During a recent Newport City Commission meeting, community members voiced their concerns and requests, highlighting local issues and initiatives. Robert Yoder, a resident, made a heartfelt appeal to rename a section of John Street as \"Fromeys Way\" in honor of Tom Fromey, a former city employee, fulfilling a promise made 15 years ago. Yoder urged the city to expedite the process of erecting the sign.
Max Long, another Newport resident, raised several points regarding city safety and infrastructure. He expressed concerns about the city's purchase of two Tesla vehicles for police use, urging the commission to ensure proper research is conducted to avoid unexpected costs related to retrofitting and charging infrastructure. Long also provided an update on the delayed redesign of the 11th Street intersection, emphasizing the need for collaboration between Newport and Covington officials to address the ongoing delays that have persisted for over two years since a tragic accident.
Long further highlighted the pressing issue of intersection safety in Newport, citing multiple locations where he has witnessed near-misses and unsafe conditions. He called for a thorough review of accident reports and traffic engineering practices, noting the limitations imposed by state laws on the use of red light cameras as a potential solution.
In a lighter moment, Josh Tunning announced a community holiday party scheduled for the following evening, encouraging residents to come together for a potluck-style gathering aimed at fostering neighborhood connections.
The meeting concluded with the approval of minutes from previous sessions and the authorization for the city manager to proceed with the purchase of the two Tesla Model 3 electric vehicles for the police department, marking a step towards modernizing the city's fleet.