City Council - Regular Meeting

chocolates. All right. Good evening and welcome to tonight's council meeting for the city of Covington, March 3rd, 2026. This meeting is hereby called to order. I need a roll call. Councilman Callahan here. Councilman Bushnell here. Councilman Roberts. Councilman Enman here. Councilman Burrell here. Councilman Bodzford. Councilman Barrett

here. All right. If you can rise for a moment of silence, which will be followed by the pledge of allegiance. And would our city attorney Rod Rodrigue please lead us in the pledge of

allegiance? To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. We had on the agenda this evening an appearer who asked to be heard. Patrick Brooks with Brooks Bike Shop. I saw on Facebook that he's in Hawaii, so I do not think he is going to be here today. We will move on to the consent calendar. We have regular meeting minutes of February 3rd, 2026. We had special meeting minutes of February 18th and special meeting minutes of February 24th. We certainly had a busy month for the Covenant City Council. Under introduction of item number 2026-03-01, we have an ordinance of the city of Covington to amend the 2026 operating and capital budget. I need a motion to accept the consent calendar.

Motion accepted. Is there a second? Second. Roll call. Councilman Bushnell? Yes. Councilman Roberts? Yes. Councilman Inman? Yes. Councilman Burrell? Yes. Councilman Barrett? Yes. Councilman Callahan. Yes.

Regular agenda unf unfinished business. Items to be voted on. Number one is public hearing and action on item number 2026-02-01. It is an ordinance of the city of Covington amending the following provisions of the Covington Code of Ordinance Chapter 42 Environmental Article 1 and General Section 42-2 Noise Control. I am the sponsor of this item and it is simply because and we have Kevin Collins here today, our deputy chief, that this is not an overhaul of the ordinance. We're going to take a look at all of our ordinances in due time. We have Desire Line that is assisting us and bringing us into what I refer to as the 21st century. But this one here is because we want to give the Coington Police Department the tools because some of the unique circumstances. This is old language that needs to be tweaked. And that language the public safety committee of which I am chairman met with the police department and we crafted and worked with the administration to tweak it so that it can be utilized correctly. Is that a fair assessment? And so those of Can I can I make a point?

Yes, ma'am. So, um we got two ordinances related to this topic and so I just want to clarify the first one is the noise control ordinance. The second one is disturbing the peace. So, they kind of go hand in hand

and it's a very good point because that would be what I just said will also refer to the next one. This would go with disturbing the peace and we've had so that it's a a little clearer for those that are listening some instances where our older ordinances have not allowed the police department to perhaps u write citations and enforce the way that they need to. It is not wholesale changes again but we did make the noise ordinance be in conjunction with the disturbing of the peace and vice versa. So, if there are any public comments, I will hear them now. Come forward and give us your name and address, please. My name's Robin Schulberg. I live at 18522 Louisiana Tongue Road, which is unincorporated Coington. I had a couple of problems with the disturbing the peace ordinance. The one was the question of whistles are included as unreasonably disturbing or alarming the public.

I hate to interrupt, but would do we're going to take that one up next. So, you don't have to go far. You don't have to go far. It's coming. Um, but do you have anything on the noise? No. No, I didn't. All right. So that gives the police department ample warning to discuss whistles when we come back. You want me to clarify what we did with this? Yes.

Okay. So what we did with this ordinance um is we took out a lot of the specificity in terms of the types of noises and all the decibel readings and we basically revised it to lean on disturbing the peace. So if you are just going about your life, living your life, you have a loud neighbor or you hear a loud noise that's disturbing, this would point then to the next ordinance that is up for adoption. What we did keep in this ordinance was construction noise. We kept construction noise in here to make sure that if we have construction that's been permitted or unperitted, we can handle that through code enforcement and through permits because that's going to be handled a little bit differently than a disturbing the peace case. That's it.

All right. Um, any further public comment on the proposed noise ordinance revision? Hearing none, is there any further council or any council comment in regard to the noise ordinance?

I do have a um a quick comment. I think that both of these were u well, how can I say this? Overdue to be uh looked at. just simply because uh I know within the district that I represent, there were a number of instances where the police were well, for a lack of a better way of saying it, um not able to perform their their functions to the degree that they would have liked to. So, this this allows for them to have that pathway going forward. And and I think it's important for our neighbors that, you know, we live around to uh have that peace of mind that they know that they can contact our police department. They can come out, go through an investigation, well assess the circumstances, go through an investigation, and then follow up upon that investigation if need be. So that's it. I I think a nice clean way to say it is that the the older ordinance hampered the ability to do uh their job uh in a timely fashion. And I think that uh kudos to the police department for bringing it to our attention. And like I said, we have a public safety committee meeting. The public doesn't know how many meetings go into all these, but it's a lot. And we didn't want to willy-nilly change the noise ordinance or disturbing the peace. This is only one singular issue about some of this older language that allows the police department to effectively do their job. And I will tell the public that we are going to address we are addressing the entire code of ordinances and I have no doubt we will come back and look at the noise ordinance um and with all the special interests that are involved in it. So, with that, um, if there are no more comments, I need a motion to close the public hearing.

