Council Member Role

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The City of Park Hills has a mayor-council form of city government. In this form of city government, City Council, as the legislative body, performs legislative duties such as enacting ordinances, levying taxes, and adopting a budget. Council may take action only upon the approval of an appropriate majority of the duly constituted body. The members of the legislative body possess no individual municipal powers.

Learn more about Kentucky city government structures and responsibilities here: https://www.klc.org/InfoCentral/Detail/33/form-of-government

The qualifications to be a candidate are quite minimal—must be at least 18 years of age, a resident of the city for not less than 1 year prior to the election, a qualified voter in the city, and shall reside in the city throughout the term of office. Once elected, education for the role is what each candidate makes of it.

After being elected, Sarah attended the City Officials Orientation and also the City Officials Academy (COA) organized by the Kentucky League of Cities (KLC). Sarah found the KLC COA—a two-and-a-half-day intensive training packed with practical information for city officials with all levels of experience—to be very important. She also attended KLC conferences, in Covington in 2019 and virtually in 2020, and continues to attend the KLC COA and City Day/City Night events in Frankfort every time they're offered.

Sarah also attended several Kenton County mayors group meetings. In these monthly meetings, mayors representing the cities of Kenton County gather to share current projects and experiences and hear from local organizations.

Council member Sarah Froelich currently leads the Economic Development and Business Committee in Park Hills, where she has served as chair since January 2023. Under her leadership, the committee has made significant strides in structuring and aligning the city's vision for economic growth. Key accomplishments include establishing a mission and priorities, collaborating on potential architectural standards with the Z21 working group, and developing a toolkit of resources for thoughtful investment in underutilized sites and buildings. The committee has also welcomed new businesses to the community and laid the groundwork for further improvements in the Dixie Highway business district, including a parcel analysis proposal in partnership with Kenton County Planning and Development Services (PDS).

In June 2024, Sarah and the committee took a proactive step toward envisioning the future of the Dixie Highway corridor by hosting the Plan Park Hills town hall event. This gathering focused on generating community-driven ideas for revitalizing the business district, with participants expressing strong interest in more local establishments, improved outdoor dining experiences, and a more walkable, inviting area. The committee has since been exploring various possibilities, such as supporting existing businesses, beautifying the area, and utilizing vacant properties for new ventures. While no definitive actions have been decided, the Plan Park Hills initiative remains a collaborative effort, with the committee continuing to engage with the community to refine and develop these ideas.

Before her current committee role, Sarah was an integral part of the Communications Committee, where she led the establishment of a process for publishing the city newsletter and worked with a small team to revitalize the city website. Her contributions have left a lasting impact, with some of the processes and content still visible today. Although the Communications Committee is no longer publicly active, Sarah's efforts in these areas continue to benefit the city's communication and outreach efforts. Committees like the Economic Development and Business Committee and the former Communications Committee are set up by executive order to provide advice and support to the mayor and city council, serving as crucial advisory bodies that help shape the future of Park Hills.