EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
April Draper
Accreditation Program Coordinator, Covington Fire Department
- Where were you born? Mobile, Alabama
- What was your first car? 1979 Baby Blue Ford Fairmont
- What is the last job before you worked at the city? Office manager at VendAmerica
- How long have you worked for the city? 17 years
- What is your favorite part about working with the city? My co-workers
- What is your favorite book and/or movie? Book: Harry Potter; all of them. Movie: Under the Tuscan Sun. I watch it every time it comes on.
- Where is your ideal vacation spot? Anywhere tropical
- What is your favorite food? Mexican
- If you could have dinner with a celebrity, dead or alive, who would it be? Dolly Parton
- What is your hidden talent? Singing. I've been in a few bands and won some awards.
- Name one thing you are proud of in your life. My children
2020 Accomplishments
The City Looks Back on 2020 Accomplishments
A year ago on March 13th, COVID-19 was declared a national emergency. The pandemic changed the way we worked, played and interacted with each other in 2020 as it closed down schools and businesses and put a stop to activities around the country.
But in the midst of this new, unconventional and challenging way of life, the City's priority remained our citizens: offering services, support and even a glimpse of normalcy. We wanted to share a snapshot of the accomplishments we, as a team, achieved together in 2020. Select the button below to see the list in its entirety.
- Fiber mapping/Telecom coordinator discussion
- City Council meeting
- Downtown district traffic and parking study meeting
- Electric evaluations
- AMI meeting/update
- Position request rankings
- ICMA fellow interview
- Electric supplier meeting
- WE LEAD planning
- Annexation study draft review
- Citizens Review Board planning
- Employee milestones event
- Grant discussion
- Strong Towns application
- FY Budget 2021-2022
Mayor Steve Horton signed the Bicentennial Proclamation recognizing Newton County's 200 year celebration and the Bicentennial flag was raised at City Hall.
City Arborist Darrin Smith (L) and arborist crew members John Hendrix (center) and John Cox (R) have been working diligently to transform Employee Park into an enjoyable, relaxing destination.
This is a "before" image of the park prior to the Arborist Crew pruning the trees and a contractor removing the holly bushes.
And this is the "after" picture once the Arborist Crew completed the work.
Skeet marks 10-years at Land App
Congrats Skeet! This March completes 10 years at the LAS! He is dog #3 of the LAS….falling in line behind his predecessors Coretta and Nadine. His job is ‘Armadillo Patrol’ as described by the GA EPD-Safe Dams to keep armadillos out and away from the LAS pond dam. His daily patrol still includes 4 to 6 miles per day. He’s never missed a day and always glad to be there.
- Repaired three water leaks and investigated another leak
- Worked on four fire hydrants and replaced two
- Completed several miscellaneous jobs
- Completed 30 meter orders: replaced or fixed broken meters
- Worked on Accreditation
- Worked on Water/Sewer Budget
Pictured: Zach Mckibben repairs a water service hit by a contractor.
- One drop service for maintenance
- One drop service for tree removal
- One drop service for demolition
- One temporary meter installed
- Three temporary meters removed
- One underground transformer painted
- Ten trouble/outage calls
- Nine light orders completed
- 27 LED lights installed
Pictured: Richy Cook climbing a pole to fix a security light
- Raised 12 secondary loops for fiber attachments
- Installed seven light poles and 15 LED lights for Benton Woods Subdivision
- Eight permanent power orders completed
- Installed 96 meters for permanent power at Legends
- Four underground services installed
- Three security lights removed
- Two secondary poles installed
- Right of way cleared 1200 feet of ROW for a primary relocation
- Removed four dead trees from right of way
- Completed five right of way orders
Pictured: Richy Cook at top of pole to repair a security light
- Two emergency leak calls investigated.
- Six check meter requests completed.
- Three rectifier inspections completed and twenty cathodic protection readings collected and recorded.
- Three inspections and unlock meter requests completed along with one service call.
- Three shorts repaired on CP system.
- Twenty-three gas meters painted by staff.
- Three service calls completed.
- Two leaks investigated and repaired.
- Four new services installed.
- One service was retired by construction crew.
- Eight services were flagged and measured for installs.
- Repairs completed on two high pressure service regulator stations.
- Four employees attended recertification training at the Georgia Utility Training Academy in Monroe.
