Interview with Daniel L. Bell, August 30, 2017

Partial Transcript: This is Gena Forsyth conducting an interview with Mayor Daniel L. Bell on August 30th, 2017 for the City of Taylor Mill Kentucky City Stories Oral History Project.

Segment Synopsis: Daniel Bell, mayor of Taylor Mill, Kentucky, is introduced. He gives a brief overview of his life including his education in Kentucky, his career in teaching and pharmaceuticals, and his family.

Keywords: Cancer; Chemotherapy; Children; Cincinnati (Ohio); Daughters; Eastern Kentucky University; Graduation; Grandchildren; Holy Cross High School; Interests; Lifelong residents; Married; Marsha Setters Bell; Pharmaceuticals; Sports; Teachers; Teaching; University of the Cumberlands

Subjects: Covington (Ky.); Education; Employment--Kentucky; Kenton County (Ky.); Taylor Mill (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: But, um, I have a passion for city government as well as county government.

Segment Synopsis: Bell talks about how he became involved in politics. He talks about his position as a city commissioner and his election as mayor of Taylor Mill in 2010. He talks about the history of Taylor Mill, including its upcoming 60th anniversary.

Keywords: 1957; 2010; 60th anniversary; City commission; City commissioners; Community; Development; Governor Ernie Fletcher; Growth; History; Population; Progress; Sixtieth anniversary; Sunny Acres (Ky.); Winston Park (Ky.)

Subjects: Covington (Ky.); Kenton County (Ky.); Kentucky--Politics and government; Mayors--Kentucky--Taylor Mill; Taylor Mill (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Uh, some of the great things that have occurred since I've been, uh, mayor, and of course prior to that a commissioner, is the, uh, creation of, uh, Pride Parkway...

Segment Synopsis: Bell talks about the progress that has been made in Taylor Mill, focusing specifically on the construction of the Pride Parkway. He discusses how the highway benefits the community of Taylor Mill, including its effect on the growth of the town's business district. He discusses the businesses already located in Taylor Mill as well as those that may come in the future.

Keywords: Bridges; Business districts; Businesses; Citizens committees; Corporate headquarters; Development; Funding; Growth; Highways; Homes; Houses; I-275; Imminent domain; Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC); Legislature; Lobbying; Pride Parkway; Progress; Representatives; Senators; Taylor Mill Road; Trifecta Building

Subjects: Business enterprises--Kentucky--Taylor Mill; Community development; Economic development--Kentucky; Roads--Design and construction--Kentucky.; Taylor Mill (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: We've, we've--we're, uh--the reason I think the business area will grow is because, uh, there will be an ex, expansion of the Taylor Creek subdivision.

Segment Synopsis: Bell talks about the construction of more housing options for the growing population of Taylor Mill. He talks about the town's convenience as a "bedroom community" for the larger cities nearby.

Keywords: Apartments; Bedroom communities; Construction; Convenience; Expansions; High Ridge Park; Houses; Housing; Location; Neighborhoods; Population; Taylor Creek subdivision

Subjects: Community development; Economic development--Kentucky; Housing development; Taylor Mill (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: So those are some of the unique things--plus I might add that Taylor Mill is a unique community in some other respects as well.

Segment Synopsis: Bell discusses the local park in Taylor Mill which includes a playground, shelters, an amphitheater, and other amenities. He talks about making Taylor Mill more accessible by building more sidewalks.

Keywords: Accessibility; Amenities; Amphitheaters; Bike paths; Cemeteries; Children; Cities; Forest Hills (Ky.); Frisbee golf; Gazebos; Goals; Grand Avenue; Grants; OKI Regional Council; Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments; Plans; Playgrounds; Pride Park; Rentals; Shelters; Sidewalks; Sunny Acres (Ky.); Taylor Mill Road; Walk-able communities; Winston Park (Ky.)

Subjects: Community development; Taylor Mill (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: I'd like to say this about Taylor Mill: we have twelve paid f--uh, full-time EMS, uh, fire combination people.

Segment Synopsis: Bell discusses the emergency services available in Taylor Mill, including police, EMS, and the fire department.

Keywords: Administration; Advanced Life Support (ALS); Ambulances; Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA); Elderly population; Emergency medical services (EMS); Employee retention; Fire departments; Fires; First responders; Investments; Paramedics; Police chief; Police officers; Services; Staff

Subjects: Community development; Fire fighters--Kentucky; Medical care; Police--Kentucky; Taylor Mill (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: So, uh, Taylor Mill, it has transformed a lot in the last sixty years.

Segment Synopsis: Bell talks more about how Taylor Mill has changed since its founding sixty years prior. He talks more about the development of the town's roads, housing, education, and other amenities.

