City of Lakeside Park
Minutes of Meeting on 9/14/26
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Markgraf called to order the regular meeting of Lakeside Park City Council at 7:03 P.M. on Monday, September 14, 2026, in the Lakeside Park City Building located at 9 Buttermilk Pike. Those in attendance were Mayor Markgraf, City Clerk Teresa Bruck and Attorney Greg Voss. The council members present included Tom Bernheimer, Dennis Landwehr, Mary Ann Thaman, and Brian Waite. Council members absent include Dave Wolfer and George Best.
AGENDA: With no additions or corrections, Ms. Thaman made the motion to adopt the Agenda of September 14, 2026, as presented, and Mr. Landwehr seconded the motion. Voice vote was taken. 4 Ayes, 0 Nays; motion carried.
MINUTES: With no corrections or changes, Mr. Waite made a motion to adopt the minutes of August 10, 2026, and Mr. Bernheimer seconded the motion. Voice vote was taken. 4 Ayes, 0 Nays; motion carried.
CITIZENS ADDRESSING COUNCIL: Steve Combs, of 47 Colony South Drive, requested the council to consider a new streetlight in the cul-de-sac near his house. Mayor Markgraf advised they will investigate this request for consideration.
MINUTES: The mayor talked about keeping the tax rate this year the same as it has been for a few years even with the increase in service costs. He also said we hope to have the tax bills out during the first week of October. He spoke about the upcoming transportation town hall meeting in October to learn what projects are being considered and provide input from city officials. He encouraged the council members to attend and advised that Ms. Bruck can make reservations for them. This coming Friday, TBNK is going to have an open house at their new location 1650 Russell Street in Covington. Last, he spoke about the first reading on e-bikes and scooters and advised it would be sent out on the email chain. He advised the council that the definitions will be added before the next reading.
CITY ATTORNEY REPORT: Mr. Voss conducted the 2nd reading of Ordinance No. 09-2026 Amending Chapter 40: Motor Vehicle Regulations, Article II, Parking Section 40.250 Title Streets with No Parking. Ms. Thaman made the motion to adopt Ordinance No. 09-2026 as presented, and Mr. Landwehr seconded the motion. Voice vote was taken. 4 Ayes, 0 Nays; motion carried.
Mr. Voss conducted the 2nd reading of Ordinance No. 10-2026 adding to Chapter: Garbage Collection, Section 30.013 titled Property Owner Waste Management Financial Obligation. Mr. Waite made the motion to adopt Ordinance No. 10-2026 as presented, and Mr. Bernheimer seconded the motion. The mayor advised that this Ordinance arose from an internal audit of the residents who are provided with waste collection and found that some residents, due to change of ownership, were not getting charged for the waste collection. Voice vote was taken. 4 Ayes, 0 Nays; motion carried.
Mr. Voss conducted the 2nd reading of Ordinance No. 11-2026 adopting the 2026 tax rates. Keeping the rates the same as last year: Ad valorem tax for real property $0.240 dollars for each $100 of value; personal property tax rate of $1.481 per $100 dollars and 27.69 cents per $100 of value for motor vehicle and watercraft property. Mr. Bernheimer made the motion to adopt Ordinance No. 11-2026 as presented, and Ms. Thaman seconded the motion.
Mr. Waite made a motion to amend Ordinance No. 11-2026 to include the information from Ordinance 10-2026 that was just adopted this evening. Mr. Bernheimer seconded the motion to amend. Voice vote was taken. 4 Ayes, 0 Nays; motion carried. Voice vote was taken for the amendment to Ordinance No. 11-2026. 4 Ayes, 0 Nays; motion carried.
Mr. Waite made comment that it goes to show the good physical management of the city funds has allowed us to keep the lower tax rate for the last couple of years. Mr. Bernheimer said he seconded Mr. Waite’s comment when it’s during a time when everything else is increasing in costs of living. Roll Call was taken for Ordinance No. 11-2026 as follows: Brian Waite yes, Dennis Landwehr Yes, Tom Bernheimer yes, Mary Ann Thaman yes. Ordinance No. 11-2026 passed as amended. 4 Ayes, 0 Nays; motion carried
Last, Mr. Voss conducted the 1st Reading of Ordinance No. 12-2026 Amending Chapter 40 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Lakeside Park, Kentucky to regulate the operation of electric bicycles on public sidewalks and other Pedestrian Facilities.
CITY CLERK/TREASURER
Ms. Bruck said the new auditors came in the first week of September and completed their assessment in 3 days. They did note that our processes and procedures are well developed and with our additional safeguards, demonstrates our good stewardship of city funds. However, they did recommend updating the Capitalization Policy as it was developed several years ago. She attended an NKGFOA meeting, which is a local finance networking group, last month and the topic of discussion focused on preparing for audits. She also attended the Region V/ Master Clerks Academy. Last, she advised a CDARS investment maturing this week, and after shopping rates and terms, advised the finance committee as well as the mayor to leave the investment with First National Bank (FNB) as the other markets were comparable to FNB.
