COVINGTON — Most of Tuesday's City Commission meeting was devoted to a public hearing on funding that takes effect when the 2002-03 fiscal year begins July 1.

        Improving a community center and repairing sidewalks were the major topics of discussion.

        City Manager Greg Jarvis said the city has about $2.4 million to spend on community development projects, about $630,000 on housing programs, nearly $380,000 for public services and about $76,000 for emergency shelter assistance.

        Projects city staff recommended for funding include:

        • Nearly $350,000 for resurfacing streets and installing curbs at various locations.

        • About $775,000 for administering and funding city-run owner/ occupant housing rehabilitation programs.

        • About $80,000 to increase police patrols in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods.

        Mr. Jarvis said the approximately $3.4 million available did not begin to cover the requests the city received. He said there were about $1.1 million in requests for capital improvement projects alone, and about $690,000 for public service money when the city had only $378,150 to spend.

        The Northern Kentucky Community Center, at 824 Greenup St., was at the heart of a $150,000 request for building improvements by Clinton Jackson, president of Concerned Citizens of Eastside and a volunteer at the center.

        City staff recommended against the request, but Mr. Jackson said spending money now would prevent more crime later. He pointed to opening the center Sunday mornings as an example of how the center defuses tensions.

        “There's no guns, there's no (gang) colors, there's no trash,” Mr. Jackson said. “It scared me to death, looking at (the rejection). I'm telling you, you've got a time bomb; give us a chance to do right.”

        Resident Greg Paeth asked the city to reconsider its rejection of $115,000 request to fix sidewalks in the 1100 block of Russell Street. He said sycamore tree roots have pushed chunks of concrete as much as 4 inches off the pavement.

        Mayor Butch Callery said the city would announce its choices for funding at its May 7 meeting.

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