By Ryan Clark
NKyTribune reporter
Covington Commissioners heard the first reading of the city’s upcoming budget at their regularly scheduled legislative meeting Tuesday night.
The $97,295,979 budget — with nearly $53 million in the general fund — came with multiple amendments.
First, the commission had to take into account and approve a budget for their newly-created Covington Motor Vehicle Parking Authority. As City Manager David Johnston (who also heads the Parking Authority) explained, the Authority has budgeted $1,804,000 for the upcoming fiscal year.
However, he made sure to point out that because they’d never done this before, “this is a good guestimate,” adding it may need to be adapted along the way.
Secondly, Johnston explained that officials want to suspend the city’s Fiscal Stability Ordinance for one year so they can determine whether or not it is a financial “best practice” for them.
As officials described Tuesday, the ordinance was created in 2015 with the idea in mind that if Covington reaped any unexpected revenues they would be set aside for certain projects. But Mohammed Owusu, the city’s new finance director, said the ordinance “shackled” the city, and called for the one-year suspension.
“We have the opportunity to capitalize on our growth, release the shackles, and reallocate (funds) for other things,” Commissioner Tim Downing said.
Commissioner Bill Wells was not convinced, saying the ordinance had been praised for its use in the past.
Johnston explained that the city is having no problems contributing to its rainy-day funds, its savings, or paying off its debt. He also made the point that they would not be making a final decision on the ordinance, merely suspending it for one year.
“I inherited an organization under stress,” Johnston explained. He went on to say that the city had to invest in new positions to help provide for its citizens, which they’ve done and that this would just be a continuation of that thinking.
“We need to reinvest in our city and our residents,” he said.
The amendments were approved 4-1, with Wells voting against.
Commissioners will have a special meeting to hear a second reading of the budget at 5:15 p.m., Thursday at City Hall.
GATEWAY STAGE I PLAN MAY BE IN LIMBO FOR NOW
Commissioners heard the first reading of the ordinance to support the Stage I Plan of a proposed residential development at the Gateway site.
But two conditions, which take place in Covington and Park Hills, may hold up the works.
The plan, which involves the building of 82 single-family homes on a hillside overlooking the city, centers around a 27.7-acre property that served as the former Hilltop Campus of Gateway Community & Technical College — on the west side of West Pike Street as it becomes Dixie Highway.
Most of the land — 20.2 acres — is in Covington, with the rest in Park Hills.
Residents have expressed concern with a proposed entranceway to the development off of Dixie Highway, saying it would increase congestion. Mayor Joseph U. Meyer agreed, and has said as much, suggesting the development should move on without the entranceway.
The solution? The city of Park Hills will have to reopen their Old State Road, which has been closed. Last week, Covington Commissioners decided to accept the plan with the conditions.
Tuesday, Commissioner Jordan Huizenga asked if there were any updates on those conditions.
Johnston said he’d been in contact with Park Hills Mayor Matthew A. Mattone. “They do want to meet with us,” Johnston said. But due to vacations, he said Park Hills officials could not meet before the planning deadline of July 5.
Instead, one option may be for the developer to ask for a 30-day extension so the two cities could discuss their options.
“I think we’re trying to be good, effective neighbors,” Johnston said.
Also Tuesday:
- Meaghan Colville, of Kentucky Avenue, reported to commissioners that she and other residents had conducted a parking survey of 100 in the Mutter Gottes neighborhood and MainStrasse. Colville said 91 residents responded. She said 79 percent are in favor of a residential parking plan, which the city commission said they would make a priority for the city’s parking authority. “Residents feel very strongly about getting a parking plan together,” she said, before adding that she would provide the survey to all members of the commission.
- Commissioners amended the city’s contract with Walker Consultants for a parking study. For an added cost of $5,000, the consultants will be able to add in the statistics of the John R. Green project, which will include a three-level, 295-space parking garage – at least 92 of which will be available for public use. Walker’s finished report should be ready by the end of July.
- Commissioners approved new guidelines for Small Businesses in the 2018-2019 fiscal year, where boundaries will no longer be enforced, so all Covington businesses can now apply. Applicants will now have to meet sets of goals to continue to receive funding, and the city has budgeted $150,000 to provide about 25 rent subsidy or façade improvement incentives for city businesses.
- Commissioners approved an order to renew a contract with Roeding Insurance Group for brokerage services associated with property insurance and worker’s compensation insurance at an annual cost of $37,000, payable from the general fund.
- Commissioners agreed to a contract with Riegler Blacktop, Inc., for the Johnson Street and Rivercenter Boulevard reconstruction project, for $874,374, payable from SNK grant funds and CDBG.
- Commissioners agreed to a contract with the Behringer-Crawford Museum Board of Trustees, Inc., for services related to the operation of the Devou Park Museum, in an amount of $10,000, payable from the general fund.
- Michael Bartlett was appointed to city solicitor, Rick Davis was promoted to director of Public Works, Ross Patten was promoted to Economic Development Project Manager and David Lillich was hired as a police officer. Also, Gatlin Voelker, PLLC, was hired for legal work with the city at an annual fee of $75,000 for 35 hours per week, Johnston said.
- Jose Vasquez proposed an idea to commissioners, asking for support to start a Covington Community Council. Mayor Meyer welcomed the opportunity to talk to him about the idea further.
- Commissioners will hold a special meeting at 5:15 p.m., Thursday at City Hall to hear a second reading of the budget, as well as a second reading of the proposed zone change for the Gateway development.
The next regularly scheduled Covington Commission meeting will be a caucus meeting held at 6 p.m., July 10, at the Covington City Hall at 20 West Pike St. (There will be no meeting for the week of July 4).
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