The City of Covington officially received its trophy after being named City Government of the Year by the Kentucky League of Cities six months ago. The trophy is an 11 ½ inch obelisk made from black marble.
City officials had delayed the formal presentation from the Kentucky League of Cities so it could take place at the annual reception held to thank the many volunteers who serve on City-appointed boards and commissions.
Covington Mayor Joe Meyer said he wanted those volunteers to be able to share in the excitement of the award because it was a “team effort.”
“To those of you who have raised your hands and agreed to volunteer and serve, we express our deep appreciation,” Meyer said. “This is external validation of the quality of the work that (you and) your City government are doing.”
At a reception, held at the Drees Pavilion in Devou Park, Meyer gave brief remarks recapping the initiatives and progress made in Covington on everything from creating jobs to helping small businesses to a public Wi-Fi project to workforce development.
Then he gave the microphone to J.D. Chaney, executive director/CEO of the League, a member organization founded in 1927 that advocates for and serves some 400 cities.
Chaney called Covington’s accomplishments over the last two years “truly impressive” – especially given the challenges and roadblocks erected by the pandemic — and praised the “spirit of community” that pervades the city’s personality and its public officials’ work.
“It was a very pleasant event,” Mayor Meyer said at Tuesday’s city commissioner’s meeting. “This is a recognition that was based primarily on the city’s economic development performance during the previous year, which was outstanding, but this also is an external validation of the high quality of work that’s being done by our city staff and by our city government.”