- Mike Jewell attended a GMA Legislative Policy Council virtual meeting.
- Mike Jewell attended virtual Natural Gas Association of Georgia Board Meeting.
- Three Planning and Zoning meetings were attended virtually by staff.
Pictured: A cathodic protection rectifier rung inspection and testing. These rectifiers are placed throughout our system to protect the steel piping from corrosion. Picture taken by Gary "Cookie" Cook.
Total CAD Calls Received: 1,789
Total Agency Calls Generated: 2,053
Law Calls Generated: 1,643 (80.03%)
- Covington Police Department - 502 (24.45%)
- Covington Marshal’s Office - 0 (0.00%)
- Newton County Animal Control - 4 (0.19%)
- Newton County Sheriff's Office - 1,023 (49.83%)
- Oxford Police Department - 36 (1.75%)
- Porterdale Police Department - 78 (3.80%)
Fire Calls Generated: 169 (8.23%)
- Covington Fire Department: 45 (2.19%)
- Newton County Fire Department: 124 (6.04%)
Newton County EMS Calls Generated: 241 (11.74%)
PATROL
- On March 2, CPD officers responded to the hospital to a report of a penetrating trauma. Upon arrival, officers spoke with a male who stated that earlier in the day he was in Atlanta when a dispute broke out between individuals somewhere near the gathering place. He attempted to get out of the way of the dispute and he was cut. Atlanta PD was contacted and the victim’s contact information was passed along.
- On March 3, CPD officers responded to the LaQuinta Inn on the Access Road where a U-Haul truck and trailer were taken overnight. The truck contained all of the victim’s personal property as he and his family were moving from South Carolina to Louisiana. The trailer contained a 2018 Harley Davidson XL883N Iron motorcycle (VIN--1HD4LE215JC422632) black in color with black windshield and black bags, black wheels and bearing SC tag # ZG5291. The truck contained all of the family’s belongings which included memorabilia and a heart shaped urn containing the ashes of their six-month-old son who died five years ago. The following day the truck and trailer were seen by a citizen abandoned on the side of Forrest Park Road in Atlanta. APD was called and they confirmed the vehicles were stolen. CPD's CID then responded and searched the vehicles for the urn with negative results. CID is following up on tips from citizens in an effort to locate the family’s belongings and more importantly, the ashes of their loved one.
- On March 3, a female reported to CPD that she was scammed by an unknown male who claimed to be in customer service for CashApp. She made a $426.57 deposit to the bogus CashApp account but the money ultimately went to an account called Galaxy. This case was turned over to CID.
- On March 4, an employee of a business on the square reported to CPD that there was a suspicious male making her nervous. The male told the female that he could not do her job because it involved handling cash and that she could be robbed. He told her that he would not rob her but if he had a gun he could. The male was described as a heavy-set white male in his mid-30’s, no facial hair and wearing a red t-shirt with brown shorts.
- On March 5, CPD officers responded to a residence on Flat Shoals Road where a 2020 black Charger was reported stolen. The owner left it running and went in the house. When he came out, it was gone. Approximately two hours later the vehicle was found wrecked on Cook Road. It was towed by CPD and held for processing.
- On March 5, CPD officers responded to the ER where two females were in an altercation with each other. Female 1 brought the twelve-year-old daughter of female 2 to the ER because the juvenile’s blood sugar was high and needed to be checked out. Officers were told that female 2 had pending DFACS cases relating to the juvenile’s medical condition. On call, DFACS and the county DFACS worker were both notified. The juvenile was transported to Egleston because of her high blood sugar.
- On March 5, CPD officers responded to Turner Lake Road and Hwy. 278 in reference to an accident with injuries. The at fault driver was suspected of DUI and due to his injuries was flown to Atlanta Medical. The accident investigation was handled by GSP.
- On March 6, Newton County deputies were involved in a car chase which started on I-20 at exit 90 and ended on Lackey Street. The driver exited the vehicle and ran through the woods into Walker’s Bend subdivision. CPD officers assisted in searching for the male and subsequently, Officer Yarbrough located him and turned him over to deputies.