Motion to close. Is there a second? Second. I'll make a motion to adopt. Is there a second? Second. Roll call. Councilman Roberts? Yes. Councilman Enman? Yes. Councilman Burrell? Yes. Councilman Barrett? Yes. Councilman Callahan? Yes. Councilman Butcher?

Yes. Moving on to public hearing and action on item number 2026-02-02. An ordinance of the city of Covington amending the following provisions of the Covington code of ordinance chapter 66 specifically offenses against public morals section 66-106. It's the disturbing the peace ordinance. Um, you've heard the comments that I have made and if you'd like to come up, we would be interested in hearing what you have to say.

What's my name again? Robin Schulberg, 18522 Louisiana, Tong Road, unincorporated Coington. Um, including whistles in item seven, um, an act that unreasonably disturbs or alarms the public. This is not a good time to include it because it's a viewpoint discrimination. Uh it's a what?

Viewpoint discrimination. I'm sure people are aware that ICE and Border Patrol have been in our community and the people come out and film them and blow whistles so that other people in the neighborhood know that ICE is there. and including this makes it look like you're giving police a reason to arrest those people. So that's all I have to say about that. And viewpoint discrimination is pretty serious thing. Um the other comment I had and maybe this should be deferred to when you go over all the ordinances. the language about address um addressing an offensive, decisive, derissive or annoying words. I mean, I'm sure I do that all the time to people. It's it's old language. I know it's been affirmed with the intent requirement, but I think it's over broad under the first amendment. Um, and there have been challenge. Well, I don't know if there have been challenges because that the statute doesn't lend itself to going to the Supreme Court. Um, but I think that is over broad under the um under the first amendment. Um, it takes a common occurrence. Somebody could come up to me and say, I think you're a terrible lawyer and their intent is to make me feel bad and offend me. Now, does that make them disturb? Is that disturbing the piece? No. So, I'd suggest taking words out of this and changing it to threats. And I guess that's something for later.

And and and I would encourage you to participate when we get to that section when we overhaul the ordinance. Um we're we're simply at this point giving the police department all of your examples are um not disturbing the peace. They would be discretionary. We can't take the, you know, the the best the best item the police department has is their discretion. But when they find our ordinance is so out of date that they can't write simple tickets and citations, I think the public safety demands that we give them the tools to do that. Um, anything and everything is subject to challenge. That's why they built the courouses. And at the end of the day, I I appreciate your comments. And we have Deputy Chief Collins here. Um, if you would like to hear from him, I'm sure he would enjoy coming up to the podium. Um, but at the end of the day, he might be able to give you some of that historical perspective of why we're doing what we're doing.

Good afternoon, Deputy Chief Kevin Collins. Um, I won't really go into any historical perspective, but I think you kind of took the words out of my mouth where uh the things that you mentioned are kind of discretionary. I don't think any of our officers would uh immediately write a citation or arrest someone for uh uh just I guess talking bad about somebody like that. I think the discretion part is a u a big um assist third for us. Um and some of those things just like the disturbing the peace with the Norris ordinance once we saw that there was an issue we went to the council and talked to the mayor and we tried to address it accordingly. So, I think that's the same process that's going to happen with some of these issues that you brought up as well as we broaden and uh update some of the city ordinances.

And then as the citation is written um based on the circumstances of what that officer is going observes and sees with criteria that actually have real criteria. Uh keep in mind that that's what the mayor's court and 22nd JDC is for. writing the ticket means nothing more than they have been accused of so doing and they have their day in court. So, but there are instances where this police department has failed to issue citations based upon some old ordinances and that's not acceptable for public safety.

Right. And one last thing before I sit, we also take into consideration the totality of the circumstances. So, it's not just one point. It'll be everything that we observe and we allow our office of discretion to make the right decision. Thank you. Thank you. Sure. Leaving too much to officer discretion is not a good thing when there's a question of constitution. That's why we're doing exactly the opposite. And well, thank you.

But please be involved in the process. Is there any other public comment hearing? None. Is there any further council comment? All right. I need a motion to close the public hearing. Motion to close. I need a second. Second. Is there a motion to adopt? Motion to adopt. And I'll need another second. Second. Roll call, please. Councilman Edman, yes. Councilman Burrell, yes. Councilman Barrett, yes. Councilman Callahan, yes. Councilman Bushnell, yes. Councilman Roberts.

