From the Desk of Mayor Dan Bell:  December 2019 Newsletter

Holiday Greetings Taylor Mill Residents:

Winter is in full swing and the holiday season is upon us. As always, the Taylor Mill Public Works Department lead by Marc Roden will be ready to handle any type of inclement weather that comes our way. I hope that you’ll take a moment to catch up on all the happenings in the Mill.

New Business Coming to the Districts of Taylor Mill:

At our December commission meeting, the city announced the addition of a Dunkin’ Coffee Shop to the Districts of Taylor Mill. One Holland Group will build a freestanding Dunkin’ Coffee Shop with a drive-thru adjacent to the Skyline Restaurant.

The current zoning guidelines are open to a variety of different types of businesses. Many residents have expressed interest in how we can add different types of restaurants and businesses for the Districts. Several factors influence whether or not a business locates in a particular area. For example, most restaurants and larger businesses require specific criteria to be met in an area before they will consider building in a specific location. Some of these criteria include heavy traffic counts, population density, and household income.

One example of how traffic counts influence development is Madison Pike, KY 17. The traffic counts on KY 17 reaches 70,000 cars a day, whereas Pride Parkway (KY 16) is still around 35,000 to 38,000 cars per day. Many developers continue to make inquiries about property in Taylor Mill but have found it challenging to acquire the property they wish to develop. 

Taylor Mill is a desirable city to live in, and it’s a fine line as to how much development is enough. The current commission strives to create a business district that is more than a fast food haven. We want to attract and need businesses that provide local services needed by area residents. 

Taylor Mill Sidewalk Project:

It’s great to see Taylor Mill residents using the new sidewalk along Taylor Mill Road (KY3716). The city looks forward to receiving the $846,000.00 SNK Grant for Phase 3 of the sidewalk project and accomplishing our goal of establishing a walkable community. The Grant will allow the city to begin right-a-way acquisition in September 2020, which is the first step contacting residents along the road. The actual construction of phase 3 will not start until 2022. 

Update on Speed Limit Request Submitted to KYTC for Taylor Mill Rd. (KY 3716):

The city commission voted unanimously to support a resolution to request a speed limit reduction for Taylor Mill Rd. (KY3716). Mayor Bell submitted the resolution and letter outlining the need for a speed limit reduction to KYTC on October 22. The city commission has not yet received comment from the state highway department. We will continue to keep you updated. 

Pride Park Receives Funds for Improvements: 

Pride Park is the crown jewel of our city. The commission is pleased to announce the city was awarded a $2,973.00 safety grant from the Kentucky League of Cities to repair and replace the playground surfaces in Pride Park. The upkeep of Pride Park is vital to the city, and it is a top priority of the commission to keep our park a safe and fun place for our residents.

The city membership in the Kentucky League of Cities is a very important way to keep up with pending State legislation that effects city government. The city also uses KLC for liability insurance and health insurance at cost savings for thousands of dollars. With our membership, various Grant opportunities are available. 

Park Place Community Center to Get Renovation/Receives Donation From Judge Executive:

The Park Place Community Center will be closed from January 5 to January 21 for renovation. The city will be replacing the flooring and painting the  inside of the house.   

The commission is pleased to announce that Kenton County Judge-Executive Kris Knochelmann and his family have graciously donated $2,000.00 toward the cost of the renovations of Park Place. Judge Knochelmann and his family are former residents of Taylor Mill, and he still has many family members residing in The Mill. The family rents Park Place for special events during the year. Many thanks to the Knochelmann Family for their donation!

 Police/Fire-EMS: 

 Remembering Charlie Norris: Thanks to the generous donation from the family of former Taylor Mill Volunteer Firefighter, Charlie Norris, the fire department was able to purchase a new pediatric backboard or immobilizer. Norris passed away in February. In lieu of flowers, his family requested donations be made to the fire department in Charlie’s memory. Norris joined the department in 1975. After many years of dedicated volunteer service, he retired in 1988 and became a lifetime honorary member. His legacy of community service lives on through his son Chuck and granddaughter Tiffany, who are on the department.

Lieutenant Bishop Retires: Chief Stager and everyone at the city would like to wish Taylor Mill Fire Dept. Lieutenant Tom Bishop best of luck in his retirement.

Police Chief Steve Knauf and Fire Chief John Stager remind everyone to have a safe holiday. 

Christmas Tree Lighting Success:

The annual Taylor Mill Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony was a great success. Thank you to all of the volunteers who helped make this unique city event possible. Please check out the many photos on our city Facebook Page.

Upcoming City Commission Meetings:

January 8th, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. Taylor Mill City Building 5225 Taylor Mill Rd.

Let us know how we are doing by contacting us via our website, Facebook page or email me at [email protected]

On behalf of the City Commission and Staff, I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Dan Bell, Mayor