The mayor noted that the CDARS program is like a CD investment, but it ensures funding larger than the $250,000 FDIC cap.
Mr. Waite inquired about what needs to be updated on the Capitalization Policy, and Ms. Bruck said the threshold limits need to be reviewed and possibly increased.
FIRE/EMS
Assistant Chief Jansing gave summary of his report that included 27 runs to Lakeside Park with 19 of those being normal runs, but the remaining were all related to the storm. The largest one was on Dixie Highway at Arcadia Street were in the highway had to be blocked. Their department assisted other departments. The also had one public Education event and one child seat installation. He also mentioned this past Saturday was a wall of honor ceremony in which a few new members were added as well as the first police dog, Tony.
PUBLIC WORKS
Mr. Bernheimer review of the monthly projects including the Crestview Hills sidewalk project is still underway and on track for next Spring; Bellemonte Avenue resurfacing and curb replacement has a review ongoing for sewers and catch basins with SD1 and there will be a meeting in January to discuss the impact to the residents when this project gets underway; the crack seal will be underway soon to finish up Applewood and Farmington subdivisions by the end of this year; Steve Greer’s reports provided that the benches were ordered, may be slightly delayed but are expected to come in within the next month, new radar sign ordered and the present radar sign will be moved from Locust to another location, and the piano key sidewalks will be done with thermoplastic versus paint that wears off.
POLICE AUTHORITY
Mayor Markgraf reported the police authority met on August 17, 2026. The activity report for the month of August showed 20% of the calls were for Lakeside Park. There was a board recognition to Ptl. Armstong & Ptl. Boyers who were awarded the Combat Cross for their actions during a critical incident and their actions to safeguard innocent lives. Mayor again congratulated and recognized them for utilizing their training and their actions. Ptl. Wilson graduated from Criminal Justice Training in Richmond on July 23rd. He served as a leadership role as Class Adjutant and was awarded the Coordinator’s Award and the Physical Fitness Excellence Award and is starting his first phase of Field Training. Ptl. Span completed his online training and is currently at the academy now. Sgt. Jackson completed Leadership training and Sgt. Mullins completed Crisis Management Affecting Colleges. Ptl. Boyers completed a De-Escalation Instructor Course. He mentions all the training our officers go through and brings what they learn back to the department and allows them to serve our community well. The mayor advised that with all these well-rounded things the department does, on August 12, 2026, the department was awarded its 6th certificate of Accreditation by the Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police. The department is surplus of old weapons. Final assessment was done on the Chief, and he received his merit increase.
The mayor asked Chief Degenhardt to speak about the Flock cameras, and Chief Degenhardt gave a brief description of what they do and how they have decreased the crime rate by 71% in and around the Crestview Hills Town Center and they felt adding 2 devices to Lakeside Park at Dixie and Buttermilk as well as Turkeyfoot would expand the coverage to the remaining territory that they cover. He reiterated that this is an investigative tool only, it is used ethically and their department is required to do quarterly audits but have chosen to do monthly complete audits to show they are going above and beyond to ensure this tool is not being misused. He said they also adopted the KLC model policy for use of the Flock systems. He also explained what the flock cameras do and do not record and how this information is verified before dispatching an officer out.
Mr. Bernheimer commended the Chief for the procedures he has put in place and the report he provided on this.
The mayor also asked the Chief to provide information on the OCV police app. that residents can obtain the information from the police department or stop by the city building to obtain a business card that has the QR code to download the app. This app. will provide a plethora of service information. One of the things they recently added to the app. is the information document that the council received on ALPR as well as a transparency portal with Flocks safety assistance and what that shows the number of devices, the number of searches, and has information on what the system does do and what it doesn’t do. He encouraged citizens to take advantage of the app.
PDS: Mr. Waite said the PDS Board did not meet.
FINANCE: Mr. Waite said most of his report was covered earlier, such as the tax rate staying the same, our city is in good financial standing, but he added that he reviewed the credit card statements and we have a CD maturing.
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT LEAGUE OF NORTHERN KENTUCKY (MGLNK): Mr. Landwehr said they have a meeting on the 29th of this month and he is not sure if he will be able to attend the meeting yet.
RECREATION: Ms. Thaman reported last month there was an exhibit here in the city building and she thanked our resident, Mr. Goodridge, for presenting it. She said there is not a whole lot going on. The Adopt-A-Unit mum pickup is tomorrow. She asked if there would be a Hero’s Night and was advised there is not. She did say that the Immanuel Church Trunk-or-Treat will be held on October 24th but with a time change of 11am to 1pm. She did say there will be a Light Up Lakeside meeting soon but to save the date for December 6th.
OLD BUSINESS: No old business.
NEW BUSINESS: No new business.
COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL: Ms. Thaman said we have a very impressive Fire and Police departments and she thanked them for all they do.
ADJOURNMENT
At 8:06 p.m. Ms. Thaman made the motion to adjourn the meeting, and Mr. Bernheimer seconded the motion. Voice vote taken 4 Ayes, 0 Nays; motion carried.