ALEXANDRIA
RECORDER
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THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012
By Amanda Joering Alley ajoering@nky.com
ALEXANDRIA — The exploration into a merger of the Campbell County and Alexandria police departments has ended. Alexandria Mayor Bill Rachford received a letter Thursday, May 17, from Campbell County Judge-executive Steve Pendery, ending the talks of a potential merger. In the letter, Pendery thanks the Alexandria officials for being open to the discussions and said he hopes to explore other opportunities with the city in the future. “However, as has become apparant in our most recent discussions with our consultants for this effort, there are issues internal to the Campbell County Police Department that ideally should be resolved before any further exploration regarding police services proceeds,” Pendery said. “I hasten to point out for the record that these issues do not impede the delivery of police services to county citizens and businesses, nor do they involve any improprieties.” The issues, Pendrey said, are management related and came up during confidential interviews the consultants held with officers that are not being disclosed to the public.
Pendrey said no action has been taken yet to address the issues, but that he feels can be successfully and fairly quickly addressed internally. Rachford said he always knew not merging was one of the possibilities and thinks the merger was something worth looking at regardless. “I feel good that we went through this a found out some more information,” Rachford said. Since the county is ending the merger talks, Pendrey said in the letter that Alexandria will not be held responsible for any of the costs associated with the consultant work commissioned for the merger exploration. Rachford said as part of the merger discussion, a survey was held asking 477 citizens about their feelings about current police service. Of that number, 71 percent said they are satisfied with the current police service and 9.3 percent said they were dissatisfied, which Rachford said reflects well on the police departments. “The thrust behind all of this was to improve services, it wasn’t about the budget,” Rachford said. Rachford said there is a possibility that, several years down the road, the city and county may look into a possible merger again. Since the merger is no longer being discussed, Rachford said the city will no longer be holding its town hall meetings to discuss the merger with citizens.
A DAY AT THE PARK
Alexandria resident Danica Wessling enjoys a day playing in the sun at the Alexandria Community Park Wednesday, May 16. AMANDA JOERING ALLEY/COMMUNITY R
MORE THAN SUBS B1
THOMPSON HOUSE OPENS
The North Fort Thomas Ave. Subway has a history that goes beyond just grabbing a bite to eat.
Newport’s historic mansion is again playing hosting music acts. Full story, A2
Monday, May 28, is Memorial Day.
BECAUSE COMMUNITY MATTERS
Police merger talks come to sudden end Pendery pulls plug on potential consolidation
HONORING SERVICE
Alexa Schaufler, 11, and Angelina Wagner, 8, both of Alexandria, toss a handfuls of candy to parade watchers from a trailer in the parade just ahead of a Boy Scouts of America Troop bearing a U.S. flag during the annual Campbell County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3205 Memorial Day parade in Alexandria Sunday, May 29, 2011. FILE
Memorial Day events in Campbell County Cities, organizations honor those who serve
T
his Memorial Day, several cities and local organizations will be celebrating Memorial Day in a variety of ways. Here is a list of Memorial Day events happening throughout the county: » Southgate Memorial Day Parade - 10 a.m. Monday, May 28, starting at Electric Avenue, then going left on Blatt, right on Evergreen, right on Walnut, left on Maple, right on Center, right on Walnut, right on Electric then stopping at Memorial Park, where the VFW will hold a ceremony. The event also includes music by the Southgate School band and food and drinks. » Camp Springs Memorial
Day Parade - 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 28, starting at St. John Lutheran Church on Lower Tug Fork Road. Memorial services will be held at 11:30 a.m. at the Camp Spring Fire House, followed by a reception. » Highland Heights Memorial Day Ceremony - 8:30 a.m. Monday, May 28 at the city building, 176 Johns Hill Road. » Bellevue-Dayton Memorial Day Parade - 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 28, starting at the Veterans Monument in Dayton and ending at the Bellevue Vets. » Alexandria VWF Memorial Day Parade - 2 p.m. Sunday, May 27 starting at Campbell County Middle School, then going down Washington, turning
right on Main and ending at the VFW post off US 27. A memorial service will follow, including speakers and a 21 gun salute. » Newport Memorial Day Parade - 9 a.m. Monday, May 28 starting at the Campbell County Courthouse, then going south on York Street, East on Sixth Street, South on Monmouth Street and ending at the city building on Tenth Street. A ceremony honoring veterans will be held after the parade, followed by a continental breakfast. » Crestview Memorial Day Parade - 9 a.m. Monday, May 28 starting at Cline Elementary School, circling through the city and ending at the corner of Uhl Road and Dodsworth Lane.
William Chandler, Tom Ferguson , both Army veterans of Vietnam and Al Sauerbeck an Army veteran of World War II wave to the crowds along Sixth Avenue Dayton, as they ride in the 77th Dayton-Bellevue Memorial Day Parade. FILE
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