By Judy Clabes
NKyTribune editor
The City of Erlanger will hold discussions tonight at its caucus meeting on two proposals seeking to reduce the number of city council members. The meeting is at 7 p.m. at the Erlanger City Building.
Two proposals – one for 9 members and one for 7 – received first readings – and were approved — at the council’s October 5 meeting, and further discussions will inform the council on steps forward.
Tyson Hermes
“Twelve is a lot of council members,” said Tyson Hermes, former Erlanger mayor and now a council member. “It just makes it more difficult to get everyone on board.”
Twelve is the maximum allowed by the state for a city the size of Erlanger. But that number is not required.
Council members Diana Niceley and Rebecca Reckers offered different proposals on reducing the council. Niceley’s proposal is for 7 members – this proposal passed 6-6 with the mayor breaking the tie, and Reckers’ proposal is for 9 members which passed with one dissenting vote.
“I am just most ecstatic that we are dealing with a reduction,” said Hermes. “Frankly, I’d like it to be six, but there’s a feeling that it should be an odd number. I’m just glad to see us deal with the issue.”
Both Niceley and Reckers have solid arguments for their positions and are taking their responsibilities to the Erlanger citizens seriously.
Diana Niceley
“Erlanger has the largest council in the county,” Niceley said. “When I was campaigning and walking door-to-door, this was in the top two questions I was asked – Why does Erlanger have so many council members? I feel confident if we reduce the size it will make it easier for us to conduct business.”
She said that the number most residents suggested was 6-7.
Since Niceley was a big vote-getter in the last election, she felt it was her duty to pursue the issue. She likes the odd number because that would mean the mayor would not have to break ties.
This is Niceley’s first term on the council, but her family’s business has been in the city of Erlanger for 25 years. She is manager of Niceley’s Appliance Repair and Heating and Cooling.
Rebecca Reckers was elected to council in 2018. She moved to Erlanger 10 years ago and is an auditor for Discover, located in Chicago. She works from her Erlanger home.
Rebecca Reckers
She, too, knocked on a lot of doors during the campaign and heard plenty about reducing the council.
“We represent our residents,” she said. “I have done extensive background work to determine what would be most appropriate.
“I think nine members is a great steppingstone – and definitely a step in the right direction.”
Hermes says that his analysis of voting patterns indicates most voters actually vote for six people – regardless of how many are on the ballot and that 12 will become council members. He likes the reduction, period, but would prefer the lower number.
The important thing is to determine the number of council members before the filing window for candidates opens on November 3. The next council meeting is November 2 – at which second readings will be heard and voted on.
Also on the table for discussion tonight is the issue of chickens. The first reading of an ordinance allowing chickens was also passed at the Oct. 5 meeting. It allows for six backyard chickens, a first for Erlanger.
See the NKyTribune’s story about chickens in Erlanger.
