On the cover are Community Development members John Terrell and Cathy Henderson. John and Cathy were recently recognized on the City's Facebook page for having to clean up the public restrooms on the square after they were grossly vandalized. We appreciate your dedication and servant spirits John & Cathy! If you didn't have the opportunity to read the story on the City's Facebook page, please select the button below.
The Great Georgia Pollinator Census
The Great Georgia Pollinator Census is August 20 & 21, 2021! "Bee" a part of this third annual census which is a citizen science project where Georgians count insects that land on a favorite pollinator plant for 15 minutes and then report their findings online.
Visit https://ggapc.org/ for complete information about the importance of this census and details on how to tally and submit your findings. You can also download a census counting sheet to easily log your observations!
School groups, garden groups, families and individuals are encouraged to be a part of the project. We've included a map of areas that you could visit around downtown Covington to find your pollinator and plant, but it can be as easy as walking into your own backyard!
magnolia drive-In Returns in September
The next Live at Legion Concert is Friday, September 10, 2021. It's the Fuzz Run Kickoff Concert and it will feature the 80's cover band "Members Only." Don't miss out on this fun and free concert at Legion Field!
August 2, 2021 City Council Meeting
GEORGIA MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONVENTION
Members of City Council and Administration attended the annual Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) Annual Convention in Savannah, Georgia. The mission of the Georgia Municipal Association is to "anticipate and influence the forces shaping Georgia’s cities and to provide leadership, tools and services that assist municipal governments in becoming more innovative, effective and responsive." GMA currently represents 537 cities in Georgia.
Pictured: Momentarily trading his role as Covington City Manager for the role of Sparta Police Officer, City Manager Scott Andrews looks excited about the temporary change!
- Attended August 2 City Council meeting
- Attended GMA 2021 Annual Convention
- Planning meeting for youth government
- Research and writing ordinance for overlay
- Tap fee analysis
- Organization study for the fire department
- Transition meeting with the Assistant City Manager
- Code enforcement meeting
- Prepared August 16 City Council meeting agenda, packet and notes
- Attended Clerk’s Conference in Savannah
- Attended GMA Conference in Savannah
- Attended small group meetings on August 11 & August 12 at CMA
- Participated in City Hall Selfie Day
- Homelessness Task Force
City of Covington Initiates Youth Government Program
The City of Covington is initiating a Youth Government program that is open to high school aged youth in Newton County. The purpose of Youth Government is to provide a means for the high school youth of Newton County to learn about government, participate in the process and to represent and articulate the needs of the community’s youth.
If you or someone you know is interested in applying, please download an application (https://bit.ly/2021COVYouthGovApplication) and submit it by Friday, August 20, 2021 to DJ Waller at djwaller@cityofcovington.org.
City of Covington Offering Governmental Citizen’s Academy September 16 - October 14, 2021
Returning for a third year after a hiatus due to COVID-19, the City of Covington will once again offer its local government Citizen’s Academy, aimed at giving community members an inside look at the daily operations of their local government.
Meeting every Thursday from September 16 to October 14 from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m., the program covers public safety, government structure, quality of life initiatives, utility overviews, growth planning, public works and more. A meeting with the Mayor and Council as well as a graduation ceremony will be held the evening of October 18.
To create a more intimate and hands-on atmosphere, the class will be limited to 30 participants and will be selected through an application process. You must be at least 18 years of age to participate. Registration will close September 6, so those interested in applying are urged to act quickly.
To see the complete schedule and download an application, visit https://bit.ly/COVCitizensAcademy.
- Vickie Floyd joined our team as an HR Specialist.
- The Retirement Review Committee met in-person and via Zoom at the Airport.
- Interviews are ongoing for the Transportation Manager and Solid Waste Coordinator Positions.
- HR is in the beginning stages of exploring options for applicant tracking software.
- HR is preparing for a Lunch and Learn with Joe Friend from Voya to explore the Principles of Financial Wellness.
Pictured: Domminick Jefferson (L) and Kareve Richards (R) painting farm tap stations.
- Installed two new services.
- Painted farm tap stations on Flat Shoals Road.
- Responded to two emergency leak calls.
- Check two meters and changed one ERT.
- Completed eleven rectifier inspections.
- Completed one inspection and unlock request.
- Completed four bridge and river crossing inspections.
- Installed two pipeline warning markers.
- System pipeline patrolling completed.
- Natural Gas Director Mike Jewell attended the GMA Annual Conference and instructed Gas 101 for elected officials and the GMA Legislative Policy Council Meeting.
- Responded to three emergency leak calls.
- Checked seven meters.
- Completed five rectifier inspections.
- Completed two inspections and unlock meter requests.
- Installed three new services.
- Repaired two system valves.
What are Farm Tap Stations?
In the picture above, two Gas Department team members are painting farm tap stations. But for those of us not in the industry, we may wonder what those are and why we don't see any cows, chickens or pigs around the area?
