By KEVIN BOWDEN
Staff Reporter
When Kenton Mayor Virginia Davidson looks back at 2012, she sees a year of progress for her city.
It was a year in which the city didn’t raise taxes yet was able to initiate numerous improvements in city departments.
“All over, we’ve had a good year,” Mrs. Davidson said.
She said the city didn’t have to borrow any money this past year and was able to pay off loans.
“The city is now in good standing and I’m very proud of that,” she said.
Mrs. Davidson said there were “numerous improvements” made at the city’s water plant, including the ongoing process of getting the water department certified by the state. “I’m proud of that,” Mrs. Davidson said.
She said the water plant operator, Nathan Spenser, is moving toward being certified and City Hall clerk Camelia Cunningham  is now a certified municipal finance officer.
This past year saw Kenton hire Kyle Kirk as its new police chief, and he has initiated some major improvements within that department.
“Our police department is in better shape than it has been in a long time,” Mrs. Davidson said.
She said the police station has been renovated and there have been numerous upgrades to the police equipment used by the city’s officers, all five of them.
“We are very pleased with the way things are going with the police department,” Mrs. Davidson said. “I feel like the police department has improved, City Hall has improved and the fire department is in good shape.”
This past summer saw Kenton welcome its new farmers market downtown and Mrs. Davidson said she hopes to secure a state grant this coming year to help finance work on the city’s sewer system.
Mrs. Davidson is at the midterm point of her third term in office. She previously served back-to-back terms as mayor from 1999 to 2007.
Another accomplishment she brought up from 2012 was the ongoing work being done to the city’s park facilities — the walking track, the Youth Center and the Kenton Community Center.
When asked about anything negative from this past year, Mrs. Davidson responded by saying, “You know, I can’t think of anything negative ... I’m proud of that.”
She did say she would like to see more job growth for Kenton and for the economy to improve.
Staff Reporter Kevin Bowden may be contacted by email at kmbowden@ucmessenger.com.

Published in The Messenger 12.28.12