Moving on to public hearing and action on item number 2026-02-03, which is an ordinance of the city of Covington to amend the 2026 operating and capital budget. Councilman Burrow.

Thank you. So, as part of our 2026 budget process, we allocated $200,000 for a Tyler Street corridor uh traffic study. Um, and after further conversation with some of the professionals the city deals with, they said, "You may have an opportunity to expand that study a little bit further out, incorporate some of the feeder streets, um, and sort of bypass streets." And so, this ordinance is going to allocate an additional $100,000 to that study coming from the GMA fund, which is the fund that's funded by the sales tax sharing with the the parish. And uh this could lead to some other grant opportunities um for some of those feeder roads and and roads along the the corridor. And I'll open it up to the administration if they have any further comments.

Yep. You explained that very well. And just so you know, we put out an RFQ for that study and the the responses came in I believe today and so we'll be evaluating those proposals shortly.

All right. Is there any per public comment? any further council comment. I I would point out during u some of the um well, I don't know how to characterize it. We've had some meetings where people have been concerned about traffic. Obviously, we need to do this. Obviously, I music to my ears to talk about opening up the possibility of grants. I think we're um we definitely can use them. So, uh, I need a motion to close the public hearing. Motion to close. I need a second. Second. Motion to adopt. I will make. And is there a second? Second. Roll call, please. Councilman Barrell, yes. Councilman Barrett,

yes. Councilman Callahan, yes. Councilman Bushnell, yes. Councilman Roberts, yes. Councilman Inman, yes. Public hearing and action on item number 2026-02-04. It is an ordinance of the city of Covington to amend the 2026 operating and capital budget. Again, Councilman Burrell.

Thank you. So, as the last item addressed one of our uh concerns around traffic, this item addresses another one of our concerns in the downtown area regarding parking. Um there are two lots that the city has been using or that has been open to the public for parking. Um and those are now on the market for sale and the city does not want to lose those. I think it's about 32 to 35 spaces combined between the two lots. So, uh, this would be an amendment to the capital budget for 2026, an increase of $825,000 to potentially purchase those two lots to keep them in the circulation of parking within the downtown area. And again, administration, any further comments? Uh my only comment would be that uh to keep in mind it's the administration's policy in the previous uh fiscal year. If we don't use funds for a particular project or we come in under budget, we don't necessarily just ship those funds off to something else. We do a roll back and they go back up to what we refer to as the mothership. Interestingly, in the last month or so, we have sent around $800,000 back to the mothership. So, it's not like we're having to deplete our discretionary in uh spending to do this. It's actually the money that we have saved over the past year going back into the account and then we're now reallocating that. As you perfectly pointed out, to lose those parking spaces would be a negative for our downtown. Certainly an important priority. Is there any public comment hearing? None. Is there any further council comment?

I'll make a motion to close the public hearing. Is there a second? Second. I need a motion to adopt. Motion adopt. I need a second. Second. Roll call, please. Councilman Barrett? Yes. Councilman Callahan? Yes. Councilman Bushnell? Yes. Councilman Roberts? Yes. Councilman Inman? Yes. Councilman Barrell? Yes. All right. Moving on to public hearing and action on item number 2026-02-05. It is an ordinance of the city of Covington authorizing the mayor to purchase on behalf of the city of Covington lot 4 squared 222 of the division of St. John. Councilman Bushnell.

Yes sir. Thank you Councilman Barrett. Uh this said property is one of the properties we just spoke about. It's on the corner of Florida and uh Plaza. Uh the property is currently been leased for many years and is uh being utilized as we speak is for public parking.

Any further administration comment hearing? None. Any public comment? Um we're going to have a lot of discussion about parking because um Coington's a destination and it's a good problem to have. But I do want the public to recognize and understand that this is the third the third time we're discussing parking and there's another one right after this. So this administration and council's being proactive and I'm in favor of it. Any other council comment?

The only thing that I would add is that uh worst case scenario this is an investment by the city um in terms of property that is currently being used for parking. Well someone asked well what if we build a garage down the road? Well, then that that property can be resold and we can recoup that money. So, it's not a it's not a one-off situation. It this is something that uh how can I say this? Could actually pay dividends over time uh if the opportunity presents itself down the road. So, that's it. And I would like to point out in case somebody asked because I've been asked at least three times, we're not going to overpay for the property. It is illegal to overpay for the property. It is going to have an appraisal and we are only doing what um um proper elected officials should do. We're trying to address the parking issues and we're gobbling up some pretty dogone good property in the process. So, I need a motion to close the public hearing.

