Covington City Attorney Deborah Foshee swore in William Brewster as a new officer for the Covington Police Department at the Covington City Council meeting Tuesday.

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, and I thank you for the opportunity,” said Brewster about becoming a member of the city’s police force. The police department has two more officers in training and is starting another training session in a few weeks. In addition, the city will be reviving the reserve force, said Chief Richard Palmisano.

In another matter, it was decided the ox-lot original map of 1823 will be housed by Southeastern Louisiana University for preservation. The university does not accept loans, but due to the nature of the map has made an exception and the map has been accepted as a permanent loan in their archives. Harold Burns, descendant of the original owner of the map, said.

Brewster

“This satisfies my doubts. It is the most acceptable place for the may to be housed and maintained. Thank you for your efforts on this matter,” he said.

The council unanimously accepted SLU’s offer and passed a motion loaning the map to the university for preservation and storage.

In other business, the council tabled an action on an alley in Square 1907 on Tyler Street until the Planning and Zoning Commission can address the issue next week at its regular meeting.

Consent calendar items were adopted, including:

• Regular meeting minutes from April 1;

• Introduction of an ordinance change to wording from “historic district” to “division of St. John” in zoning case 08-25TX;

• Introduction of an ordinance to amend the budget for additional funds for Trailhead drainage change order, purchase of additional police vehicles and purchase of portable building for new recreation center;

• Introduction of annexation of .361 acres on Columbia Street to the city to be known as case 2008-04-03.

In his administrative committee report, Councilman Lee Alexius said the following matters were brought to the committee’s attention:

• Clarification of the street improvement list;

• The need for the addition of two new police cars to the fleet for this year, bringing the total of new cars to seven;

• Lift stations bids came in at $398,000, under the 2008 budget;

• A subsurface drainage problem at St. Paul’s School would amount to $759,000 and is on hold due to budgetary constraints;

• Furniture for the new City Council chambers will cost $38,000;

• Estimates for painting of the treatment plant show it will cost $28,000-$44,000. It was determined one coat will be sufficient and will cost $28,000;

• $25,000 is needed for drainage in the ox lot alley to Lockwood by the Trailhead. Money will be moved to the Trailhead budget from drainage to cover the cost;

• and a temporary building for the recreation complex to be used until the gymnasium building is complete in about three years was approved by the committee at a cost of $25,000. The money will come from an allocation in the recreation department budget for a permanent stage, which is not needed.