Covington commissioners unanimously approve riverfront Phase 2 preconstruction agreements, easement and appointments

The Covington Board of Commissioners on Jan. 13 unanimously approved a slate of 20 consent orders that included agreements to advance Phase 2 of the Covington Central Riverfront public infrastructure, a right-of-way easement to Duke Energy of Kentucky, and a property transfer connected to the Brent Spence Bridge project.

Commissioner Shannon Smith moved to approve the consent agenda items; Commissioner Tim Downing seconded each motion. Voting yea were Commissioners Tim Acri, Tim Downing, Shannon Smith, James Toebbe and Mayor Ronald L. Washington. The motions carried by unanimous voice vote.

Front‑line approvals included an amendment with KZF Design Inc. for design and engineering work for Phase 2 preconstruction (ORD‑003‑2026) and an agreement with Messer Construction to begin preconstruction work on Phase 2 public infrastructure (ORD‑004‑2026). The commission also approved a 60‑day extension with J.S. Held to continue owner’s agent services related to the riverfront project (ORD‑005‑2026).

The body approved ORD‑002‑2026 authorizing the mayor to execute a right‑of‑way easement to Duke Energy of Kentucky, Inc. for the new City Hall facility, and ORD‑001‑2026, a memorandum of understanding with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to establish funding support connected to the "Bridging the Gap" initiative.

The commission authorized transfer of real property interests identified as Parcel 181 of the Brent Spence Bridge project from the City of Covington to the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Transportation Cabinet, Department of Highways (ORD‑006‑2026).

Several personnel actions were recorded: the commission accepted the resignations of Firefighter Tyler Sipes (effective Jan. 5, 2026), Officer Jason Hartzler (effective Jan. 5, 2026), Officer Mason Smith (effective Jan. 16, 2026), and Bruce Scruggs, Laborer II, Public Works (effective Dec. 13, 2025) via ORD‑007‑2026 through ORD‑010‑2026. It also approved hires for the General Maintenance Division — Landon Webster and Jerad Howard, effective Jan. 14, 2026 (ORD‑011‑2026 and ORD‑012‑2026).

Other items approved included an agreement with HUB International Midwest Limited for employee benefits brokerage and advisory services (ORD‑013‑2026) and funding authorization for nine Neighborhood Grant Program applications for fiscal year 2026 (ORD‑014‑2026). The commission approved a package of board appointments and reappointments, including designating Mayor Washington as the City’s representative to the Planning and Development Services Council with Commissioner Tim Acri as his alternate (ORD‑015‑2026), reappointing Gregory Paeth to the Covington Motor Vehicle Parking Authority (ORD‑016‑2026), reappointing Joe Schamer to the Code Enforcement Hearing Board (ORD‑017‑2026), appointing Anthony Bradford to the Covington Economic Development Authority (ORD‑018‑2026), and appointing Cole Waymeyer and James Schuetz to the Human Rights Commission (ORD‑019‑2026 and ORD‑020‑2026).

For zoning, the commission read an ordinance for first reading (O‑xx‑2026) proposing to amend Chapter 158 of the Covington Code of Ordinances to allow "qualified manufactured homes" as a single‑family detached dwelling type; the item was introduced for first reading and no final vote appears in the minutes.

Near the close of the regular meeting, Commissioner Tim Downing moved and Commissioner Tim Acri seconded a motion to hold a closed session pursuant to KRS 61.810(1)(b) for deliberations on the acquisition or sale of real property by a public agency. That motion passed unanimously. The regular meeting adjourned at 6:23 p.m.; the commission met in closed session from 6:23–6:57 p.m. and adjourned the closed session with no further action taken.

The minutes for the meeting were approved as distributed, and the meeting record was signed and marked approved Jan. 27, 2026.