Florence City Council September 15

Present: Councilmembers Wingo, Chambers, Wynn, Whalen, and Cable. Councilman Schneider was not present for the meeting. Caucus meeting. Quorum present. Mayor Julie Metzger-Aubuchon presided. Video.

1. Oath of Office — Police Department

Douglas Bosworth was sworn in as a Florence police officer. Mr. Bosworth is 32 years of age, a resident of Cincinnati, Ohio, and a graduate of Indian Hill High School. He holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business from Montana State University. He most recently worked as a supply-chain specialist at PFL Tech. He has begun the online portion of the police academy and will report to the Department of Criminal Justice Training in Richmond, Kentucky, for 18 weeks of basic training. Family members present included fiancée Alicia, parents Doug and Betty, and other relatives.

2. Proclamation — Constitution Week

Members of the District 5 Boone County Chapter, Kentucky Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, were recognized: Peggy Kennedy, Lynn Denny, and Bridget Striker. The chapter is named in honor of Daniel Boone. Ms. Striker described the organization as a service and leadership body focused on patriotism, historic preservation, education, and community. The chapter invited the public to Bells Across America on Thursday at 4 p.m. at the historic courthouse in Burlington.

The mayor read a proclamation declaring September 17–23, 2026, Constitution Week in the City of Florence, marking the 239th anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution on September 17, 1787.

3. Discussion — Updated Drinking Water Rules and Regulations

Public Services Director Eric Hall presented targeted revisions to the drinking-water regulations last comprehensively updated in 2023 (the first revision since 1983).

Principal points

• Meters used for City billing must be purchased from the City.
• Sprinkler-pit installations require City inspection and approval before service.
• Terminology was standardized; e.g., “service branch” changed to “service line.”
• Responsibility for service lines is clarified when a meter is inside a building or outside a City easement.
• A formal fire hydrant flow-testing policy is established. Staff currently perform tests on request. A new $350 fee would apply to each new test requested after an existing data set is available; subsequent users of the same data would receive it at no charge.
• Water measured through a sewer-deduct meter may not enter the sanitary sewer system; e.g., filling a swimming pool.
• A habitual-violator provision is added. Customers or third parties with four or more violations may face progressively higher civil penalties, mirroring the enforcement framework already adopted for water in 2023.

No formal action was taken.

4. Discussion — New Sanitary Sewer Rules and Regulations

Mr. Hall presented the first major overhaul of sanitary-sewer regulations since 1983.

Florence maintains approximately 145 miles of sanitary sewer lines, 3,623 manholes, and seven pump stations, and uses Sanitation District No. 1 for wastewater treatment.

Principal points

• An enforcement framework, including the habitual-offender provision, will mirror the 2023 water regulations.
• Stronger requirements are proposed to prevent infiltration and inflow; i.e., stormwater entering the sanitary system through cracks or illicit connections such as downspouts and sump pumps. Florence’s system is separate, not combined.
• Private sewer laterals: the City will continue its existing practice of repairing laterals under public streets when failure is not caused by negligence or malicious act and will codify that practice.
• A fats, oils, and grease (FOG) control program, modeled on SD1 standards, is proposed for commercial areas, covering equipment, maintenance, and record-keeping to protect pipe capacity and reduce odor and backups.
• Technical specifications would be separated from the ordinance so that industry standards (Ten States Standards, AWWA, and similar) may be updated administratively without returning to Council for every detail change.

No formal action was taken.

5. Discussion: Updated Fee Ordinance/Adoption of Fee Schedule

Mr. Hall emphasized that the proposed fee changes do not increase water or sewer rates for any existing residential, commercial, or industrial customer. The adjustments apply primarily to new development.

Principal points

• Water-meter and water-tap fees would be reset to recover actual equipment and installation cost, including AMI (automated metering infrastructure) technology. Current fees do not cover meter cost.
• Sanitary sewer tap fees would increase and would be based on meter size. A typical 5/8-inch residential sewer tap would be $2,800. An 8-inch sewer tap would be $80,000 under the City schedule, compared with $516,000 under SD1. Staff stated Florence would remain substantially below neighboring jurisdictions even after the increase; e.g., approximately 49 percent lower on the common 5/8-inch line item versus SD1.
• Sewer-tap inspection fee would rise from $100 to $120.
• Sewer-deduct and fire-line bypass meter charges would be updated.
• The $350 fire-hydrant flow-test fee would be established.

Typical new-lot residential connection cost (meter + water tap + sewer tap + inspection) would rise from $3,130 under the current schedule to $6,320 under the proposed schedule. Staff compared that figure with an estimated $9,836 for a comparable Boone County property served by Northern Kentucky Water District and SD1.

Councilwoman Whalen inquiry: Who requires an 8-inch meter?

Mr. Hall replied that Florence currently has none; such a meter would serve a very large industrial user. A contact-lens manufacturer that considered locating in Florence eight to ten years ago was cited as the nearest historical example.

No formal action was taken.