Motion to close. I need a second. Second. Is there a motion to adopt? Motion to adopt. Is there a second? Second. Roll call, please. Councilman Callahan, yes. Councilman Bushnell, yes. Councilman Roberts, yes. Councilman Enman, yes. Councilman Barrell, yes. Councilman Barrett, yes. All right. Public hearing in action on item number 2026-02-06 as promised. It is an ordinance of the city of Covington authorizing the mayor to purchase on behalf of the city of Covington lot 15 square 14. And this is in the division of St. John. Councilman Burrell.

Thank you. Uh yeah, very similar to the last item. uh this particular piece of property. I've actually parked there many times. Frankly, in the past, thought it was public parking. Didn't realize we were just using it as public parking. So, the municipal address is 812 Rutland Street. It's between Lee Lane and Florida. Um so, right in really the heart of commerce over there. And it's about depending on how the people are parking. It's a gravel lot. So, there's not lines, but between 21 and 24 cars. So, it's imperative that we keep that in commerce. All right. Is any uh further public com or any public comment or further council comment or administration comment?

Yeah, hold on just one second. Um, so the purchase of the lots that we're talking about, I think the ordinance number is incorrect. So on this one, that's up for adoption. says 2026-07 when in fact 0205. I don't have an 07. I got a six7 drops down. So at the top of this it says ordinance number 20267. Hold on.

Further down the list 2607 should have been item number seven. I think what happened is instead of putting a an ordinance number at the top of the document, it's a resolution number. That's what's happened. It's a typo. Which one is this? Lot four, square 22 or the lot 15. Lot 15. Lot 15 square 14. It should be 2026206. 2026. Yes. And it just says 20. Well, all they all say just 2026- 08.

Okay. Let's look at it later. Yeah, we need to amend this. Is that what's that? Mine's good. We had this is what it So what is it just out of order? No. I'll have to explain it to you.

All right. Um typed ordinance. City of Covington, state of Louisiana. It has ordinance number 2026-08. Um, we will change that. So, as part of the vote, I want the vote to be either for or against. And the vote will also be to amend the actual first page with the number. I think that's fair. I think that's a good way to do it.

So, with that being said, um, is there a motion to close the public hearing? Motion. and a second. Second. A motion to adopt. Motion to adopt and second and a roll call. Um, Councilman Bushnell, yes. Councilman Roberts, yes. Councilman Inman, yes. Councilman Burrell, yes. Councilman Barrett, yes. Councilman Callahan, yes.

All right. And um, Council Clerk and CEO will change them first and the council president and the mayor will sign the the actual ordinance. All right. Under new business, items to be voted on. Resolution number 2026-03. This is a resolution of the Covington City Council confirming the capital outlay and encumbrance rollovers from the 2025 budget to the 2026 budget. Councilman Roberts.

Yes, sir. Thank you. Um, well, one, before I get into this, uh, it's a good reminder of how much work goes into our budget. So, kudos to all the, uh, administrative and everyone that that does the work because there is a lot in here. Um, so it's it's exactly what it says. It's a rollover and all it's asking to say is anything that's been in progress remaining to be done, it's been delayed. You'll see the comments. It tells you where those projects are. If it was happening in 2025 and it hasn't been finished, it has to roll over to 2026. So you'll get all the explanations there and the projects that are still again in progress, delayed or again has to be completed in some way. So it's just an approval process. It's really a office work, administrative work. there's anything to follow up on that.

So, um, as you know, we do this every year. So, if we have any capital projects that have been budgeted in previous years, um, and the project is still ongoing, we roll those funds over so we can complete the project. Also, if we have a an operating expense or a a project that is a lower cost, so it doesn't qualify as a capital project, but it's under a purchase order, an active purchase order, that's called an incumbrance, and we roll those over as well, so we can complete the purchase. All right. U Are there any council questions for administration? Are there any public comments? Hearing none. I'll need a motion to accept. Motion. I need a second. Second.

Roll call, please. Councilman Roberts, yes. Councilman Inman, yes. Councilman Barrell, yes. Councilman Barrett, yes. Councilman Callahan, yes. Councilman Bushnell, yes. All right, moving on to resolution number 2026-04, a resolution of the Covington City Council adopting the 2026 St. Tamony Parish multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan update. We have with us Chris Brown and rather than me tell you what I already know and then can't explain, he will attempt to do so.