CID
CID Sgt. Allan Seebaran examined Person Crimes and Property Crimes CID detectives worked for March 1 to March 7, 2021 and compared them with the previous two years. He found the following results:
PERSON CRIMES
From March 1 to March 7, 2019, there were nine reported person crimes; from March 1 to March 7, 2020, there were five reported person crimes; and from March 1 to March 7, 2021, there were six reported person crimes. For this time period, the statistics were as follows:
- There was a 44% decrease (from nine to five) in reported person crimes from 2019 to 2020.
- There was a 20% increase (from five to six) in reported person crimes from 2020 to 2021.
- There was a 33% decrease (from nine to six) in reported person crimes from 2019 to 2021.
PROPERTY CRIMES
From March 1 to March 7, 2019, there were 16 reported property crimes; from March 1 to March 7, 2020, there were 28 reported property crimes; and from March 1 to March 7, 2021, there were 19 reported property crimes. For this time period, the statistics were as follows:
- There was a 75% increase (from 16 to 28) in reported property crimes from 2019 to 2020.
- There was a 32% decrease (from 28 to 19) in reported property crimes from 2020 to 2021.
- There was a 19% increase (from 16 to 19) in reported property crimes from 2019 to 2021.
OPERATIONS
A Shift
- A Shift responded to auto accident (pictured) with injuries at Turner Lake and Hwy. 278. Landing Zone (LZ) was set up in the old K-Mart shopping center to fly one to Grady.
- A Shift responded to eight calls during the week. B-2 had seven responses; E-21 had five responses; S-21 had two responses; and R-21 had two responses
- Station 22 installed smoke detector
- Lawn maintenance completed at both stations
- Tuesday weekly apparatus maintenance completed
- Continued Lexipol review, Tier 4 SOG’s
- Individual paramedic and EMTA Training
- Pump practice for Engineer’s promotion
- Standpipe and FDC training at Training Center
- Ladder ops (set up and positioning of apparatus)
- Worked on Annual Evaluations
- Worked on remodel projects at Station 21
- FAO Training
- Assisted NCFD with structure fire
- Worked Lakeview structure fire
- 105.9 Training hours
- Answered five fire calls; eight EMS calls; one service call; and two auto/mutual aid calls
C Shift
STATION 21
- One commercial fire
- One vehicle fire
- One 3-car motor vehicle call
- One extricate from a building
- One commercial fire alarm
- Seven medical calls
- Response time between 3 and 56 seconds
- Capt. Cox traveled to Dublin, Ohio for new engine construction meeting with Sutphen
- Incident Safety Officer training
- Medical training
- Pump service training
- Truck maintenance training
- Pump service all apparatus
- Water supply training
- New recruit training
Station 22: T 22
- One fire call
- Three hours of training average
- Drone training
- HAZMAT training
- Lexipol policy review
- Sgt. Wood attended Equal Opportunity webinar
- Weekly apparatus cleaning and maintenance completed
- Cleaned and sanitized station
- Lexipol policy review
- Pump service test completed
- City logo refurbished on ladder way
STATION 22: S21
- Four EMS and one fire call
- Three hours of training average
- Drone training
- HAZMAT training
- Lexipol policy review
- Vehicle stabilization
- Weekly apparatus cleaning and maintenance completed
- Cleaned and sanitized station
- Lexipol policy review
Accreditation
- Emailed March years of service and birthday recognition memo to CFD personnel
- Attended Lexipol Webinar: Racial Inequity in the Fire Service (pictured)
- Typed admin meeting minutes and submitted to Fire Chief for approval
- Began reviewing Community Risk Assessment/Standard of Cover document
- Compiled information and submitted CFD weekly report
- Processed and mailed out Georgia FF Pension Fund check
- Processed and mailed out paperwork for new employee to Georgia FF Pension fund
- Responded to open records request
- Faxed Firefighter tag letter to Jasper County tag office
- Met with Fire Chief regarding personnel issues
- Conducted research and contacted companies regarding drug disposal systems, a goal for CRR (Community Risk Reduction)
- Reached out to Lake Mary Fire Department regarding accreditation issues
- Approved PO’s and invoices in BS & A
- Updated Category 5, criterion A-G, to the 10th edition FESSAM (Accreditation Template)
Accounting
- Staff entered 301 invoices for payment to vendors
- The city issued 129 checks for 248 invoices
- Accounting Department entered 89 journal entries to record transactions of the city
- Staff sent 17 invoices to customers for miscellaneous transactions
Pictured: Ashlan Webb, Assistant Finance Director, telecommuting from home.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
UTILITY BILLING/METER READING
- 3,864 bills processed
- Billing cycles 1, 2, 9, 10 and finals
- 226 work orders completed
- Two meter/ert change outs
- 37 Tantalus meters changed
- Routes read: cycles 3, 4
- Meter readings read: 8,176
- No disconnects
- No reconnects
PURCHASING
- Total purchase orders issued – current month - 148
- Total purchase orders issued – current budget year - 2,588
Current / Upcoming RFP's/Bids
- Conyers Street Gym Development: Out for bid
- Compact Mini Excavator: Out for bid
- Ashley Drive Pipe Lining Project: Out for bid
MUNICIPAL COURT
- There were no court sessions scheduled for this week.