Keywords: 60 years; 60th anniversary; Amenities; Crime; Growth; Housing stock; Parks; Popularity; Population; Safety; Schools; Sixtieth anniversary; Sixty years; Transformation

Subjects: Community development; Economic development--Kentucky; Education; Housing development; Taylor Mill (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Well, back to the completion of Pride Parkway.

Segment Synopsis: Bell talks more about the development of Pride Parkway, specifically about the concerns he and others had regarding its construction.

Keywords: Accidents; Business districts; Comments; Complaints; Convenience; Easements; Fears; Government; Lighting; Pride Parkway; Safety; Sidewalks; Stoplights; Taylor Mill Road; Traffic

Subjects: Business enterprises--Kentucky--Taylor Mill; Community development; Economic development--Kentucky; Roads--Design and construction--Kentucky.; Taylor Mill (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: And you, you've been a part of a lot of accomplishments in Taylor Mill.

Segment Synopsis: Bell talks about some of his proudest moments as commissioner and mayor of Taylor Mill, focusing on the development of Pride Parkway and the business district.

Keywords: Apartments; Foreclosures; Funding; Housing stock; Investments; Pride Parkway; Property values; Proudest moments; Recessions; Residents; Taxes; Trifecta Building; Winston Avenue

Subjects: Business enterprises--Kentucky--Taylor Mill; Community development; Covington (Ky.); Economic development--Kentucky; Housing development; Roads--Design and construction--Kentucky.; Taylor Mill (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Now you mentioned in 2004, that's when you, you became a commissioner, correct?

Segment Synopsis: Bell discusses how he became involved in politics when he ran for commissioner in 2004. He talks about one of the major issues he was involved with: the development of Taylor Mill Road. He talks about the funding for the construction.

Keywords: 2004; Commissioners; Construction; Expansions; Funding; Gas tax; Highways; Housing; Involvement; Local politics; Plans; Progress; Taylor Mill Road

Subjects: Community development; Economic development--Kentucky; Kentucky--Elections; Politics and government; Roads--Design and construction--Kentucky.; Taylor Mill (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: So, you're very passionate about Taylor Mill and you commit a lot of your time to the city.

Segment Synopsis: Bell talks about his involvement in the Kentucky League of Cities. He describes KLC's mission of protecting cities from state laws that may impact them financially or otherwise. He talks about why a mayor should be involved in county, state, and regional politics that affect their city's residents, and gives examples of some of these issues.

Keywords: "Home rule"; Board of directors; Chairman; Children; City rights; Costs; County Employees Retirement System (CERS); County employees; County government; Dedication; Distribution; Executive board; Financial issues; Gas tax; Guidelines; Involvement; Issues; Kenton County Communications; Kenton County Mayors Group; Kentucky Employees Retirement System (KERS); Kentucky League of Cities (KLC); Legislative board; Lighting; Marsha Setters Bell; Mayors; Meetings; Money; OKI Regional Council; Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments; Pride Parkway; Retirement funds; State employees; State government; State laws; State mandates; Street signs; Teachers; Voice; Wife

Subjects: Business enterprises--Kentucky--Taylor Mill; Community development; Economic development--Kentucky; Kenton County (Ky.); Mayors--Kentucky--Taylor Mill; Politicians--Kentucky; Politics and government; Roads--Design and construction--Kentucky.; Taylor Mill (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: And speaking of problems, we talked a lot about the accomplishments and your proudest moments as mayor, but what has been the most challenging part for you as mayor?

Segment Synopsis: Bell talks about the challenging aspects of being mayor of Taylor Mill, and talks about the importance of being flexible.

Keywords: Business districts; Challenges; Challenging; Changes; Disagreements; Expansion; Flexibility; Growth; Ideas; Zoning issues; Zoning laws

Subjects: Business enterprises--Kentucky--Taylor Mill; Community development; Economic development--Kentucky; Kenton County (Ky.); Mayors--Kentucky--Taylor Mill; Politicians--Kentucky; Politics and government; Roads--Design and construction--Kentucky.; Taylor Mill (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Um, now is there anything that I have not asked you about that you would like to touch on today before we conclude?

Segment Synopsis: Bell says that mayors should be engaged with their residents in order to make good decisions. He talks more about the importance of flexibility and compromise. He talks about his goals for creating an industrial area in Taylor Mill. The interview is concluded.

Keywords: Businesses; Citizens; Compromise; Decisions; Engaged; Flexible; Freight plans; Industrial sites; Involved; Involvement; OKI Regional Council; Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments; Residents; Revenue; Taxes

Subjects: Business enterprises--Kentucky--Taylor Mill; Community development; Economic development--Kentucky; Kenton County (Ky.); Mayors--Kentucky--Taylor Mill; Politicians--Kentucky; Politics and government; Taylor Mill (Ky.)