Fort Wright's city council voted Sunday to join Kenton County's Law Enforcement Navigator Program for two years, adding the city to a growing list of local governments connecting police encounters with mental health, addiction and social services.

The resolution, approved at the council's Aug. 9 meeting, commits Fort Wright to participate in the county-run program subject to a formal agreement with Kenton County and a participation fee, according to NKY Tribune. The fee amount was not disclosed.

The navigator program employs non-sworn staff who follow up after police calls, connecting residents in crisis with treatment, shelter, food assistance and other resources. Sworn officers handle immediate safety; navigators step in afterward. The program covers situations including opioid and substance use disorders, mental health crises, interpersonal violence, child or elder abuse, homelessness and human trafficking, according to a Kenton County job description for the position.

Kenton County launched the program in June 2025 and hired four navigators that August: Samantha Daily, Abigail Fortney, Jessica Green and Cassie Hensley. The Kenton County Police Department said on Facebook in March that the program was "showing real results."

Fort Wright joins Fort Mitchell, Crestview Hills, Crescent Springs, Villa Hills, Taylor Mill and Lakeside Park in the program. As we reported July 21, Lakeside Park formalized its commitment that month. In a July 2026 report cited in that coverage, Kenton County Police Chief Spike Jones said the county and participating cities have spent nearly $1 million over two years on the navigator program and related efforts. "The response has been remarkable; this is real community policing," Jones said at the time.

Fort Wright's council voted to participate for two years as a trial period. The city has not announced when the agreement with Kenton County will be finalized or when residents will begin seeing navigator services.

Residents who need help can contact the navigator team at [email protected].

Also at the Aug. 9 meeting

Mayor Dave Hatter read a proclamation honoring outgoing City Administrator Jill Cain Bailey, whose last official day is Aug. 31. The city declared that date "Jill Cain Bailey Day." Council member Bernie Wessels called Bailey the best city administrator Fort Wright has ever had, saying she "took the city to the next level." Hatter called her "a walking encyclopedia of knowledge for the city."

Council also approved $18,700 to repair curbs on Pickett Drive left in poor condition after a blacktopping project, pending research into whether the work was included in the original contract. And the council voted to proceed with the original design for a salt storage shed after the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet told the city it can no longer store salt in state facilities.

Edgewood: flood damage, Dudley Road work

At Edgewood's Aug. 9 council meeting, City Administrator Brian Dehner reported that a flood in the city building was caused by pipe corrosion. Hard water sitting at low points in pipes eventually caused them to burst, Dehner said. The damage is "almost put to rights," and the city must now decide on a prevention strategy.

Edgewood will also begin mill-and-overlay work on Dudley Road from the city building to Dixie Highway, with attention to turning lanes at Dudley and Turkeyfoot roads.