- 52 new citations were processed and filed in the court.
- Two tickets were disposed of and closed.
- A total of $11,668.00 in fines and fees were collected from mail, web, probation and in-person counter payments.
- There were eight open record requests/certified disposition requests and three verifications that warrant removed properly. Processed six refund requests.
- A total of 128 separate case files for the week were scanned into Courtware Software.
- The office has received 274 emails and responded to internal and external customers accordingly.
- Telephone customers: 248 calls made and received
- Mailed out 90+ packets with solicitor’s recommendation for entering a plea.
- Conference with court personnel regarding procedures.
LAST WEEK'S TASKS & EVENTS
- Posted Utility Locator, Engineering Technician and Apprentice Line Worker positions
- Completed onboarding paperwork for new police recruit
- Received seven applications for open positions
- Scheduled and prepared interviews for Underground Supervisor and LAS Operator positions
- ICMA Fellow interviews
- Insurance renewal discussions with broker
- Designed cover of our Annual Benefits Book
- Zoom meeting with potential vendor for HRA distribution
- Zoom meeting with potential vendor for Risk Management investigation services
- Met with a director and employee for an employee performance plan improvement meeting and follow up
- Worked on personnel budget for FY22
- Completed administrative transfer of pension assets to comply with Investment Policy Statement
- Worked with Voya on an administrative issue for 457 changes
- Followed up with two workers comp claims
- Tracked leave and return to work plans due to COVID-19
- Closed out two auto accident claims
- Investigated two instances of damage to City property
Ongoing Events
- Providing quality customer care to our employees and retirees
- Preparing submission for the Weekly Report
- Review of job descriptions for current and future positions
- Monitoring the coronavirus pandemic and listening to professionals about proper return to work protocols
- Auditing all employee benefits
- Review of timekeeping abnormalities in NovaTime
Job Postings
- Tree Trimmer
- Electric Lineman
- Apprentice Lineman
- Engineering Technician
- Utility Locator
Seabolt Fencing erected a chain link fence around the perimeter of Legion Field.
- Meeting with location scouts for Sweet Magnolias
- Meeting with downtown signage company
- Facilitated COVID update call
- Attended the "Sustainable Business and the Social Aspects of Drawdown" webinar
- Began planning for Milestones Celebration for retired city employees
- Presented at Small Group meetings for July 4th festival
- ICMA fellowship interviews
- Prepared estimated budget for 2021-2022 for the Discover Covington tourism board
- Completed Weekly Report for week ending February 28, 2021
- Filmed Anthony Henderson for Central Park portion of State of the City video
Children enjoy the swings at Central Park
- Processed State request for Reel Locations brochures
- Research postage options for Welcome Center
- Began assembling frames for City Map project (pictured)
- Scheduled to have Welcome Center sign installed
- Continued to organize and prioritize brochure racks
- Warmer weather led to more guests on Mystic Falls Tour (pictured below)
- Continued working on final punch list for Welcome Center
- Updated social media and website
COVID-19 STATISTICS
These statistics are from the phone call with the GNR Health Departments on Friday, March 12, 2021.
NEWTON COUNTY
- Confirmed cases to date: 9,987
- Confirmed COVID-19 related deaths: 192
GEORGIA
- Confirmed cases to date: 1,030,146
- Confirmed COVID-19 related deaths: 15,784
If you'd like to volunteer to assist the public health department with administering vaccines, please select the button below.