Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Covington commissioners approve riverfront gas main, hires, equipment and design contracts in unanimous vote
Summary
At its Dec. 2 meeting the Covington Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a package of orders authorizing a Duke Energy gas main through the Central Riverfront, multiple personnel hires and equipment purchases, an interlocal agreement with Southbank Partners, and planning work for new City Hall signage.
The Board of Commissioners of the City of Covington met in regular session on Dec. 2, 2025, and approved a set of orders that advance utility, personnel and capital‑project work across the city. The board voted unanimously on each item, with votes recorded in the minutes as Yea: Acri, Downing, Smith, Toebbe and Washington and No: none.
The most consequential approval was Commissioners' Order No. ORD‑307‑2025, which authorizes the mayor to execute a commercial project agreement with Duke Energy Kentucky, Inc. to install a Duke Energy gas main through the Covington Central Riverfront. The title of the order was read and the motion to approve was made by Commissioner Tim Downing and seconded by Commissioner Shannon Smith; the board approved the order by voice vote.
The meeting also approved two police hires — Keegan Flaherty and Tristan Parsons — under ORD‑308‑2025 and ORD‑309‑2025, each listed as effective Dec. 7, 2025. The board approved a hire in Public Works, ORD‑310‑2025, adding Steven Gripshover as Mechanic I effective Dec. 3, 2025. Reappointments and committee actions included ORD‑314‑2025, which reappointed Matthew Roetting to the Audit Committee for a three‑year term effective Nov. 13, 2025 and expiring Nov. 12, 2028.
On procurement and intergovernmental cooperation, the board approved ORD‑311‑2025, authorizing an interlocal agreement with Southbank Partners to pursue shared strategic goals, and ORD‑313‑2025, authorizing purchase of a 2025 FP5 flameless all‑in‑one pothole patcher from Bergkamp. Commissioners also approved ORD‑312‑2025 to submit a text amendment application to the Kenton County Planning Commission.
Commissioners' Order No. ORD‑315‑2025 authorized the mayor to execute an agreement with Madison Design Group for planning and design of signage, wayfinding and environmental graphics for the new City Hall; that item was approved by roll call vote. Across the consent and new business items, motions were typically made by Commissioner Tim Downing and seconded by Commissioner Shannon Smith, with the occasional second by Commissioner Tim Acri as recorded.
The approvals are recorded in the minutes as procedural actions with no further substantive debate in the transcript excerpt. The board adjourned the regular meeting at 6:17 p.m. and then entered a closed session; the closed session adjourned at 6:53 p.m. with no further action recorded.
Votes at a glance ORD‑307‑2025 (Duke Energy commercial project agreement): Approved, voice vote (Acri, Downing, Smith, Toebbe, Washington) ORD‑308‑2025 (Hire: Keegan Flaherty, police officer, effective Dec. 7, 2025): Approved, voice vote ORD‑309‑2025 (Hire: Tristan Parsons, police officer, effective Dec. 7, 2025): Approved, voice vote ORD‑310‑2025 (Hire: Steven Gripshover, Mechanic I, effective Dec. 3, 2025): Approved, voice vote ORD‑311‑2025 (Interlocal agreement with Southbank Partners): Approved, voice vote ORD‑312‑2025 (Submit text amendment application to Kenton County Planning Commission): Approved, voice vote ORD‑313‑2025 (Purchase: 2025 FP5 pothole patcher from Bergkamp): Approved, voice vote ORD‑314‑2025 (Reappointment: Matthew Roetting to Audit Committee through Nov. 12, 2028): Approved, voice vote ORD‑315‑2025 (Agreement with Madison Design Group for new City Hall signage): Approved, roll call vote (Acri, Downing, Smith, Toebbe, Washington)
Why it matters: The Duke Energy agreement affects utility infrastructure in the Central Riverfront area and the Madison Design Group contract begins design work for new City Hall wayfinding, both items that shape near‑term capital projects. The personnel actions fill public‑safety and public‑works vacancies, and the purchase of equipment is intended to support pothole repair operations. The minutes do not record substantive debate or public input on most items; they record procedural motions and unanimous approvals. The board signed the minutes for the meeting with an approval date of Dec. 16, 2025.
