Fort Mitchell will shut off and dismantle its five license plate reader cameras immediately after residents filled the city building for a public hearing and challenged the surveillance technology on privacy grounds.

Mayor Greg Pohlgeers announced the termination at the hearing, saying he was disappointed after reviewing Flock Safety's customer service and data-handling practices, according to NKy Tribune coverage of the meeting. The city signed a 24-month, $34,000 contract with Flock in 2024 for the five automated readers. That contract was set for renewal in February 2027.

"When you pull the curtain back on the cameras it gets a little scary," Pohlgeers said. "They are being reactive rather than proactive."

The decision marks a reversal.

As recently as June 1, Pohlgeers described himself as "a proponent of Flock cameras" at a council meeting, and several council members voiced support. But at the public hearing, the mayor said public trust outweighed the technology's benefits and took sole responsibility for ending the program, calling it a budget matter that did not require a council vote.

Greg Given, an IT professional with 28 years of experience, told the crowd he had reviewed the Flock contract and followed the technology's use nationwide. He argued residents should not have to "trade my freedom for the appearance of safety," as LINK nky reported from the hearing.

Tom McDonald, another resident, said the cameras likely tracked how many trips he made to Kroger the previous week. "The contract be damned, unplug the things!" McDonald said.

City Administrator Edwin King said Fort Mitchell will coordinate with Flock Safety to officially end all operations.

Fort Mitchell joins Newport in abandoning Flock cameras after community pushback. Kenton County is still debating the technology's future, according to WLWT. Flock recently reduced its default data retention from 30 days to seven and made misuse detection mandatory.

E-bike rules get first reading

The same hearing produced a first reading of Ordinance 2026-12, which would regulate electric bicycles on Fort Mitchell sidewalks. Under the proposed rules:

  • Class 3 e-bikes (up to 28 mph) and electric motor-driven cycles are banned from all sidewalks.
  • Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes (up to 20 mph) are allowed on sidewalks but capped at 15 mph.
  • Riders under 18 must wear a helmet.
  • A headlamp and rear reflector are required from half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise.

Some residents argued the sidewalk speed limit should be 10 mph, not 15. Resident Terry Honebrink described nearly being struck by fast-moving children on e-bikes while walking along Dixie Highway. "Who pays for my medical bills if I get hurt?" she asked.

Mayor Pohlgeers told WCPO that pedestrian and child safety drove the classification framework. He shared the ordinance text with other Kenton County mayors at an Aug. 17 meeting, and Fort Thomas, Alexandria, Florence and Union are considering similar regulations.

The ordinance requires a second reading before a final council vote. No date for that vote has been announced.