Crescent Springs City Council settled a lawsuit over a denied housing development on Ireland Avenue at its Aug. 24 meeting. Council also introduced ordinances to abolish the city's Human Rights Commission and fund a new ambulance.
The settlement, scheduled for second reading as Ordinance 2026-9, authorizes Mayor Mike Daugherty to finalize an agreement in the Kenton Circuit Court case filed by Ross Kreutzjans and Ireland Development, LLC, according to the city's meeting agenda. The council had previously denied the developer's concept plan for 620–632 Ireland Avenue, a 1.09-acre parcel at the northeast corner of Ireland Avenue and Harris Street. Kreutzjans sued.
The revised plan approved as part of the settlement reduces the project by one unit to 17 across two buildings. It moves the entrance from Harris Street to Ireland Avenue.
Residents at the meeting raised concerns about traffic, drainage, construction debris and landscaping. "We would like silt fencing so it doesn't run down the street or get tracked into our houses," resident Dawn Johnson said at the meeting, as LINK nky reported Aug. 25.
Human Rights Commission dissolved
In a first reading, Ordinance 2026-12 would abolish the city's Human Rights Commission, established in 2021, and transfer complaint-handling duties to the City Administrator and City Clerk. The ordinance states that the substantive protections of the city's Fairness Ordinance remain intact.
City Administrator Mike Daly wrote in the agenda report that the commission had been "difficult to staff with volunteers." The new structure would place responsibilities with existing staff. If a local hearing is needed, the mayor would appoint a temporary three-member panel. The Kentucky Commission on Human Rights would continue to coordinate the complaint process.
Ambulance and road funding
Ordinance 2026-14, also a first reading, would amend the city's budget to cover Crescent Springs' share of a new ambulance for the Crescent-Villa Fire Authority. The replacement unit has an estimated total cost of $365,000. Crescent Springs funds 40% of the fire authority's budget, putting its estimated share at roughly $150,000. The ambulance was reported in production as of June and expected to arrive in September, according to city council records.
Truist Bank declined to finance the purchase, requiring the city to consider paying its share outright or finding another lender.
A separate budget amendment, Ordinance 2026-13, would add $90,000 in remaining Municipal Road Aid funds to this year's road-repair budget.
Other actions
The council authorized the Woodhill Drive paving project to Riegler Blacktop under Municipal Order 2026-11, according to the agenda. The project received an $80,000 state LARP grant from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, with the city's estimated local match at about $19,220.
Ordinance 2026-11, another first reading, would assign the city's Alcoholic Beverage Control administrator duties to the City Clerk/Treasurer's office. Daly wrote that the change centralizes alcohol licensing and enforcement within that office.
Ordinance 2026-10, enacted on second reading, repealed the city's existing personnel policy ordinance as part of a broader Employee Handbook restructuring.
The next Crescent Springs City Council meeting is Sept. 28.