6. Mayor’s Report

• One day remained to complete the City’s alternative-mobility survey. Information is posted on the City website and social-media pages. Councilmember Cable confirmed the survey incurred no taxpayer cost beyond social-media posting.
• Arbor Day: Saturday, September 19, 2026, 10:00 a.m., Kentaboo Park. Contact Public Services, 859-647-5416.
• Neighborhood Night Out: Thursday, October 1, 2026, 5:00–7:00 p.m., Florence Nature Park. Food and music by DJ Teddy G. Contact Administration at 859-647-8177.
• Fall cleanup: Monday, October 5 through Sunday, October 11, 2026. Drop-off at the Public Services maintenance facility, 7850 Tanner Lane. Proof of residency required. Contact Public Services at 859-647-5416.
• Cider and Chat with the Mayor: Thursday, October 8, 2026, 8:30–9:30 a.m.
• Community blood drive with Hoxworth Blood Center: October 8, 2026, Florence Government Center north parking lot. Appointment windows: 11:00 a.m.–1:15 p.m. and 2:30–4:45 p.m. Donors receive a Hoxworth rail-book blanket. Registration is on the City website.
• Halloween Fest: Tuesday, October 27, 2026, 6:00–8:00 p.m., Thomas More Stadium. Vendors and treats. Contact Administration: 859-647-8177.

7. Other — Open Discussion

Council Members
Councilwoman Cable had questions about the alternative-mobility survey and whether it had cost taxpayer funds. Answer: there was no cost to the survey as it was done via Social Media.

Councilwoman Wingo praised the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), including the Patriot Grave Marker Program (most recent installation on Circle Drive). Ms. Wingo highly recommended going to one of the DAR ceremonies, saying they are very well done and worth the time to watch.

Councilwoman Whalen requested clarification of the mayor’s press release announcing a pause of the Flock Safety Camera program and formation of a review committee. Chief Mallory stated that officers’ access has been deactivated; Flock Safety was asked to suspend the cameras but reported a backlog that would take two weeks to clear at minimum. Other agencies’ access while Florence access is off remains unresolved. No timeline was given for committee formation. Chief Mallory described a recent case in which Flock Safety data helped recover a stolen vehicle and return a juvenile to his mother. Chief Mallory indicated any restart would be coordinated with Sheriff Hill.

Councilwoman Cable asked if the Flock Safety Cameras had been removed.  Chief Mallory explained only Florence Police Department access had been put on hold. The cameras, themselves, are still in their positions in Florence.

Councilwoman Cable asked then if other Law Enforcement Agencies could still access the Flock Safety Cameras. Chief Mallory stated Flock Safety was working on the issue and that it was part of the backlog.

Councilwoman Chambers requested a success story about the Flock Safety Camera usage.  Chief Mallory described a recent case in which Flock Safety data helped recover a stolen vehicle and return a juvenile to his mother.

Public Comment
Mr. Dan Woodie (Flock Safety follow-up). Asked whether cameras could be physically covered (for example, with an opaque bag) while Flock processes deactivation, and whether installations comply with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices regarding breakaway mounts. Chief Mallory stated Flock Safety owns the equipment, that covering is not presently planned, and that installation compliance can be reviewed by the forthcoming committee. Chief Mallory stated he believed Flock Safety could be trusted on the issue. Mr. Woodie asked about Flock Safety Cameras being safe in case there was a vehicle accident with them. Chief Mallory stated the issue about safety would be looked into.

Mr. Joe Berkshire raised four subjects:

First, the senior-center automatic door: Mr. Berkshire stated the opener failed in May and was not repaired for approximately five months; the service van displayed a New York plate and the vendor described the van as its office. He asked that local contractors be considered. Staff said the building manager would review the vendor arrangement.

Second, Mr. Berkshire stated concerns about the city sponsoring football and he considered it a potentially dangerous sport. Madam Mayor explained the City of Florence loan was for PeeWee Football, who were the sponsors, not the city. The PeeWee football area is now annexed into the city. Mayor Aubuchon has the sole campaign sign at the PeeWee football field gate. Madam Mayor stated, “I would absolutely dig in and say it was an excellent opportunity to help and invest in our youth in the community.”

Third, senior-center parking: Mr. Berkshire stated seven handicap spaces are insufficient given demand and cars parked along the road. He proposed removing landscape islands to add approximately eight handicap spaces without waiting on library site planning. Mr. Hall restated that a concept, design, and funding request for additional parking will be presented at the budget retreat and that Council may then decide whether to proceed independently of library plans. Mr. Berkshire also mentioned that the Florence Library is the only library not open on Sundays. Mr. Berkshire stated he felt the city planning timelines were slow and not quickly responsive to local needs.

Fourth: Mr. Berkshire objected to a $50-per-month fine against Vandalia Reynolds for painting a building orange (the company’s color) and argued that color restrictions are excessive. Staff said zoning color rules apply and that the matter would be looked into.

Mr. Dan Woodie Flock Safety follow-up. Mr. Woodie is not opposed to automated license-plate readers in principle and supports ALPR on police vehicles. He objected to Flock Safety as an untrusted vendor and asked that data remain under local control (citing Axon as an example). He asked the mayor to order the cameras covered immediately so the announced pause is not merely a press statement; Mr. Woodie stated he believed it was a political stunt. The mayor replied that any covering is a “political ask,” any action must be consistent with the Flock contract and that the Police Department will act if that step is determined to be necessary and lawful.

8. Closed Session No closed session was conducted.

9. Adjournment
Motion: Wynn. Second: Wingo.  Approved. The meeting adjourned.

Council candidates Joe Berkshire, Shari Kilmer, and Jim Leach were present at the meeting.