By Ryan Clark
NKyTribune reporter
After listening to a public hearing last week and further discussing the pros and cons Tuesday night, city commissioners have agreed to support the Stage I Plan of a proposed residential development at a former Gateway Community and Technical College site.
But there are two conditions, which involve streets in two cities.
More than three dozen residents and leaders showed up last week to hear updates on the plan, which involves the possible building of 82 single-family homes on a hillside overlooking the city. The 27.7-acre property is the site of 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.
Those in attendance that night seemed to have similar concerns, which caused the commissioners to issue their two conditions.
Many residents expressed concern with a proposed entranceway to the development off of Dixie Highway, saying it would increase congestion. Mayor Joseph U. Meyer agreed, and said as much last week.
The solution? The city of Park Hills will have to reopen their Old State Road, which has been closed.
Flash back to April 5, when the Kenton County Planning Commission approved the plan in a public hearing — contingent upon both cities agreeing to it.
Interim City Solicitor Michael Bartlett explained that Covington commissioners could do one of four things: They could reject the plan, they could accept it, they could accept it with conditions, or they could do nothing. If they did nothing, however, they would then have to accept the ruling of the planning commission as law.
Commissioners decided to accept the plan with conditions.
“Does that satisfy everybody at the table?” Meyer asked.
After hearing no further discussion, the commission slated the topic to be added to their agenda as the first reading of an ordinance at their next legislative meeting June 26.
CITY OFFICIALS TO BE PROMOTED, LAW FIRM HIRED
City Manager David Johnston asked commissioners Tuesday to promote Michael Bartlett by removing the interim tag from his title.
“We did a recruitment effort and we’re very comfortable” with Bartlett in the position, he said.
Similarly, Johnston asked that Interim Public Works Director Rick Davis also be promoted to director, saying he served in the role “extremely well.”
“He’s worked to understand all the workings of the department,” Johnston said.
Unfortunately, the promotion of Bartlett leaves a hole on the legal side of things for the city, Johnston said. He explained that the other lawyers employed by the city probably do not have enough experience to take over Bartlett’s role.
Instead, Johnston proposed the idea of hiring Gatlin Voelker, PLLC, a firm who represents other local city entities. The firm will charge an annual fee of $75,000 for 35 hours per week, Johnston said, which should save the city about $40,000 in benefits.
The commission agreed to put all three items on their consent agenda for next week.
JUNE 25 IS LAST DAY TO COMMENT ON CDBG, HOME FUNDS
City residents have until June 25 to study and comment on a plan for how officials will use $3.6 million in federal funding earmarked to improve the lives of low to moderate-income area families.
Coming from the Community Development Block Grant program and the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, the $3.6 million will be utilized in Covington, Ludlow, Newport, Bellevue, and Dayton, which make up the Northern Kentucky HOME Consortium.
Residents can look at the plan in its entirety on the Covington city website at: https://www.covingtonky.gov/forms-documents/view/cdbg-home-annual-action-plan-2018-19 and can comment by email at jwallace@covingtonky.gov.
Also Tuesday:
- Commissioners reviewed the city’s funds, other than General Funds, as well as capital projects, as the fiscal year nears its end. They will keep reviewing the funding and the new budget over the next week, Meyer said.
- Commissioners heard 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. The proposal is on the consent agenda for next week.
- Commissioners agreed to move forward with the hiring of a Risk Manager and a part-time Code Enforcement Inspector.
- Commissioners heard a proposal to amend 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. The project 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, Johnston said.
The next Covington Commission meeting will be a legislative meeting held at 6 p.m., June 26, at the Covington City Hall at 20 West Pike St.
Contact the Northern Kentucky Tribune at news@nkytrib.com
