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Kenton County judge‑executive outlines dispatch, jail, redevelopment and education projects that affect Erlanger
Summary
During the May 6 Erlanger council meeting, Kenton County Judge‑Executive updated the council on dispatch operations, detention center improvements, a SparkHouse entrepreneurship hub, a $5 million community redevelopment fund, and progress on a UK School of Medicine campus in Covington.
Kenton County Judge‑Executive gave the Erlanger City Council an update on May 6 about county programs and projects that county officials said affect Erlanger, including dispatch operations, detention center management, regional entrepreneurship space, a community redevelopment fund, and progress on a UK School of Medicine campus in Covington.
Judge‑Executive said county dispatch — led by Ashley Hawkes and represented on the dispatch board by Chief Raider — provides mobile data terminals and internet service for patrol laptops as part of a countywide budgeted program, reducing costs for cities. He said Erlanger ranks about third in the county for dispatch calls and arresting‑agency activity.
On detention, Judge‑Executive cited jailer Mark Fields’s work to manage the facility’s population and costs and to coordinate with judges and arresting agencies on treatment and alternatives for inmates. He said medical needs of inmates have increased costs and that county officials are focused on connecting people to treatment rather than only extending detention.
Judge‑Executive also described a regional entrepreneurship hub, SparkHouse in Covington, as a roughly $17 million asset that will be more than 50% leased at opening and intends to support startups, small businesses and funders. He said the project will be debt‑free when it opens and house organizations including e‑Gateway and other funders.
On redevelopment, he said the county has pursued a roughly $5 million fund, in partnership with the state, aimed at turning derelict properties into redevelopment opportunities to raise property values and generate jobs and payroll. He described the fund as a community‑focused investment to build resident wealth and business activity.
The judge‑executive also noted a major health and education project: a UK School of Medicine campus and a Chase College of Law presence planned for Covington. He said the state allocated $125 million to that effort and that JAS Held has been engaged as the owner’s representative; county staff were working toward site selection and forthcoming bidding steps.
On revenue collection and administration, he said county efforts to improve payroll and occupational tax collection produced about 21,000 returns and roughly $12 million for Erlanger in the past year, and cited new online filing tools and payroll import systems intended to simplify reporting for small businesses and payroll companies.
Judge‑Executive encouraged council members and residents to contact county staff with questions, and thanked local partners and city staff for collaboration. The remarks were delivered as part of the mayor’s report and were presented for information; no formal council action followed.
