Covington mayor looks forward to new year

As Covington Mayor Candace Watkins looks back at 2008, she is also looking forward to the New Year. Among the challenges in 2009 will be weathering the recovery of the economy, although locally it’s been a “so far, so good” situation, she said.

“My resolution as mayor is for the city to reach maximum efficiency in our operations,” said Watkins.

In looking forward to the New Year, Watkins said she is planning to meet with other mayors in the parish to discuss growth management and review the current revenue sharing agreements.

She also plans to meet with St. Tammany Sheriff Jack Strain to discuss the arrangement in use in Jefferson Parish whereby all law enforcement groups, both parish and municipalities, receive parish supplemental pay, allowing for all law enforcement agencies to have similar starting pay. This benefits all law enforcement agencies by allowing them to work together, be more cooperative and not compete with one another for officers and other personnel, Watkins said. She wants to explore the feasibility and possibility of such a plan in St. Tammany.

“All law enforcement agencies can work together for parity and compensation and therefore benefit the citizens of the entire parish,” said Watkins.

Watkins said accomplishments in 2008 include the completion and dedication of the Covington Trailhead, the completion of the recreation complex, completion of the sewer treatment plant, the restoration of the City Council chambers, destroyed previously by fire, the renovation of the first floor of the Greater Covington Center for use as City Hall offices, the street overlay project (still in progress), lift station upgrades and the rebuilding of the 28th Avenue bridge.

“The biggest disappointment the past year, of course, was the defeat of the sales tax for public safety personnel,” said Watkins. The 1/4 cent sales tax was soundly defeated by voters in the November election, and Watkins has blamed herself for not educating the voters on the need for the tax.

This year, Watkins will be writing a series of bulletins on city finances that will be included in the water bills sent to all citizens. Watkins said the bulletins will explain financial workings of the city, including where the money comes from and how it is spent. She will also include an explanation of how finances operate and how finances are allowed to be spent through dedicated funding and servicing bond debt. She said she is not, however, planning to ask for another sales tax this year.

The remaining City Hall offices will be moving back to the Greater Covington Center in early January, possibly as early as next week, said Watkins. The delay in the move is due to end of the month utility billing and end of the year vacation time by employees.

Future plans include extending Covington Police Department offices into the City Hall building on North Columbia Street, although plans and cost estimates for the project have not been finalized and no timetable has been set.