Notice

This link will open a new tab to a different website.

Press "Yes" to confirm.

Maps, Plans and Studies > 2024 Kenton County Comprehensive Plan > ELEMENTS > Utility Management Element

Utility Management

Utility management is a broad term that encompasses many fundamental services to a community.  Drinking water, storm water management, wastewater treatment, and even telecommunications infrastructure are areas considered when examining utilities.  Read on to learn more about utility management in Kenton County.

The Kenton County Comprehensive Plan is comprised of nine elements. Recommendations and associated tasks for implementation have been developed for each element to implement the Goals and Objectives that serve as the foundation for the plan. The recommendations were derived after extensive public discussions, discourse and dialogue and are based on research which includes local data as well as national trends. They explore different facets of the county’s physical development as well as its economic and social well-being and provide a roadmap for implementation. Citizens in Kenton County expect utilities to provide a sufficient level service while keeping costs reasonable. The Utility Management element addresses policies that decision-makers can use to deliver services efficiently.

Utilities, within the context of the Comprehensive Plan, refers to services that are usually funded by taxes and/or fees for the provision and maintenance of infrastructure such as electricity, natural gas, water, sewage, telephone, telecommunications and internet. Utility companies need to maintain and expand their systems in a way that utilizes their resources in the most efficient and responsible manner. Click on the main headings below to learn more about the recommendations for Utility Management.

1. Recommendation: Improve efficiency in the permitting process to minimize overlapping and/or conflicting regulations by updating the permitting procedures.

Associated Goals & Objectives:

Goal 3 – Objective A
Goal 3 – Objective C
Goal 9 – Objective C
Goal 9 – Objective D

Tasks:

  1. Develop a comprehensive checklist of all the permits required for development. Review the permitting process and determine if and where there are gaps or bottlenecks in the process that can be streamlined.
  2. Work in coordination with other agencies and the development community to ensure that all standards are consistent and do not overlap.
  3. Research best practices across the country to identify and promote a streamlined process.

Basis:

There is a perception that the number of regulations and permits required by different utilities and agencies result in higher costs and can act as barriers to development. Regulatory processes should be streamlined and coordinated.

2. Recommendation: Collaborate with utilities to identify existing infrastructure that needs to be improved.

Associated Goals & Objectives:

Goal 1 – Objective F

Task:

  1. All jurisdictions and utility agencies should use a map-based infrastructure coordination program to manage and coordinate projects within public rights-of-way more efficiently and effectively.
  2. Improve communication between utilities and local jurisdictions to coordinate improvements.

Basis:

The need for increased coordination between cities paving new roads and a utility needing to make repairs is a recurring comment that is made during planning projects. All jurisdictions and many utilities have an interest in rights-of-way. Many utilities are run under ground or over ground in the right-of-way, and tax payers are ultimately responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of road surfaces. Coordinating projects can reduce the number of utility projects, reduce traffic impacts, reduce costs, and reduce environmental impacts.

3. Recommendation: Promote increased understanding of the nexus between growth, related cost of services and impact on the local economy.

Associated Goals & Objectives:

Goal 1 – Objective F
Goal 9 – Objective A
Goal 9 – Objective C
Goal 9 – Objective D

Tasks:

  1. Explore the use of tools such as a fiscal impact analysis in coordination with stakeholders.
  2. In areas where additional services are desired, work with stakeholders to prioritize, assess and determine community need, feasibility and costs.
  3. Investigate growth management tools that reduce the cost of delivering services and, therefore, use taxpayer money more efficiently

Basis:

Citizens expect governmental agencies to be efficient stewards of taxpayer money. As the conversation of services in all parts of Kenton County continues to evolve, coordination between citizen groups, utility companies, elected officials, developers and all other stakeholders will need to occur to ensure adequate and desired services are provided in an efficient manner and in a way which does not hinder opportunities for appropriately scaled growth throughout the county.

4. Recommendation: Promote stormwater management practices to improve the quality and reduce the quantity of stormwater runoff.