Employee Spotlight
Dara Penland
911 Team Leader, Covington-Newton 911
- Where were you born? Newton, GA
- What was your first car? 1992 Toyota Camry
- How long have you worked for the City? 11 years
- Last job before you worked at the city? Bank teller
- What is your favorite part about working with the city? Co-workers and training opportunities
- What is your favorite book and/or movie? Too many to list
- Where is your ideal vacation spot? Anywhere tropical and Gatlinburg, TN
- What is your favorite food? I don't have a favorite but give me all the cheese!
- If you could have dinner with a celebrity, dead or alive, who would it be? Betty White...she seems like a good time!
- What is your hidden talent? I don't think I have a "hidden" talent.
- Name one thing you are proud of in your life. My daughter
Top photo: Members of the COV team that visited Rome included Tourism Coordinator DJ Waller (fourth from left); Assistant HR Director Asher Dozier; Police Chief Stacy Cotton; Assistant Finance Director Ashlan Webb; Downtown Coordinator Nic Matthews; ICMA Management Fellow Maddi Powers; and City Manager Scott Andrews.
City Manager Scott Andrews bikes to work on the Cricket Frog Trail with wife Danielle.
- Electric Underground Supervisor interviews
- Electric vendor update
- Customer choice proposal meeting
- MEAG survey data
- Telecommunications coordinator job description
- CIS/Pre-pay vendor integration
- Schneider design check-in
- Customer choice project revision
- Departmental budget meeting
- Place making round table
- Meeting in Rome, GA
- ICMA Fellow interviews
- Newton County City Managers meeting
- Economic Development Strategic Planning
- Customer Service surveys
- Personnel Budget FY 22 review
City Clerk Audra Gutierrez captured Economic Development Manager William Smith, City Manager Scott Andrews and Assistant City Manager Freddy Morgan at a small group meeting. City Manager Scott Andrews was rocking his dumpster fire socks at the meeting.
- Prepared March 15 City Council meeting agenda, packet and notes
- Attended March 12 small group meeting at the Airport
- Fielded 58 phone calls
Laura Sullivan in Human Resources updates the City organizational chart.
LAST WEEK'S TASKS & EVENTS
- Received 13 applications for open positions
- Conducted interviews for the Electric Underground Supervisor, LAS Operator, Meter Reader/Billing Clerk and ICMA Fellow positions
- Met with CPD to discuss their choice on the Evidence Tech position (after interviews were conducted)
- Created a citywide org chart
- Finalized the HR budget for FY 2021-22
- Reviewed career development plans for several departments
- Reviewed Worker’s Comp and FMLA claims
- Zoom calls with peers around the State of Georgia to discuss upcoming conference
- Handled employee complaints and discipline
- Reviewed the Employee Annual Leave balance sheet to advise Department Heads & Managers of large balances
- Took inventory of safety supplies
- Inspected two vehicle wrecks
- Investigated thefts of service
- Training session on HB700 and its impact on Workers Comp
- Worked on Work Comp budget, salary allocations and special issues for FY22 personnel budget
ONGOING EVENTS
- Providing quality customer care to our employees & retirees
- Preparing HR 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
CURRENT JOB OPENINGS
- Tree Trimmer
- Electric Lineman
- Water/Sewer Line Worker
- GIS Technician
ACCOUNTING
- Staff entered 295 invoices for payment to vendors
- The city issued 82 checks for 117 invoices
- Accounting Department entered 55 journal entries to record transactions of the city
- Staff sent six invoices to customers for miscellaneous transactions
- The city issued 314 payroll checks to employees for bi-weekly payroll
CUSTOMER SERVICE
UTILITY BILLING / METER READERS
- 3,367 bills processed
- Billing cycles 3, 4, 91 and finals
- 221 work orders completed
- 0 meter/ert change outs
- Four Tantalus meters changed
- Routes read: Cycles 5, 6, 11
- Meter readings read: 10,449
- Disconnects: 195
- Reconnects: 164
PURCHASING
Total purchase orders issued – current month - 227
Total purchase orders issued – current budget year - 2,667
*CURRENT/UPCOMING RFP'S/BIDS*
- Conyers Street Gym Development: Out for bid
- Cornish Creek Switchgear: Out for bid
- Ashley Drive Pipe Lining Project: Out for bid
COVINGTON MUNICIPAL COURT
- There were no court sessions scheduled for this week.
- 44 new citations were processed and filed in the court.
- 218 tickets were disposed of and closed.
- A total of $7,768.00 in fines and fees were collected from mail, web, probation and in-person counter payments.
- There were five open record requests/certified disposition requests and two verifications that warrants were removed properly.
- A total of 129 separate case files for the week were scanned into Courtware Software.
- The office has received 260 emails and responded to internal and external customers accordingly.
- Telephone customers: 209 calls made and received
- Mailed out 40+ packets with solicitor’s recommendation for entering a plea.