A farm tap station reduces the pressure from a high pressure main to a lower operating pressure going to a customer's service line. We have some gas mains with an operating pressure of 300 psi (pounds of pressure per square inch) and we reduce pressure with a regulator at the “farm tap” to 40 psi going to the meter. At the meter, we reduce pressure to 4 ounces of pressure going into the building. The name “farm taps” came from the very early days of pipeline industry when most taps came directly from the main pipeline supplier and they reduced pressure for services going to, you guessed it, farms. The name stuck in the industry. However, the gas industry wants to call these a different name but a standard has yet to be recommended.
Ashley Drive Pipe Lining Project
Crews from IPR Southeast worked to rehab storm drain lines on Ashley Drive in the Cloister neighborhood. The contractors installed a cured in place liner to rehabilitate sections of failing storm drain pipes. This project was a small Capital Improvement Project that is part of the larger CMP master plan for stormwater and is also part of another upcoming stormwater project in the area.
Fuzz Run
The Covington Police Department’s Fuzz Run was created as fundraiser for the Police Who Care Fund. The Police Who Care Fund (PWC) was started in 1974 by Officer Frank Hilton. In 1983, the first annual Fuzz Run was established by Captain Willie Davis at the direction of Chief Bobby Moody. The Covington Fuzz Run is always held the second Saturday in September, and is the primary source of income for the PWC fund. This race would not be possible without our community involvement, donations, and sponsors. This year the Fuzz Run is on the 20th Anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and our t-shirts honor the memory of this tragedy. If you want to register or find out more about the Fuzz Run, please select the button below.
Patrol
August 9 - August 15, 2021
- On August 9, Susan Bailey (homeless female) was transported to the ER from the Days Inn for dehydration. Officers were later called to the ER because Bailey was causing a disturbance. She was then transported to the jail and charged with loitering, prowling and public indecency which were the initial complaints for officers responding to the Days Inn..
- On August 10, CPD officers responded to a battery at Rick’s Thrift Shop. Darrell Stowe threw a glass bottle at his girlfriend, Jennifer Mooney, causing a large gash on her head. She was transported to the hospital. Stowe was charged with battery FVA.
- On August 11, CPD officers dealt with Quincy Adams, a homeless male, who has severe PTSD and anxiety. Adams stated he hasn't taken his medication in over two years. Officers were out with Adams five times earlier on this date and tried to offer resources, but he refused to accept them. Adams called 911 a sixth time in reference to breathing problems and was transported to PNMC by EMS.
- On August 11, CPD officers responded to an adult female, accompanied by two juvenile females, who were caught shoplifting at Walmart. The adult, Twanna Davenport, had seven prior shoplifting charges against her. She was charged for felony shoplifting. The juveniles were processed and released to a grandparent.
- On August 12, CPD officers were dispatched to Hometown Studios in reference to a child molestation complaint. The complainant advised that he was in the gravel parking area near Hometown Studios when he saw a gray Malibu or Pontiac car back in. He thought the behavior was suspicious and approached the vehicle. The complainant stated he saw an adult black male performing oral copulation on what he described to be a 9 or 10-year-old black male in the back seat. He confronted them and they sped off. Officers were not able to locate the vehicle in the area.
- On August 12, CPD officers responded to an accident with a pedestrian at the intersection of West St. and Washington St. The pedestrian was a bicyclist who was struck in the crosswalk. The cyclist was alert and awake and complained of injury but was not transported after being checked by EMS.
- On August 14, CPD officers responded to a residence at N. Nelson Drive about an argument and possible physical altercation between Jacquelyn Thomas and Julius Manning. Thomas stated that during the argument Manning pulled a gun on her, held it close to her face and threatened to kill her. Manning left the scene and was stopped at the Marathon at Turner Lake/Brown Bridge. The gun in question was located inside Manning's vehicle and returned stolen out of Dekalb County. Manning was placed under arrest and transported to the LEC.
Support Services
- Congratulations to Officers Miles and Treadwell who have just completed FTO.
- We currently have four officers who are still in FTO and are making two job offers today.
Operations
A Shift
NPQ PUMPER TRAINING
Pictured: Sgt. Matt Isom makes a food pantry delivery.
- FF Troutman went to PreCon in Michigan for new ladder truck
- S. Middlebrooks and J. Mathis attended Fire Investigations for Company Officers at GPSTC
- Engine 21 crew assisted CFD Admin with food pantry delivery to senior citizens
- 18 Fire calls; 26 EMS calls; three service calls; and five auto/mutual aid calls
C Shift
The Water/Sewer Department and the Street Department attended a luncheon put on by AY McDonald and Delta Supply at the "Old Yard."
Street Department
OLD ATLANTA HIGHWAY: Tyler Marshall's crew, including Louis Robinson, Larry Baines and Pat Wilson, reestablish ditches along Old Atlanta Highway to make run off areas for stormwater that had been collecting in the area and causing flooding in the roads.
JEFFERSON VILLAGE: Tyler, Louis, Larry and Pat covered a lot of territory during the weeks of August 2 - August 15 including trimming the ROW (right of way)on Jefferson Village.
