City Council - Regular Meeting

I have his.

All right. Good evening. We have a special council meeting this evening and this meeting is hereby called to order. I need a roll call. Councilman Bushnell, yes. Councilman Roberts here. Councilman Inman here. Council member Burrell. Councilman Bodzford here. Councilman Barrett. Yeah. Here. It just didn't come out. You can tell it's a special council. It's very special. All right. If you can rise for a brief moment of silence, which will be followed with the pledge of allegiance. And would Mr. John Callahan lead us in the pledge of allegiance?

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay, here we go. We will begin this evening with resolution number 2024-31. It is a resolution of the Covington City Council appointing John Callahan as the interim councilman for district 8. I've known John for a little bit of time and um when Councilman Lewis resigned on February 4th, 2026, uh there was a name that came to mind and it was John Callahan. He has served and he served exceptionally well and my only concern was whether he would say yes if he was asked and he was asked and he said yes. So John, thank you very much.

No problem. We appreciate it. Um, I'm sure some of the other council members have a few comments, but I specifically uh want you to know that uh it it means a great deal for those people that do serve and then to come back again when I asked. Thank you. That's a that's a that's a doubly good thing. So, there's additional council comments. Just want to say thank you for answering the call and looking forward to working with you. All right, Bush. Yeah, it's a it's a bit surreal for me because been there, done that, man. So, I get to serve with you for a year and uh it feels like yesterday and it's what been seven years I think. So, kudos man. I appreciate you coming back and doing this for us. Appreciate it.

I appreciate you coming back. I came to the council meetings way before and got to watch the mastery at work. Oh, no problem. And uh learned a lot from you and uh it's good to see you back. Thank you. Uh I just know the family very well. They're good people. Uh your sister, Lady D, as I called her. Diane was a wonderful woman, blessed our community. So, I'm very happy to have you on the council. Thank you. Yes, sir. Is any public comment or comment from anyone else? And hearing none, John, I think the uh odds are looking fairly good that you're going to get a favorable vote. Appreciate it. I will make a motion to accept and I would like a second. Second. Roll call, please.

Councilman Roberts? Yes. Councilman Inman? Yes. Councilman Burrell? Oh, sorry. Um, Councilman Bossford, Councilman Verrett, yes. Councilman Bushnell, yes. Congratulations, John. And one of the things that we will do is we will have you sworn in by our city attorney. And I know you are very familiar with Rod. So, um, John, we have a Bible over here. Would you like one? Or you just want to do it without? That's up to you. Hold up. We're going to have Councilman Roberts come around. Want to take a picture of him, too. Let me get it. I, John Callahan, I, John Callahan,

do solemnly swear do solemnly swear I will support I will support the Constitution and laws the Constitution and laws of the United States of the United States and the Constitution and laws and the Constitution and laws of this state of this state. And I will faithfully I will faithfully and impartially impartially discharge and perform discharge and perform all the duties all the duties incumbent upon me incumbent upon me as Cington City Council as Cington City Council District A district A according to the best of my ability according to the best of my ability and understanding and understanding so help me God. So help me God.

Congratulations Thank you, sir.

Mr. President, Mr. Roby knows that by all. I'm impressed. He's done it. He's done it a few times.

All right. Under our consent calendar, we have introduction of item number 2026-0204, an ordinance of the city of Covington to amend the 2026 operating and capital budget. We will also be introducing this evening item number 2026-02-05, which is an ordinance of the city of Covington authorizing the mayor to purchase on behalf of the city of Covington, lot 4, square 22 of the division of St. John. And that is in also in conjunction with introduction of item number 2026-02-06 an ordinance of the city of Covington authorizing the mayor to purchase on behalf of the city of Covington lot 15 square 14 of the division of St. John. I need a motion to accept a consent calendar.

So moved. Is there a second? Second. Roll call, please. Councilman Inman, yes. Councilman Boser, yes. Councilman Barrett, yes. Councilman Callahan. Yes. Councilman Bushnell. Yes. Councilman Roberts. Yes. Councilman in it. I'm I'm a Yes. Again.

As I sit down and do the agenda, I'm reminded maybe two meetings a month is too many for this city. the um the March uh city of Covenant Council meeting will be on Tuesday, March 3rd at 6 PM here in the council chambers. And as a reminder, we are or we have moved the um April 7th city council meeting to March 31st due to the Easter break. Um and the proposed visit across the street has been postponed till um the following month. Okay. So that in March we were going to go across the street waiting on their on the furniture. All right. Moving at the speed

speed of government. Well, talking about the speed of government, I will say that on the way over here and I was around our city all day today, it is absolutely remarkable to me how clean after seeing how unclean it I it's it's just amazing. Other than the than somebody's idea that toilet paper is a good idea to throw in the trees, other than that, our city is spotless and I want to thank public works includ public works just uh unbelievable. Guys are just on it and they take such great pride in it and it shows. Absolutely. Good way to put it. Good.

And police and fire of course did their did their part and all those that came public safety wise from all over the community to help. It's a it's a big endeavor. So, anyone have any other council comments? Yeah, just uh as the uh the old soccer coach, I want to wish our local, you know, sports teams that are in the playoffs good luck. They're in the semi-finals, so it's they're working their way to state. We've got uh squads from SSA, Hannon, and North Lake Christian. So, good luck to those. Keep Coington rolling. That's it. All right. Uh administration have anything else? No. Hearing none, we're

ajourned. There you go.