Visit the City of Covington website to find energy savings calculators and videos that offer virtual energy assessments to help you find ways to save money and energy around your home. Use the link provided below to learn more about saving on your utility bill and conserving energy!
Noah Thomas works on a secondary service transfer in the bucket.
- Seven single phase primary pole change outs
- Two pole pulls
- Two security lights and wire removed
- Three service pole change outs
- Ten LED lights installed
- 11 light orders completed
- Five underground services installed
- Two temporary power orders completed
- Three drop services for maintenance orders completed
Replacement of the damaged underground transformer.
- Two low line orders
- Two demolition orders completed
- Replaced a damaged 150 KVA three phase underground transformer (pictured)
- 11 permanent power orders
- One overhead service replaced
- 11 trouble/outage calls
- One three phase pole installed for new Eastside High School
- One emergency leak investigation and repair.
- Two check meter requests completed.
- Two rectifier inspections completed and thirty cp readings recorded.
- One inspection and unlock meter completed.
- Thirty meters were painted.
- Fifty-five pipeline warning markers were installed throughout the system.
- Bridge attachment safety inspections completed.
- Three new services installed.
- Three services retired and one meter pulled.
- Six new locate requests called in for new services.
- One anode bed repaired.
- Mike Jewell attended virtual GMA Legislative Policy Council Meeting.
- Mike Jewell attended Georgia Pipeline Emergency Response Initiative meeting.
The City of Covington Human Resources Department purchased exercise equipment for the 911 Center. The exercise equipment will be used by the 911 Communications Technicians to reduce the mental and physical stress they endure while working 12-hour shifts.
Pictured above are Caroline Almond, Team Leader (top left); Krista Hipps, Communications Technician (top right); Callie Gibbs, Communications Technician (bottom left); and Dara Penland, Team Leader (bottom right).
Total CAD Calls Received: 1,752
Total Agency Calls Generated: 1,952
Total Law Calls Generated: 1,494 (76.54%)
- Covington Police Department: 476 (24.39%)
- Covington Marshal's Office: 0 (0.00%)
- Newton County Animal Control: 5 (0.26%)
- Newton County Sheriff's Office: 937 (48.00%)
- Oxford Police Department: 30 (1.54%)
- Porterdale Police Department: 46 (2.36%)
Fire Calls Generated: 202 (10.35%)
- Covington Fire Department: 46 (2.36%)
- Newton County Fire: 156 (7.99%)
NEWTON EMS CALLS: 256 (13.11%)
OPERATIONS
Life flight for motor vehicle accident victim
A Shift
- Paramedic classes
- Lexipol review
- Pump operation
- Training hours: 35 hours
- Station day maintenance and clean up of both stations
- Yard clean up
- Wednesday training sessions
- A Shift responded to 13 calls during the week: Six responses by B-2; nine responses by E-21; two responses by T-21; one response by R-21; one response by S-21; and one response by T-22.
- Completed Truck Day
- Worked on remodel projects at Station 21
- Installed new flag for Wellington Ridge Apartments
- Training hours: 55 hours
- Two fire calls; four EMS calls; and one auto/mutual aid call
C SHIFT
Congratulations to Adam Webb for receiving his Fire Officer designation from the Commission of Professional Credentialing!
- Compiled information and submitted CFD weekly report
- Approved PO’s and invoices in BS&A
- Ordered supplies
- Posted informational items on First Arriving dashboard
- Reached out to Cherokee County fire regarding accreditation status
- Updated Category 5, criterion H, and categories 6, 7 and 8 to the 10th edition FESSAM (Accreditation Template)
- Attended monthly Vision 20/20 Steering Committee conference call (pictured above)
- Sent copies of accreditation manager job descriptions to Fire Chief
PATROL
- On March 9, CPD officers responded to a domestic call at an address on Avery Street. A female stated her boyfriend got mad at her over text messages in her phone resulting in a verbal altercation. The female attempted to leave the residence, but her boyfriend would not let her and the altercation turned physical. Both parties had several marks from the altercation. However it was determined that the boyfriend was the primary aggressor. Warrants were obtained for his arrest.
- On March 10, CPD officers responded to an address on Sterling Lake Drive where the victim's car had been spray painted with obscenities. The subject suspected a male who lives in Atlanta of doing the damage.
- On March 12 and 13 the following incidents occurred and because of Officer Quinn Pitts excellent police work, two crimes were solved:
- On March 12, a female from Griffin Lane reported to the CPD that her firearm had been stolen from her residence. A female roommate and a male roommate (James Blocker) were suspected of taking the firearm. Both subjects denied taking the firearm when the report was made.
- In the early morning of March 13, a male stated he was walking from Checker’s to Home Towne Studios when he approached the railroad overpass on Alcovy Road. At this point, he was robbed at gunpoint by a male described as being 6-feet tall, skinny, wearing a gray sweatshirt with black sleeves, black pants and he had a black mask covering his face. The male also had a lazy eye that the victim stated was crossed. The suspect pointed a small black handgun at him and demanded “everything in his pockets.” Officers searched the area but were unable to locate the suspect. The description of the suspect was passed along department wide.