Thank you. So, the hazard mitigation plan is something that's required by FEMA. It has to be updated every five years. Um, and this is the plan is what gives us the ability to receive hazard mitigation grant funding from from FEMA. Without a hazard mitigation grant or without a hazard mitigation plan, a jurisdiction is not eligible to receive any grant funding from FEMA. So it's very important and actually um the so we do a multi-jurisdictional plan. So all of the jurisdictions within St. Tam Parish collaborate and come up with a singular plan. The consultant that develops the plan for us is actually paid for by a grant through GOEP. So the jurisdictions have no actual physical cost in in developing the plan. And this year, one of the things that was that was new that I want to give kudos to our residents is that um the steering committee that develops the plan, we actually have an equal number of residents and two city employees. So there were three city employees on the steering committee. There were three residents and those three residents were Donna Neil, Patrick Fulton and um Lynette Budet um who develop who devoted a significant amount of their own personal time to attend these meetings and it's greatly appreciated. So I would I would ask that that the council adopt the plan.

Very important. All right. Uh, council questions, any public comment or questions? When he said hurricane and important, he got our attention. Um, all right. Thank you, sir. Um, I need a motion to accept. Motion. Is there a second? Second. Roll call. Councilman Edmond? Yes. Councilman Barrell? Yes. Councilman Barrett? Yes. Councilman Callahan? Yes. Councilman Bushnell? Yes. Councilman Roberts?

Yes. All right. Now, we have resolution number 2026-05. It is a resolution of the Covington City Council informing the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality of the actions regarding the sewage treatment facility. And we have a U guest speaker who is going to tell us how it's it's good news, correct? Yes, sir. All right. Give us your name and your address and and tell us about it.

Good evening. I'm uh David Curtis with Curtis Environmental. We are a environmental consultant and we do work for the uh city of Covington. Some I've seen familiar faces. Some of y'all a little new faces. Uh we've been doing work for the city of Covington for over almost 40 years now. Um you were one of my parents very first customers when we started back in the uh late 70s, early 80s. So we have been uh doing this type of work for the city for a long time and we do appreciate being able to do that. Um, so part of what I'm here for today is y'all have an LPDS permit to discharge into the receiving streams. Of that, you are required to do what's called an MWPP audit, which looks at seven different categories over the course of your treatment plant, your operations, what is the loading coming in, what is going out. So, it's a seven-part plan. Um, the lower the score, the better. Um, I don't know, I guess y'all have it in front of y'all this year. Um, so you'll kind of look and I'll breeze through if you have any questions, you know, let us know. Uh, but this is a formality of the LPDS permit and it's required. Um, so part one looks at influent flow, your ability to take in loadings throughout the collection system and handle that load at your treatment plant while not going over your wastewater treatment plant design capacity. Um, y'all have an EQ basin that you're able during high rain events to discharge into that prevent you from overloading your plant and keeping your plant within compliance. Um you'll see this year you actually had a lower score. You didn't have any violations where your influent flow or your discharge went above the design capacity. So so that's good. So the things that y'all are investing in are continuing to work. Um effluent quality. This to me is one of the most important ones. Uh you'll see again y'all had a zero. The city of Covington averages a 2.7 BOD, which that looks at the ability to reduce organic matter throughout the treatment plant in a two TSS. So that's solids leaving your plant. Um, you have two guys sitting in the back over there.

They do an excellent job of running your facility. Um, I think DEQ was actually out there a couple weeks ago and they couldn't find anything wrong. I mean, it was kind of, you know, the guy was efficient

and that's their job. They nitpick. They look through everything with a fine tooth comb. when I'm telling you I I have I run a lot of see a lot of plants. This is the best that I know that's out there. And I think they echoed that very loud to a lot of people. So, u those are sometimes the people that get forgotten the wastewater treatment side of it, but uh they do a very very good job. Like I said, some of these methods, the lowest we can see is a two and y'all are right there at what we can barely see, almost non-detecting. So, that that is very good. Um, moving on, like the age of the wastewater treatment plant, unfortunately, unless you do a major project or something like that, you really can't lower that. That goes up every year by two and a half points. So, so it will continue to go up some. Um, but again, that's that's not something that's going to really hurt you. U, the big one that I think that is really a big improvement this year is the overflows and bypasses. Um, historically, you know, y'all have an older collection system that heavy rain events and things like that, they inundate your system and sometimes do prevent o overflows in the collection system. Um, I know that the collection side of the wastewater department has been investing a lot of money into pumps and telemetry and generators and things like that to prevent this. And it's very evident that they dropped almost 30 points this year to do that. So continuing to invest in not only the treatment plant but your collection system is very key here. So um that's a big one. I mean that that dropped your score because you overall dropped throughout the year. So that that that's that's good. Um just continue putting money back in if you can. I know the mayor may ask you for some or the the wastewater department. That's some budget items you should always allocate. Um the next part is being able to dispose of sludge. Um, I don't know how many of y'all have been to the treatment plant. Y'all actually have a way to digest sludge, put it through a belt press, and you actually take it and it's land applied in Kilm,

