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Volume 14, Issue 7 © 2010 The Community Recorder ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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Council discusses park limits By Jason Brubaker
jbrubaker@nky.com
Living history
Three students at Arnett Elementary were recently honored for the work they did in preparation for a visit that unfortunately did not happen from a relative of Erlanger’s namesake. The city still found a way to honor the students for their effort. SCHOOLS, A6
Farmers’ markets
As the season picks up and early spring crops arrive local farmers’ markets have come into bloom. Read what is going on at markets in Independence, Erlanger and Covington. LIFE, B1
Fire up the grill
Whether it’s ribs, steaks, chicken, fish or just good old fashioned cheeseburgers, things just seem to taste better off of the grill. So with the arrival of summer, we’re looking for your favorite recipes for grilling out. Send us any unique, innovative, creative or just plain delicious ideas, and we’ll publish a few of them in a future issue. Be sure to include all of the ingredients, preparation details and any special instructions. You can send your recipes, along with contact information, to bmains@nky.com. All submissions must be received by May 18. For more information, call 859-578-1062.
To place an ad, call 283-7290.
A proposed ordinance that would prohibit organized teams from conducting practices in Flagship Park near Narrows Road and the Lakemont subdivision in Erlanger has some residents upset, calling it a violation of their constitutional rights. The Erlanger city council held a first reading of the ordinance at their May 4 meeting, stating that the intended usage of the park never included organized teams conducting practices or games. Council member Patty Suedkamp, who was on the committee that helped plan the park, said that the citizens on the committee at that time made it clear that they didn’t want the park to be used for team sports. “We made a promise to those citizens,” she said. “We have 12 parks in the city, and only one of them is being designated this way to not allow team sports.” Suedkamp also read aloud a letter from city engineer Jim Viox, who was on the park planning committee. In that letter Viox reiterated that the playing field was not suitable for team sports, and that allowing teams to practice or play there would require additional parking, more drainage on the field and better playing surfaces, all for additional costs. However, resident Tim Hentz
JASON BRUBAKER/STAFF
A ordinance being considered by the Erlanger city council would ban organized team sports from Flagship Park. According to members of the park planning committee, the playing field, whichs its near the playground area, was not intended for high-intensity uses like organized team sports. argued that by not allowing youth sports teams to practice there, the city would be infringing on their First Amendment rights to “peaceably assemble.” Hentz coaches a girls soccer team, most of whom were at the meeting wearing their uniforms in a show of support. “It’s not just about the game, it’s about teaching our girls respect and teamwork,” he said. “We’re trying to promote exercise and character development, and this ordinance would be stifling all of that.” Hentz also said that a records check revealed several registered
sex offenders who live within a few miles of the park, and pointed out that allowing organized team sports in the park means there would always be adult supervision. “Safety is the biggest concern of any parent,” he said. “By allowing teams to practice there, we ensure that the kids won’t have to worry about anything happening.” Although he’ll only get to vote on the ordinance in the event of a tie, Mayor Tom Rouse even weighed in on the discussion, saying that ignoring the intent of the
park designers and planners would send the wrong message. “Wouldn’t that be telling everyone that whichever side makes the most noise after the fact wins, even if it means going back on our word?” he questioned. “I do think youth sports are a great thing for our kids, but I also recognize the time and thought that went into planning this project, and I don’t know that we want to ignore that.” A second reading, and vote, on the ordinance is expected at the next council meeting, scheduled for June 1 at 7 p.m.
Jail affects county budget’s bottom line By Regan Coomer rcoomer@nky.com
Kenton County passed the first reading of a “flat” budget for 2010-2011 barring one item - the new detention center set for completion later this year. Judge-executive Ralph Drees said the coming fiscal year’s $63 million budget is designed to keep the county’s cash flow healthy while paying the jail’s yearly $2.4 million payment. The county must also work with the jail’s $10 million 2010 operating expenses, which County
Treasurer Jerry Knochelmann said has gone up $900,000 from the year before. However, Knochelmann is hopeful the jail’s operating budget will level off in coming years. “I’m hoping it’s going to stay flat,” he said. “We’ll have to see what happens.” Drees said the next three years will be “critical” to the county’s financial health. “We want to make sure we have enough cash to get us through the next three years,” he said, explaining in 2014 a $1.1 million-a-year bond on the county
garage will be paid off, freeing up funding for the county. “We think we’re all right cash wise,” he said. “But we don’t want to get ourselves behind down the road.” No major purchases will be made in 2010-2011 and no new employees will be hired excepting six new individuals to help run the jail when it opens, Drees said. County employees will get raises at about 1.5 percent in 20102011 based on merit only, Drees said, although the fiscal court hasn’t made a formal decision on that yet.
Property taxes are budgeted at the same rate as last year, but Drees said taxes are likely to go up to a “very minimal amount.” “There’s a good chance it will go up with the additional expenses this year transitioning into a new jail,” he explained. The fiscal court will vote on the tax rate in August or September, Drees said, adding that depending on how the jail’s construction bills come in, the tax might not have to be raised as much. “By that time we’ll have all the bills on the jail and we’ll have a better idea,” he said.
Erlanger approves payroll tax increase By Jason Brubaker jbrubaker@nky.com
The Erlanger city council has approved an increase in their payroll tax rate that is expected to generate approximately $1.4 million in additional revenue. The council voted 8-3 at their May 4 meeting to raise the rate from one percent to 1.5 percent. The increase will go into effect on July 1, the beginning of the next fiscal year. It is the first increase in the city’s payroll tax rate in 17 years. “We know this isn’t a popular decision, especially in an election
year, but it has to be done,” said council member Patty Suedkamp. “We’re in critical need of funds for infrastructure and capital projects, and this is what needs to be done.” Although Mayor Tom Rouse and the council said they had heard little opposition from residents about the increase, several local business owners attended the meeting and urged the council not to approve the increase, fearing it will hurt their employees. “This is too much of an increase at this time, especially in the economy we’re in,” said John Hodge, the owner of Century Construction. “I would rather you look
at a way to reduce services than raise taxes - it’s a tough enough time for our employees already.” However, Suedkamp said the city has been operating on a “bare-bones” budget, and even with cost-cutting measures, they still need to bring in more money to maintain their level of service. She said the city has been relying on grants to help fund several programs in the police and fire departments, and they’ve saved money by consolidating the emergency dispatch system and merging with the Crescent Springs Police Department. She also pointed out that city employees did not receive raises
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last year, and that the current parks director position will soon become a part-time one, in an attempt to save more money. “We’ve always tried to be as frugal as possible,” she said. “I don’t know of anything that hasn’t gone up in the last 17 years, but this is something the city desperately needs.” The extra money generated from the tax will be earmarked into a fund that can be used only for infrastructure and capital expenditures, such as roads or new equipment purchases. The next regularly scheduled council meeting will be Tuesday, June 1, at 7 p.m.