By Ryan Clark
NKyTribune reporter
Covington City Commissioners were pleased — and a little puzzled — as they heard project updates from the state Transportation Cabinet at their regularly scheduled caucus meeting Tuesday night.
Among the updates they heard from Mike Bezold, acting right of way supervisor for District 6, were:
– Reconstruction of Hands Pike: Bezold noted the reconstruction and realignment of Hands Pike (KY 1501) from Ky 18 to Crystal Lake Drive, has been in the planning stages for several years. He said the project is in the right of way acquisition phase, and construction is scheduled to begin in a year.
First, the properties must be appraised, which they are doing now, Bezold said. He added there may be one or two relocations, which could take up to eight months to manage. Construction would begin next September.
“We’re cautiously optimistic,” on the timetable, he said.
Commissioner Tim Downing wondered if walking paths were included in the project, but Bezold explained that the city would have to apply for funding for that.
– 11th Street Bridge construction: Bezold explained that while construction was ready to begin on the project and bids were accepted last month, the best proposal still came in over budget — about half a million dollars over budget.
The bids were rejected by the state and now, with 1,000 bridges across Kentucky that need rehabilitation or replacement, Bezold said there is no way to know right now what Frankfort officials will want to do.
“What are your options?” Mayor Joseph U. Meyer asked.
“I don’t know,” Bezold said, stating that he would meet with state officials as early as Wednesday. And while the bridge wasn’t on the schedule to discuss, he implied he would be talking about it soon.
– 15th Street Bridge construction: This project has stalled because of the “historic impacts” of the structure and the community, Bezold explained.
So instead, Bezold said they have come up with a rehabilitation option, which they are currently presenting to the historic preservation office. They will then take it to the railroad for permission to rehab.
“That would make all of us very happy,” Mayor Meyer said.
Commission will hear map amendment to approve Gateway development plan
After deciding this summer to support the Gateway Hilltop Campus site development — so long as certain conditions were met — commissioners held a recent public hearing and afterward, all agreed the project should move forward.
But one of the conditions required help from the City of Park Hills, as Covington commissioners asked them to reopen their Old State Road.
Park Hills has agreed, but only to a certain extent. The city will reopen the road, but only for emergency and government vehicles, which Covington agreed was enough.
Now, in a formality, Covington must update the city’s records to indicate that Park Hills agreed to reopen the road — with the caveat that it will only be for government/emergency vehicles.
Next week, commissioners will hear a first reading to change the ordinance.
During the summer, city commissioners agreed to support the Stage I Plan of the proposed residential development at the former Gateway Community and Technical College site.
The plan 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.
Results of Downtown Streetscape and Design Standards discussed
Also Tuesday, the Covington Business Council presented the results and recommendations of the Downtown Streetscape and Public Realm Design Standards.
In March, the Commission approved the Covington Business Council, MeetNKY and Southbank Partners to create design standards for the downtown core area, Roebling Point and Mainstrasse Village. The Commission also appointed key staff to serve on the advisory committee to establish the standards.
The Business Council contracted with local design firm MKSK to gather input from staff, developers, businesses and residents in order to develop the standards.
Tuesday, they presented their standards to the Commission.
Goals included:
- Establish minimum standards for improvements within the public realm.
- Promote economic development and an improved quality of life in Covington.
- Involve key stakeholder and the public in identifying priorities.
- Create stronger linkages and connectivity between various districts in Covington and the Cincinnati Riverfront.
- Establish a proactive approach to adopting changing technology and emerging trends in transportation and smart cities.
Recommendations for certain areas included:
- Repairing of sidewalks for ADA compliance
- Curb-less streets
- More trees
- Kiosks to inform the public where they are
- More crosswalks
- Better pedestrian lighting
City officials said they would discuss the recommendations further before deciding whether to move forward with an official adoption.
City will try to get better deal for radios
Commissioners agreed to call for a bid for public safety radio system units.
Next year, Boone, Campbell, and Kenton Counties will be deploying a 700/800 MHz P25 Phase 2 simulcast radio communications system, which, according to city documents, “will provide two-way public safety radio communication to the three counties. Each public safety agency within the area must update its subscriber units to radios that are compatible with the system.”
The Northern Kentucky Area Development District previously published a Request for Pricing for the radios and received several proposals.
Covington officials said Tuesday night they will try to do the same thing to get an even better deal.
The city’s total budget for the units is $1.3 million. The invitation of bid will appear on the consent agenda next week.
The next regularly scheduled Covington Commission meeting will be a legislative meeting held at 6 p.m., Oct. 9, at the Covington City Hall at 20 West Pike St.
Contact the Northern Kentucky Tribune at news@nkytrib.com