Mississippi. Uh, they reuse it. They grow corn for cattle and soybeans and all of that that is reused for uh food for animals. Um, so that is done. You're able to dispose of it. You don't have it. There are some places that can't do it. Um, the next is development. you do. We we have always added points to that because the city of Covington is always growing. You always have people coming in here. To me, those are good points. I would take those every year and continue to do so. Um so, you did have 15 points there. Operator training. Um all of your operators are required depending on the number of licenses to get eight hours per license per year. Um and all of them maintain their licenses. They go to training. They do uh we get CEUs is what it's called to be able to get continued education credits. So they all do that. Uh in total you went from last year at 90 points to 57.5 this year. So overall you decreased a lot and and it's evident by you know y'all putting money back into not only the treatment plant, the collection system and having good operators on staff. I mean that that's a very hard thing to find right now in an age where we're losing operators. They're retiring and you know y'all have a very good staff. So it makes your life and my life easier as a lab and consultant to be able to, you know, continue doing this. So overall, again, this is just kind of a formality. There is an ordinance at the end that you'll have to to uh vote on and keep every year. You'll see me here and and as long as the city has us, we will come back and continue to present this. And we work very handily with the wastewater staff for anything that comes up and any way we can help. And we do appreciate it. Um, so any questions?

No, that's good news. and you're coming asking us to get a lower score. So, we're gonna try to get a lower score. Yeah. So, I mean, look, more money into the collection system, you know, SCADA system, telemetry, generators, any way you can prevent it to where we can get the water out of the collection system into the EQ basins into the treatment plant for treatment. I mean, that that's that's always a a plus. So, if we can continue to get that number trending down, you know, that that's the way that we would like to be able to go. So, thank you, sir. Shout out to Mike Brandt. Absolutely. Thanks.

So, yeah. Thank you, sir. Yes, sir. Um, any other public comment or council comment? The only council comment I have is, uh, I'm glad we have this institutional knowledge sitting over there in those chairs that can take care of these problems and stay on top of things. So, well done, gents. I appreciate you. All right. Um, I think that means that Councilman Inman did a motion to accept. I did indeed. I'll take a second. Second. Roll call, please. Councilman Burrell, yes. Councilman Verrett, yes. Councilman Callahan, yes. Councilman Bushnell, yes. Councilman Roberts, yes. Councilman Inman,

yes. All right. We have resolution number 2026-07. It is a resolution of the Covington City Council confirming the appointment of Pamela McCay as the District Aointment to the Covington Planning and Zoning Commission to fill an unexpired term. Normally the uh Councilman of District A would have this, but Councilman Lewis had um made the appointment and so with his resignation, we have it um as unfinished business, so to speak. Is there any public comment or council comment? Hearing none, I will make a motion to accept. Is there a second? Second.

Roll call, please. Councilman Barrett, yes. Councilman Callahan, yes. Councilman Bushnell, yes. Councilman Roberts, yes. Councilman Inman, yes. Councilman Barrell, yes. All right. Our last resolution for the evening is resolution number 2026-08. A resolution of the Covington City Council acknowledging and accepting the petition for an oil change business at 73018 Highway 25 in the city of Covington. Councilman Bushnell.

Thank you, sir. Uh Covenant Cota orders section 22-3 requires a petitioner to of the city council prior to any issue of any permit for an oil business. Uh the owner has obtained written uh written approval from the property over 300 feet as I sent it to all of the other properties on Highway 25 on the south. Is that my understanding? So they're in compliance. Well, being in compliance, uh is there any public comment or council comment? Hearing none, is there a motion to accept? Motion. Is there a second? Second. Roll call, please. Councilman Callahan, yes. Councilman Bushnell, yes. Councilman Roberts,

yes. Councilman Enman, yes. Councilman Barrell, yes. Councilman Barrett, yes. We will move on to comments and reports from our council district and committees and we will begin with district A. Councilman Callahan. Thank you. I don't have any at this time. Thank you, sir. District B, Councilman Bush. Now,

thank you, Councilman Barrett. Well, spring is in the air and so are all our events. So, highlight a couple we got coming up this this month. Uh St. Patrick's Day concert Thursday, March 12th at the trail head at 5:30. Uh the Covington Celtic Club Parade will be Saturday, March 14th at noon in the downtown. Rocking the Rails is kicking off this month as well, March 26, that's Thursday, March 26 at 5:30 at Reverend Peter Atkins Park. And also our final Friday block parties also kick off on March 27th at 6 PM. Just a little friendly reminder too that the daylight savings time kicks in Sunday. So don't use that as the excuse to miss Sunday service. So

and an opportunity to purchase a ticket to help Coington. There we go. Come on now. How can someone participate if they would like to participate? And what is it? Covet High Football is having their reverse raffle we have every year. Uh benefits go strictly to the football team. Uh you get a entry two people to a we throw a party with food and drink and music and you also get a chance to win $10,000. Anybody interested contact myself or coach Salter or you can even go by Holden's record. Thank you. Excellent. Thank you, sir. District C.

