This week in NKY government meetings, the Newport Planning and Zoning Commission will review PLK Communities’ proposed apartment project at 910 Lowell St.
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?
Covington to vote on financing, incentives for airline food producer
Covington officials are set to approve two incentive agreements next week to support MarfoFMA, a European airline food producer, in redeveloping the former White Castle facility on Rolling Hills Drive into its first U.S. operation. The project is expected to create about 98 jobs—78 locally—with wages around $34–$35 per hour, contributing significant new payroll and tax revenue to the city. The incentives include a 1% payroll tax reimbursement over ten years and at least $37 million in industrial revenue bonds to help finance the project, along with a 50% property tax break through a PILOT agreement. Despite these incentives, the city anticipates substantial long-term financial gains and views the project as a major economic boost, particularly for South Covington.
Read more about the vote here.
Union formally opposes state bills over local control, taxes
The City of Union has formally opposed three state bills—House Bill 276, Senate Bill 237, and House Bill 758—arguing they would erode local control and reduce city authority. HB 276 would prevent local governments from banning residents from keeping up to six backyard chickens, limiting Union’s ability to regulate land use decisions. Meanwhile, SB 237 and HB 758 would change how payroll taxes are distributed by assigning all wages to the location of an employee’s headquarters rather than where work is performed, which Union officials say would divert tax revenue away from the city and hinder its ability to fund local services.
Read more about the state bills Union is opposing here.
Playground, basketball court upgrades planned for Newport park
Newport officials are moving forward with a project to upgrade Clifton Neighborhood Park by replacing its 30-year-old playground equipment and adding new swings, benches, landscaping and basketball court repairs to improve safety and overall quality of life. The nearly $50,000 project, already budgeted by the city, will be supplemented by a $10,000 grant secured through a partnership with the Clifton Neighborhood Association, allowing for additional improvements. City leaders say the upgrades address worn and damaged facilities and aim to better serve local families, with completion expected by this summer.
Read more about the playground updates here.
Newport commits $112K for multi-color lighting on new 4th Street Bridge
Newport has approved its share of funding—$112,500—for new programmable, multi-color lighting on the future 4th Street Bridge connecting Newport and Covington, aiming to create a visually dynamic regional landmark. The new bridge, set to open in fall 2028, will feature customizable lighting for holidays and events, with both cities sharing responsibility for maintenance and operation through joint agreements. Officials say the project will enhance the riverfront’s appeal and serve as a long-term investment in the area’s identity, with additional maintenance and upgrade costs expected over the system’s roughly 20-year lifespan.
Read more about the 4th Street Bridge lighting here.
Independence opposes bill to partially abolish property tax
Independence has passed a resolution opposing House Bill 75, which would eliminate property taxes on primary residences and vehicles, citing concerns over how cities would fund essential services without this key revenue source. City officials, including Mayor Chris Reinersman, warned that property taxes make up a significant portion of local budgets—about $4.5 million of Independence’s $14+ million budget—and their removal could force cuts to services or shifts to other taxes. While supporters of the bill argue it would ease financial burdens on homeowners and propose replacing revenue with consumption-based taxes, local leaders across Northern Kentucky have expressed strong skepticism, calling the proposal financially risky and potentially harmful to smaller cities.
Read more about the Independence opposing the bill here.
What’s happening this week in NKY government?
Cold Spring City Council: Monday, March 23
The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. at 5694 E. Alexandria Pike.
The agenda can be found here.
Crescent Springs City Council: Monday, March 23
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at 739 Buttermilk Pike.
The agenda can be found here.
Park Hills City Council: Monday, March 23
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at 1106 Amsterdam Road.
The agenda can be found here.
Kenton County Fiscal Court meeting: Tuesday, March 24
The meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. at 1840 Simon Kenton Way in Covington.
The agenda can be found here.
Newport Planning and Zoning meeting: Tuesday, March 24
The meeting starts at 5 p.m. at 998 Monmouth St.
What you need to know: The planning and zoning commission will discuss the development plan review for an apartment community by PLK Communities at 910 Lowell St. The Newport Commission passed the request for an Industrial Revenue Bond, also known as an IRB, 4-1, with Newport Commissioner Ken Rechtin voting no at a meeting on April 7, 2025. The site along Route 9 is often called the “old steel mill site,” which has been mostly vacant since 1981.
Read more about that project here.
The agenda can be found here.
Covington Commission meeting: Tuesday, March 24
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at 20 West Pike St.
The agenda can be found here.
Florence City Council meeting: Tuesday, March 24
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at 8100 Ewing Blvd.
The agenda can be found here.
Newport Board of Education meeting: Wednesday, March 25
The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at 30 W. 8th St.
The agenda can be found here.