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Covington commissioners approve AI policy, equipment purchases, personnel actions and historic-preservation grant in unanimous vote
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Summary
The Covington Board of Commissioners approved a package of orders Oct. 28, 2025 — including a citywide AI policy, purchases of police and public-works equipment, personnel moves and a Department of the Interior grant to rehabilitate the Frank Duveneck House — all by unanimous vote.
The Covington Board of Commissioners on Oct. 28, 2025, approved a package of commissioners’ orders covering administrative policy, equipment procurement, personnel changes and a federal historic-preservation grant, voting unanimously on each item.
Most orders were considered on the consent agenda and passed on motions by Commissioner Tim Acri, seconded by Commissioner Tim Downing, with all five members (Acri, Downing, Shannon Smith, James Toebbe and Mayor Ronald L. Washington) recorded as voting yea on those items. Commissioner Shannon Smith and Commissioner James Toebbe moved and seconded the single nonconsent consent-motion listed in the record for ORD-290 (a memorandum of understanding on industrial revenue bond collaboration); it also passed unanimously.
Key approved items included: the adoption of an electronic/digital format and digital-signature policy for legislative documents effective Jan. 1, 2026 (ORD-276-2025); purchase of 60 computers for the Covington Police Department from SHI-Sourcewell (ORD-277-2025); adoption of the City of Covington Artificial Intelligence policy (ORD-278-2025); authorization for a legal-services agreement for foreclosure actions (ORD-279-2025); acceptance of the resignation of Police Officer Lucas Mann (ORD-280-2025) and approval to hire Robert Fain as a contract officer pursuant to KRS 95.022, effective Nov. 2, 2025 (ORD-281-2025).
Public works equipment purchases approved included multiple vehicle procurements and upfits: one 2026 Ford F350 and its upfit (ORD-282-2025 and ORD-283-2025), two 2026 Ford F550 cab and chassis and their upfits (ORD-284-2025 and ORD-285-2025) and a 2026 Freightliner M2-106 Plus and upfit (ORD-286-2025 and ORD-287-2025). The record lists Fuller Ford, Fyda Freightliner Western Star and K E Rose Company as vendors; the minutes do not state contract amounts.
Personnel and staffing items approved included promotion of Brian Watts to Technician III in Parks and Facilities effective Oct. 29, 2025 (ORD-288-2025). The commission also accepted a grant agreement with the U.S. Department of the Interior for rehabilitation of the Frank Duveneck House and Studio and authorized the mayor to execute grant documents (ORD-289-2025).
Procedural note: the board moved into a closed session after the regular meeting under KRS 61.810(1)(b) (deliberations on the future acquisition or sale of real property) and KRS 61.810(1)(f) (discussions that might lead to appointment, discipline or dismissal of an individual). The regular meeting adjourned at 6:53 p.m.; the closed session adjourned at 8:22 p.m. with no further action recorded in the public minutes.
The minutes attribute the reading of titles to City Clerk Susan Ellis and record motions and seconders for each approved order; roll-call votes were used for the Transportation Improvement District ordinance (O-16-2025) while voice votes are recorded for the consent-agenda items.