Accounting
- Staff entered 425 invoices for payments to vendors.
- The City issued 250 checks for payment of invoices.
- The Accounting Department entered 261 journal entries to record transactions of the city.
- Staff sent 20 invoices for miscellaneous transactions.
- 317 Checks were issued for payroll.
Customer Service
- Check ins: 144
- Check outs: 54
- Disconnect for returned payment: 2
- Disconnect for broken agreement: 0
- Reconnects: 226
- Phone calls: 3,087
Total transactions completed by Customer Service Representatives: 3,422
Billing / Meter Reading
- The total bills for the week of August 2 - August 8, 2021 was 4,086
- The total bills for the week of August 9 - August 15, 2021 was 3,390
Municipal Court
- There were in-person court and virtual hearings including bench trials.
- 145 new citations were processed and filed in the court
- 215 citations were disposed of and closed.
- A total of $45,290.00 in fines and fees were collected from mail, web, probation and in-person counter payments.
- Processed 0 refund requests and entered and processed 21 failure-to- appear warrants.
- 32 criminal records were updated.
- There were 10 open record requests, four certified disposition requests and four verifications that warrants were removed properly.
- A total of 647 separate case files for the week were scanned into Courtware Software.
- The office has received 415 emails and responded to internal and external customers accordingly.
- Telephone customers: 192 calls to/from the main number
Magnolia Drive In: August 6, 2021
The Magnolia Drive-In returned to Legion Field with a showing of Jumanji: The Next Level and Top Gun. Thank you to everyone who attended and we look forward to seeing the community at our next Magnolia Drive-In on Friday, September 3!
Mural on Pace Street
The mural facing Pace Street, on the side of the Mason Lodge building, is being painted by artist Tamara Haase with Georgia Brushstrokes, Inc. Snippets are being released on the City's Facebook and Instagram each week on "Monday Mural Mystery," but please ride by on your way into shopping or dining on the Square to see this beautiful mural in person. It is over halfway complete!
Live at Legion Concert Series
Presented by the The Arts Association in Newton County, the Live at Legion Concert series featured Blair Crimmins and the Hookers at its August 13th event as well as the Kona Ice truck. Playing ragtime jazz and swing, the sounds of horns, drums, bass and banjos lit up the air at Legion Field to a crowd that ranged from two years old to 70+ years old! Stay tuned for the next Live at Legion Concert featuring the 80's cover band, Members Only, at the Fuzz Run Kickoff Concert on Friday, September 10, 2021.
Pictured: John Terrell and Luther Bouchillon work on the electrical outlets outside the Welcome Center
- A CW Executive from Austin, TX and his daughters visited the Welcome Center prior to their Mystic Falls Tour
- 35 seniors from the Athens Community Council on Aging visited the Welcome Center
- Updated social media for City of Covington
- Filmed City Council on August 2 and added to website
- Facilitated the updating of the discovercovingtonga.com website with a "Contact Us" page
- Updated City's website with event, news and updated information
- Hosted the Magnolia Drive-In
- Assisted at the Live at Legion concert
- Photographed mural, Magnolia Drive-In, Live at Legion concert
- Attended Community Development Department meeting
- Christmas lights meeting with Great Estates
- Ad design planning for GA Connector Magazine
- Covington Youth Government membership campaign
- Film meeting with “On A Wing & A Prayer”
- Filming of "P-Valley"
- Selfie spot has been installed at the Welcome Center (pictured below)
The below COVID-19 case stats are from Friday, August 13, 2021:
Georgia
- Over 1.2 million cases
- 21,266 deaths
- 41% of Georgia’s population is fully vaccinated
Newton County
- 12,519 cases
- 242 deaths
- 14-day case rate is 491 cases per 100,000. Five weeks ago it was 59 cases per 100,000.
- 34% of Newton’s population is fully vaccinated
COVID-19 Vaccinations
Appointments are recommended and available for scheduling online or by calling 888-457-0186. There is also availability for walk-in services with no appointment needed at all locations.
Mayor Horton announced that the mask resolution passed in December 2020 was still in effect on City properties since the number of COVID-19 cases in Newton County now exceeds 100 per 100,000 over a two week period. Newton County is currently in the high transmission category for COVID-19. The following guidelines are outlined in the mask resolution:
- Individuals will be required to wear a face covering on City properties.
- Face coverings aren't mandated on private property, but Council is encouraging businesses to institute the mandatory mask resolution.
- Masks are not required to be medical grade so long as they cover the nose and mouth. Bandanas, scarves and other similar fabrics are allowed.
- Businesses within city limits may indicate that they require masks on their property by posting a notice at each entrance accessible to the public.
- Masks are not required while eating or drinking or if socially distanced at least six feet apart.
- The Covington Police Department will enforce the ordinance on all public property and any private property that chooses to require masks. Any individual who fails to be in compliance with this order is subject to a $50 fine.