- Later that day on March 13, Officer Pitts was on patrol in the area of the QT on Hwy 278 when he observed a subject matching the exact description of the suspect from the robbery mentioned above. He was later identified as James Blocker, the roommate of the female from Griffin Lane who reported her firearm stolen. Officer Pitts circled around and noticed Blocker was being evasive as he walked into the parking lot of the old Rite Aid. He then got into the passenger seat of a red pickup truck. Pitts followed the vehicle until it parked in the ER parking lot. The driver went inside and left Blocker in the passenger seat. Sgt. Allen Martin arrived as backup and both officers approached the truck. They eventually got Blocker out of the vehicle. He was wearing a grey and black shirt, black pants, a black mask and had a crossed eye. He was identified as James Q. Blocker Jr. Lt. Brent Fuesting searched the Rite Aid parking lot where Blocker was seen before he got into the truck. A black Smith and Wesson 9mm was located on the ground. Blocker was transported to the CPD to be interviewed. Later, the robbery victim identified him as the robbery suspect. It was also determined that the pistol located by Lt. Fuesting was the same pistol that was stolen from Griffin Lane which Blocker described as his sister’s house. Blocker stated that he stays there from time to time.He was transported to the jail. Blocker is on parole for aggravated assault from stabbing someone and now he is being charged with armed robbery, aggravated assault, pointing a pistol at another, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
CID
CID Sgt. Allan Seebaran examined Person Crimes and Property Crimes CID detectives worked for March 8 to March 14, 2021 and compared them with the previous two years. He found the following results:
i. PERSON CRIMES: From March 8 to March 14, 2019, there were 12 reported person crimes; from March 8 to March 14, 2020, there were nine reported person crimes; and from March 8 to March 14, 2021, there were four reported person crimes. The following statistics were calculated:
- There was a 25% decrease (from 12 to nine) in reported person crimes from 2019 to 2020.
- There was a 55% decrease (from nine to four) in reported person crimes from 2020 to 2021.
- There was a 66% decrease (from 12 to four) in reported person crimes from 2019 to 2021.
ii. PROPERTY CRIMES: From March 8 to March 14, 2019, there were 15 reported property crimes; from March 8 to March 14, 2020, there were 30 reported property crimes; and from March 8 to March 14, 2021, there were 21 reported property crimes. The following statistics were calculated:
- There was a 100% increase (from 15 to 30) in reported property crimes from 2019 to 2020.
- There was a 30% decrease (from 30 to 21) in reported property crimes from 2020 to 2021.
- There was an 40% increase (from 15 to 21) in reported property crimes from 2019 to 2021.
Support Services
Members of support services and administration staff pick up trash along Harland Drive in front of the police department.
Pictured: Final decision being discussed for Cricket Frog Trail connections including Lowell Chambers of Newton Trails; Jonathan McCaig of PATH; and David Mincy of Peach State Construction.
Special Projects
- Met with representatives from Newton Trails, PATH and Peach State Construction to discuss final plans for trail connections
- Began stakeholder interviews for the Covington Central Park Master Plan
- Inspected existing parks to discuss spring maintenance and the remodeling of Academy Springs Park
- Reviewed and approved final contract for the construction of the Cricket Frog Trail trestle bridge
- Met with property owner concerning access and staging for trestle bridge construction
- Gathered additional information needed by Central Park Master Plan consultant
- Reviewed landscaping needs for the Cricket Frog Trail
- Attended GICH meeting to discuss housing needs in the City of Covington
The Welcome Center receives visitors every day who want to have the picture taken with the Mystic Falls sign (Nic Matthews, Downtown Coordinator assists visitors with a photo) and pick up brochures from our external kiosks. But the Welcome Center is also preparing for when we can safely open by organizing and displaying brochures about Covington and surrounding areas!
Todd Adams works on exterior maintenance of the Welcome Center.
- Continue to organize/fill brochure racks
- Continue to research postage options for Welcome Center
- Completed framing project with city street map
- Received Voices from the Past cemetery brochure
- Conference call with regional visitor information centers to determine steps when opening
- Exterior painting and maintenance of façade continues
- Compiled and completed Weekly Report for week ending March 7, 2021
- Updated social media and website
- Photographed area parks for Now Covington website
- Facilitated film permit for “The Resident”
- Captain’s meeting for Adult Kickball with YMCA
- Updated filming locations on Reel Scout for location scouts
- Economic Development strategic meeting
- Met to discuss Hollywood Car Show at Legion Field
- Attended County Bicentennial meeting
- ICMA Fellowship interview
The below is the most recent information concerning COVID-19 statistics as of Friday, March 19, 2021:
GEORGIA CASES
- Cases – 1,040,817
- Deaths – 16,000
NEWTON COUNTY CASES
- Cases – 10,122
- Deaths – 193
- The numbers are trending in the right direction in Newton County. However, Newton County is still in the high transmission category due to our 14-day case rate.