Correction: A previous version of this story reported that Ken Rechtin had been appointed to the Fort Thomas Renaissance Board. Mayor Brown has appointed Kim Rechtin to Renaissance Board, and this story has been updated to correct that error.
The Fort Thomas Police Department delivered its annual report to city council Monday night, and council discussed the water treatment plant on S. Fort Thomas Ave., the VA homes in Tower Park, and a possible, new cell tower in town.
FTPD 2013 Annual Report
Upon hearing Police Chief Mike Daly conclude his annual report to council, member Jay Fossett pointed out that, according to the numbers, crime in Fort Thomas is the lowest it has been in the last eight years.
“That reflects on our patrol and investigation teams,” Daly acknowledged, “They work well together.”
Chief Daly’s report, which will be available online in coming days, summarized for the council the various training courses taken, accreditations earned, classes offered, trends identified, and feedback gathered over the previous year. Daly made sure to praise his patrol teams for a “great job balancing traffic charges with written warnings,” and the report offers a ten-year breakdown of traffic charges and accidents in the city.
With these successes, Daly also commented on work still to be done. Burglaries, car break-ins, and theft were the most common crimes reported and investigated in 2013, Daly said. “A lot of these crimes are being fueled by drug addiction,” he said, “most specifically the heroin epidemic in the region.”
The annual report also provides a breakdown of the types of cases investigated by the FTPD over the last eight years.
“No community is immune to crime,” said council member Tom Lampe. “It’s important to see how our community responds to it. When you see it take care of in the expeditious manner our department takes care of it, you have to be proud.”
The FTPD 2013 Annual Report will be available to review on the city’s website in coming days. Stay tuned to FTM for a detailed report.
S. Ft. Thomas Reservoir
Military Parkway resident Patricia Orth addressed council Monday night, urging them to begin whatever steps necessary to enact the reopening of the walking pathways that surround the Northern Kentucky Water District (NKWD) treatment facility reservoirs on S. Ft. Thomas Ave. Council member Ken Bowman made a similar motion at a council meeting earlier this year.
City Administrator Don Martin explained that the city has had numerous discussions with NKWD and, while it is a relatively new development that NKWD is willing to discuss the matter, their position on the issue has not changed.
Furthermore, Martin explained that NKWD is currently planning a redundancy pipeline project that would prohibit pathway usage for at least 12-15 months, regardless of any general change in public access to the paths.
Martin also reminded residents and council that, if the walking paths were reopened, the city would be obliged to assume all liability for any damages incurred on the facility’s supply of water. Martin has committed, however, to keeping the discussion open with NKWD for at least the next year, in the hopes of finding a solution.
VA Homes
More of the same, reports Mr. Martin of the VA homes in Tower Park. The city is currently waiting for the Department of Veteran’s Affairs in Washington, DC to approve its request to purchase the properties from the federal government. “I was expecting to hear from them today, but didn’t,” he said Monday night. “I expect to hear any day.”
New AT&T Cell Tower
Mayor Mary Brown and Mr. Martin reported to council that AT&T, the telecommunications giant, has requested to lease the property located at what would be 2400 N. Fort Thomas Ave. to erect a new cellular tower. The city owns this property.
AT&T is looking to replace their current cellular facility, which is attached to the water tower off Rossford Ave., which the Northern Kentucky Water District has plans to replace. The property on Rossford cannot be used due to a conservancy easement on the property.
Mr. Martin made mention of the possibility that AT&T might propose the use of a “stealth tower,” that is, a cellular facility that does not look like a traditional cell tower, but instead resembles a flag pole or, as is the case of the current facility, a water tower.
Council voted to send the issue to the Law, Labor, and License Committee for review.
Renaissance Board
Via executive order Monday night, Kim Rechtin and Brian Sand have been appointed to the Fort Thomas Renaissance Board.
Fort Thomas Fire Department Annual Report
Chief Mark Bailey gave his annual fire report. FTM will provide a more detailed report of that in the coming week.
Breed Specific Legislation
A full council chambers was there to give their support to repealing and replacing the current ordinance on breed specific legislation as it pertains to certain breeds of dogs. Eight different residents spoke about the issue, all in favor of amending the ordinance, which was written in 1988. There will be more on this issue in the coming week as well.