BY CINDY SCHROEDER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON -- Vandals knocked a concrete panel loose Saturday night from Kenton County's new parking garage, causing about $10,000 in emergency repairs less than a month after it opened.
A crack extends the width of a 10-foot-long panel on the garage's ninth floor, county employees said. The garage at 220 Madison Ave. will serve the new Kenton County courthouse when it opens in May and the Northern Kentucky convention center opening this fall. "You look at (the damage), and you'd almost think it was a tank that hit it," County Administrator Ralph Bailey said.
Temporary cables
Kenton Fiscal Court authorized the repairs Tuesday, at the recommendation of Deputy Judge-executive George Neack.
Mr. Neack said that someone struck the panel in the 1,600-space garage about 9 p.m. Saturday, partially dislocating it. He said members of the Covington fire department temporarily secured the panel with cables until permanent repairs could be made.
A vehicle, possibly a truck with a large push bumper, apparently rammed the wall, Mr. Neack said. Police think four bolts found near the damaged panel are from the vehicle.
"A structural engineer will examine the panel to determine if it needs additional protection," Mr. Neack said.
The panel was struck with such force that small pieces of concrete fell to the ground, near the entrance to the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky's bus terminal, Mr. Neack said.
He added that the manager of the garage's security guards discovered the damaged panel Sunday afternoon, and planned to ask Saturday's security detail why the incident was not reported sooner.
In a separate incident, someone also tore out the fiberglass ceiling of an elevator in the garage during Sunday's Riverfest celebration.
Recently, the fiscal court authorized the purchase of a garage security system that will include cameras and monitors. However, its installation is still several weeks away.
