Covington's Community Cares Fund ordinance is revoked

The Community Cares Fund ordinance in the city of Covington was removed “in title and substance” unanimously Tuesday night by the city council because the fund is defunct and there is no way to administer it.

City Administrator Beverly Gareipy said that relief is needed for those in need, but not through this venue. The fund had been set up to help residents in need with their city utility bills. Certain requirements had to be met, such as income, age and/or handicapped status. No alternate venue was proposed at this time to help those in need, although anyone needing help with their water or sewerage bill can contact the city.

Gariepy also announced that the city’s bond rating by Standard & Poor’s has been raised to an A+. In addition, she announced that the city’s economic development director Pam Keller will be meeting in Mandeville to provide their officials with information about the department. Gariepy said Mandeville is using the Covington model to form its own economic development office.

The city council also approved an ordinance appropriating funds for utility billing customer integration software.

The CIS will inventory every manhole and line in the city with a GPS technoloy. The appropriation was made by transferring $17,200 from the general fund account to the computers – administration account.

An ordinance providing for a lease agreement renewal and the payment of past funds owed to Kirkland Street Development, LLC, will allow the continued use of a lot as parking and festival space at the corner of Kirkland and North Columbia streets. The city will pay $2,225 per year plus $4,450 for two years’ back rent for the space. The ordinance was passed 6-0-1 with Councilman Matt Faust abstaining because of a possible conflict of interest.

In addition the Council passed the following resolutions unanimously:

Acceptance of the 2008 audit report issued by Laporte Sehrt Romig and Hand; Support of the Louisiana Coastal Restoration and specific plan alternative that would construct a flood protection barrier-weir complex in the vicinity of the Rigolets and Chef Passes; and Use of the CDBG grant for the installation of a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system in city of Covington to monitor lift stations.

Councilman-at-large Trey Blackall was elected president of the Covington City Council for the coming year, with Faust to serve as vice president. Both were elected unanimously to their new positions.

The council also confirmed Kirk Michel as a member of the planning and zoning commission, a position he has held in the past.