some cars exceeding 40 mph, and also documented pedestrian activity and gathered over 150 petition signatures supporting the project. City leaders praised the girls’ research and initiative, and the troop is scheduled to meet with the city administrator to further discuss the proposal.
Read more about the troop’s project here.
Fort Thomas approves forensic audit to trace $322K discrepancy
The Fort Thomas City Council has approved hiring accounting firm Dean Dorton for up to $35,000 to conduct a forensic audit of the past three fiscal years in an effort to trace a $322,000 discrepancy previously written off as an accounting error. The issue, revealed in a prior audit, found the funds unaccounted for but not believed to be misappropriated, instead attributed to poor accounting practices. The six-week forensic review will examine general ledger entries, bank reconciliations and related financial records to determine the source of the error and recommend improvements to internal controls. City officials say the audit is intended to restore public trust, evaluate potential responsibility from the city’s former auditor and ensure stronger financial oversight moving forward.
Read more about the forensic audit here.
Local developer to purchase lots from Covington, build market-rate units
Local developer A.M. Titan is poised to purchase four vacant, city-owned lots in Covington’s Westside neighborhood for $68,000 and build 12 apartments as part of the city’s new affordable housing initiative aimed at addressing housing shortages. The $2.6 million project will include a mix of one- and two-bedroom units renting for $1,395 to $1,750 and is being described as workforce housing targeting households earning 80–120% of area median income. While a regional housing study supports the need for more middle-income rentals, some proposed rents exceed affordability benchmarks for certain income levels. City officials evaluated the developer’s capacity, proposed use and offered value, and noted the buildings, up to three stories with brick or Hardie siding and rear parking, must fit the surrounding neighborhood context. The proposal is expected to receive approval from the board of commissioners.
Read more about the market-rate units here.
Boone County closer to adopting comprehensive plan update
Boone County is finalizing its “Plan 2045” comprehensive plan update, a state-required five-year revision that will guide future land use and development decisions in unincorporated areas and the cities of Florence, Union and Walton. Shaped by public input and post-pandemic changes such as retail shifts, housing affordability challenges and the rapid expansion of CVG as a global cargo hub, the draft outlines updates to land-use classifications — including redefining woodland as an overlay rather than a standalone category and clarifying the purpose of business parks — and organizes growth strategy around five geographic focus areas: Hebron/Burlington, Florence, Richwood/Union, Walton/Verona and Western Boone County. The plan balances economic growth, infrastructure demands and environmental preservation, and is now moving toward formal adoption following public feedback and planning commission review.
Read more about the comprehensive plan update here.
Erlanger residents weigh in on now-paused Dixie Highway reconfiguration
A proposed Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plan to reduce a 1.5-mile stretch of Dixie Highway (U.S. 25) between Turfway Road and Commonwealth Avenue from four lanes to two with a center turn lane sparked strong opposition from officials, business owners and residents in Erlanger and Elsmere, prompting public meetings and concern over potential traffic congestion and economic impacts. Erlanger Mayor Jessica Fette described the project as being “forced upon” the cities, while business owners worried about reduced customer access. Although KYTC cited cost-effectiveness and safety benefits similar to Cincinnati’s Glenway Avenue road diet — which saw a significant drop in crashes — critics feared longer commutes and disruption. Hours before a packed Erlanger meeting, KYTC paused the project amid backlash, with officials acknowledging the need for better communication and some residents urging a revisit of a 2005 Dixie Highway Corridor Study for alternative solutions.
Read more about the paused highway reconfiguration here.
Fort Thomas hires HR consultant amid ongoing workplace questions
The Fort Thomas City Council has approved an $18,000 contract with consulting firm One Digital to provide outside HR services amid ongoing workplace and procedural concerns first raised last fall. The move follows questions surrounding City Administrator Matt Kremer’s relationship with the city’s economic development director and a pension payment he submitted without council approval. The consultant will conduct employee surveys and interviews, review policies and recommend updates to city procedures, particularly as current HR oversight rests with Kremer and the mayor. City officials say the contract cost represents a high-end estimate, with heavier work expected upfront, and view the hire as a step toward addressing potential policy violations and modernizing internal practices.
Read more about the HR contract here.
Elsmere formally opposes Dixie Highway road reconfiguration
The Elsmere City Council unanimously voted to oppose the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s proposed “road diet” reconfiguration of Dixie Highway (U.S. 25), which would reduce a four-lane stretch between Turfway Road and Commonwealth Avenue to three lanes with a center turn lane. City officials and residents expressed frustration that the plan had advanced without their knowledge, despite KYTC citing safety data showing accident reductions in similar projects elsewhere. Local leaders, including the police and fire chiefs, argued the change could worsen traffic congestion and hinder emergency response, while council members criticized the proposal as misguided. Florence and Erlanger officials have also voiced concerns, with Florence commissioning an independent traffic review and Erlanger hosting a public meeting to gather input.
Read more about the opposition here.
Fort Wright opposes state control of short-term rental regulations
Fort Wright has joined other Northern Kentucky cities in opposing Senate Bill 112, which would shift regulation of short-term rentals from local governments to the state, with city council authorizing Mayor Dave Hatter to send a letter voicing concerns that the measure would undermine local zoning authority and potentially worsen housing affordability. City leaders, along with the Kenton County Mayors Group and the Kentucky League of Cities, argue the bill could limit communities’ ability to address local housing and infrastructure needs. Fort Wright is also opposing several other state bills, including measures related to backyard chickens, local occupational license fees, standardized property tax bills and the collection of local business taxes, citing broader concerns about preserving local decision-making authority.
Read more about the bill opposition here.
What’s happening this week in NKY government?
Cold Spring City Council meeting: Monday, Feb. 23
The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. at 5694 E. Alexandria Pike.
What you need to know: The council will hear the 2024/2025 audit presentation.
The agenda can be found here.
Crescent Springs City Council meeting: Monday, Feb. 23
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at 739 Buttermilk Pike.
The agenda can be found here.
Park Hills City Council meeting: Monday, Feb. 23
The meeting starts at 1106 Amsterdam Road.
The agenda can be found here.
Newport City Commission meeting: Monday, Feb. 23
The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at 998 Monmouth St.
What you need to know: The commission plans to discuss a funding agreement for $15,000 with Cincy Bike Share “Red Bike.”
The agenda can be found here.
Kenton County Fiscal Court meeting: Tuesday, Feb. 24
The meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. at 1840 Simon Kenton Way in Covington.
What you need to know: The county is considering a PILOT, payment in lieu of taxes, which is a 10-year, 50% property tax abatement agreement for an industrial development in Pioneer Valley Industrial Park (2009 Rolling Hills Drive, Covington.) In return, BuildingMarfoFMA Corp. will construct and operate the facility, create at least 98 full-time jobs, and make reduced payment in lieu of taxes payments to the city, county, and school district.
The agenda can be found here.
Covington Commission meeting: Tuesday, Feb. 24
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at 20 West Pike St.
The agenda can be found here.
Florence City Council meeting: Tuesday, Feb. 24
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at 8100 Ewing Blvd.
The agenda can be found here.
Newport Board of Education meeting: Wednesday, Feb. 20
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at 30 W 8th St.
The agenda can be found here.
Ludlow City Council meeting: Thursday, Feb. 21
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at 51 Elm St.