Absolutely. Uh District C is actually quiet. I don't have anything to say about JC, but I do want to say these words, desire line. We had the opportunity to walk over there, go see what they're doing. Uh it was a public uh open to the public. It was kind of heartbreaking to not see a lot of people there because what they're doing is amazing. The information they're getting out, the information they're collecting. So, if you have some input of what you think Coington should look like and the integrity you want to keep and and everything that's Cington to keep at Coington, get there when they ask you to come there because they're using that information to design what Coington may or may not look like in the future. So, kudos to them. Super organized, super knowledgeable, had a lot of questions, a lot of conversation, and uh left there impressed is probably the best word that I can use. So, kudos to Desire Line.

Very good point. District D. Well, following up with uh Councilman Roberts, um Desire Line has been most impressive in my uh interactions with him. Very professional, professional, very knowledgeable, and uh I think we're in good hands. I would like to see, as he mentioned, more of the public involved. Uh but good stuff. In terms of the district, District D, uh over on Jefferson, there's some new sidewalks. Uh when I do my my drive in the district, I am making note of potholes and uh letting the uh city public works department know about those and they've been good about getting out and uh putting putting down uh some cold mix or some uh crush stone uh and then I follow up as well and make sure that uh it is up to snuff so to speak. Tyler Street corridor study, it's incredibly important to the district. Um as you know there there are streets on both sides. North Taylor, um, South Taylor, and Jefferson. So, key corridors that are off the Tyler Street corridor. And then, uh, the library. What's going on there? Well, they have a Gene Lefit, uh, um, activity, if you will, where they're going to discuss his, uh, well, in some cases, not so good exploits because he was a Buccaneer. Uh, that's going to be Wednesday the 18th, 11:30 to 12:30. Um, Medicare 101. If you you're like myself and you're working your way to 65, well, they have a workshop for that. Monday uh the 23rd, that's 6:00 p.m. to 7:30. And then there's the extravaganza Saturday the 29th, 10:00 a.m. to noon. So, you can bring your kids out to that. In local sports, the old coach in me has to mention this. Powerlift and state championships are coming up March 25th to 28th. So, good luck to all of our local schools for participating in that. boys basketball playoffs tonight. Uh Covington High School and Archbishop

Hannon are both uh involved in that. Good luck to those gents. And then soccer state champions. The Hannon girls under coach Peters went 20 win finished the season with 20 wins, one draw and one loss. Uh North Lake Christian under coach Nick Chedetta. Uh this is his fourth or fifth state title. I can't remember, but he's he's got a lineage of success there that is noteworthy. And then SSA St. Scholastica under coach Benji. That's a three repeat. So, good luck uh to the to the people who are in the playoffs this evening. And of course, the power state powerlifting state championships and congratulations to those soccer teams. Uh these student athletes put a lot of work, time, and effort in and you can get a whole lot of out of athletics u with participating in those. So that's all.

Thank you, sir. District key.

All right. Thank you. Um, thank you to all the city employees and every department for another successful Marty Gro. Y'all have done such a good job over the years, and we've turned into a real signature um, and destination for those events for a nice family-friendly environment. So, thank you again. I know that's a lot of hard work. When I was a kid, there was a movie called Never Ending Story, Fred Savage, which leads me to the Columbia Street Landing stage. Um, been working on that since my first meeting and uh, we were real close I thought at our last meeting because we were going out to bid and we did. The bids came in a bit higher than we had anticipated. So, we're doing a little bit of value engineering with the architect trying to get that um, a little bit more in line with our budget, but um, we're going to get it done. Uh, as long as I'm here, we're going to get it done. Um, and so that leads me to the first uh, Sunset at the Landing concert is going to be on March 20th. Um, we're going to utilize the city's temporary stage. So, the concert's going to happen March 20th and, uh, it's going to be a great event. Um, couple other events that I don't think have been mentioned yet. Uh, Chef Suare, sorry if somebody mentioned that, but March 15th, Bugfly Park. Um, and there's a keep coington beautiful event on March 22nd at the Firehouse Event Center from 2 to 4. And I think that's all I've got right now. Thank y'all.

