St. Tammany News

Covington Mayor Candace Watkins, along with the Covington City Council and department heads continue to steer ahead a major capital improvement program aimed at revitalization and improvement of the city.

After making an impressive recovery from the raging forces of Hurricane Katrina, Covington's leaders objectives are for the city to continue improving as it grows. Watkins, a certified Main Street manager, and City Planner Nahketah Bagby will assure this when the new complete comprehensive plan update and future land use map is ready for review and adoption by the Covington Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council. The updated map, due to be completed this coming spring, will be constructed with citizen input to assure controlled smart growth.

Candace Watkins

This, Watkins said, will form the basis for planning and zoning decisions made during the next several years as home sites inside seven new subdivisions go online. To accompany the revision, Watkins expects formidable results from a major traffic study. These results will facilitate safe traffic flow and construction of a safe crossing for the Tammany Trace at Louisiana Highway 21, linking Covington to the 31-mile recreational corridor along the old Illinois Central Railroad line.

In conjunction with the Trace crossing, citizens of Covington can expect their own Trailhead to be built along the Covington Trace at the corner of Lockwood and New Hampshire Streets in 2007. Grant funding, secured by Pam Keller, economic director, will finance construction of the stage. City revenues will fund the remaining cost of the facility designed by architect Randy Altman.

Repairs to downtown sidewalks will begin soon. Watkins, Keller and the city's engineer have identified a lengthy list of areas in need of refurbishing. Watkins said bringing Covington into compliance with ADA standards is a priority to the current administration.

The much-anticipated Covington Recreation Complex will become a reality in 2007, after a 36-acre land donation was secured from the Sisters of St. Dominic Eucharistic Ministries. The property along the U.S. Highway 190 Bypass was previously dedicated to the failed Recreation District 10. Both athletic and cultural activities will be offered at the complex to residents of all ages.

The City Council and Watkins have committed city funding to address city-wide upgrades to drainage in an effort to protect the integrity of the city. Citizens continue to pinpoint areas in need of attention and report their findings to City Engineer Tom Schreiner and Public Works Director Carl Rebouche. As soon as weather permits, the street overlay program will began again.

This year, citizens overwhelmingly favored Watkins appeal to support an upgrade to the wastewater treatment plant by voting to renew a tax allowing the city to sell $5.8 million in general obligation bonds to finance the $6.1 million project. Repairs will also be made to the city's 46 lift stations.

"I am so proud to be the mayor for so many smart people," Watkins said in response to residents' support of the upgrade to the overburdened treatment plant. "It's so gratifying that the property owners understand the situation and are willing to get the job done."

Watkins and the City Council will deal with rebuilding the city's council chamber, destroyed last September by a fire set purposely by a man held by the Covington Police. Architect Michael Hunley is working closely with the mayor and council to rebuild the structure. The project will include renovations to City Hall and the Covington Police Department, also damaged by the fire.

Watkins is in the process of interviewing candidates to replace 15-year Police Chief Jerry DiFranco who officially retires Feb. 15.

"He (DiFranco) is a man of the highest integrity and will be difficult to replace," Watkins said of the chief.

Fire Chief Richard Badon has requested Watkins and the City Council to study and approve restructuring the department to permit hiring two assistant chiefs, a clerical position and a fire suppression officer. Badon's request came after his department began enacting code and ordinance enforcement.

The time has come to update the employee and procedural manuals followed by all city employees. Watkins will lead the revisions with input by City Administrator Beverly Gariepy and department heads.

All water meters will be retrofitted for telemetry reading. This reading method will allow city utility managers to identify areas where water is being wasted.

The smart remote will determine usage over time so that energy and water resources can be saved.

To wrap up the list of projects, both ongoing and brand new for 2007, Watkins added that the aging water lines will be relined or replaced completing upgrades to the city's delicate infrastructure.