Thank you, sir. Well, uh, the council's certainly committed to to the landing stage and, uh, I know administration's worked on it, but, uh, we're going to we're going to get that completed. Now, is it speed of government? Um, this has been this has been speed of u a different country's government. We we we're going to get it done. All right. So, um, I did want to I came here to talk about the Covenant Heritage Foundation and all that they do and their events and it's time to renew membership councilman and uh, our signature farm-totable event and it is going to be off the charts. We're going to have local farmers and it's going to be the the explanation by the chefs of utilizing it and talking about the history of Covington. And I want to invite all of y'all except for the fact that it's sold out in 5 days and I think that is indicative again of people care about their community. They want to be involved. Um we will we will do some more events, but thanks to the city for assisting us with that. It'll be held at the trail head and um please join. That's the first of many events we'll have throughout the year. And with that being said, uh we are moving the April we have moved the March 31st city council meeting to April 7th. So if everyone will take note of that

reverse, reverse. That's exactly what I meant. I was wondering. Um, so with that, are there any administrative or administration or mayor Mark comments?

Few Mayor Mark comments. We'll start off with kudos to the NAACP and Councilman Callahan and those folks. on short notice. They put together the MLK March and the MLK uh program um on very short notice and uh and got that put together uh and we've initiated conversations about future holiday events that will be back with the NAACP working on that. Uh Monty Gro was big. It was really big. Uh tens of thousands of people for the Saturday night parade, tens of thousands on Marty GR day. Uh Marty Paws was a big success. Uh we mentioned the four unplug concert coming up uh that uh on the Thursday before St. Patrick's Day. The uh Cington Celtic parade is coming up. Uh another walking parade. Youth service bureau will have chefs at Boga Park. That's one of the events that we grandfathered into the park. That Monster Mash Sparks at the park. Um one other one.

Uh what's that? Blueberry.

Blueberry. Um, we could we could rent the park out every weekend from now till the end of the year and we don't. And and that's one of the things that you guys don't always see is the administration or specifically the mayor telling organizations no we're not going to do that. We do offer the trail head which is a great alternative. The British car show actually came to us to host it at Bogafly Park initially and we switched them over to the trail head and I think it's turned out to be a much much better venue. Shamrock Sprint is coming up. That's uh we we have a moratorum on any more 5ks in downtown. Uh they close up too many streets uh take up too much uh too many resources. Um I can't read my writing.

March to Apr Oh. Oh, rocking the rails coming up March through April. Block parties are start kicking up. Uh the British car show we mentioned. I tell you all that to tell you this. When it comes to cultural arts and events, music shows, fundraiser fun walks, uh car shows, block parties. The city of Covington is not at capacity. We are beyond capacity. our PD, our fire, our public works, our administration are strained to keep up with the size of the events that we're doing and the number of events that we're doing. So, I wanted the council to know this because I wanted you to be aware that if you get feedback from somebody coming to you saying, "Well, you know, we wanted to do this great event in downtown Covington and the mayor said no." The mayor said, "No, we we can't. Uh we we can we can handle some maybe out of Peter Atkins or uh a little further out if you want to do a walk or whatever. Uh we have a a little march coming up later this month. Uh they want to go down Boston Street and then down New Hampshire during the British car show. Now, we accommodated them. Deputy Chief Collins worked with them and came up with an alternative route. But I I need you guys to be aware that we do not have the resources to say yes to just everybody who comes in that wants to do an event in in Covington. And uh and kudos as you guys have alluded to uh to uh administration, to cultural arts and events, to the fire department, to the police department, to public works for the work they have done. You know, we the Monty Gro parades are beyond our control now. If you if you really honestly know, they're beyond our control. And uh and and kudos to our residents and our citizens and our

spectators for maintaining the control that they do themselves. Uh because we couldn't do it without their good behavior. But u anyway, I just wanted to uh give you a heads up that if you hear someone say, "Hey, the mayor said we couldn't do this." There's pretty valid reason. And a very nice Southern Living article, too, I might add, if people wish to to Yeah, they didn't use my good side. Well, I don't know. That oak tree looked pretty good back there.

Yes. To uh to Councilman Brent. Uh we've got a tremendous article highlighting Covington in this current issue of Southern Living magazine. Just a a real um just just kind of um the pinnacle of everything we've been working on for the past several years. built upon the foundation that quite frankly previous administrations laid down and uh we were able to come in and put the bloom on the rose. So, uh we're in a good place. Good place. All right. Anything else from administration? Uh with that, happy birthday. When did this occur? Is it today?

Oh, well. I really don't want to extend this uh meeting but um happy birthday. All right. So clarification the next meeting will be Tuesday March 31st and not April 7th right March 31st and not April 7th. Got it. And we'll council members got that? All right. See y'all. I got to