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Covington council replenishes $115,000 for auditorium repairs, confirms multiple appointments
Summary
The Covington City Council adopted a $115,000 amendment to the 2025 operating and capital budget to reimburse the general fund for additional auditorium repairs and unanimously confirmed several mayoral appointments to local boards and commissions. The council also introduced three ordinances, including a proposed millage ordinance for 2025.
The Covington City Council on April 1 approved a $115,000 amendment to the city’s 2025 operating and capital budget to reimburse the general fund for additional auditorium repairs and unanimously confirmed mayoral appointments to the Historic District Commission and the Board of Adjustments.
Councilman Roberts said the extra spending followed discovery of further damage during recent work on the city auditorium. “We just did some repairs to the auditorium and in those repairs, we found more repairs that was needed. Money was used for that and we need to slide that money back out of the general fund to replenish it. So it's a $115,000,” Councilman Roberts said. The council voted to adopt the amendment by roll call.
The budget change was the most substantial formal vote of the evening and was followed by a string of appointment votes that drew little debate. The council confirmed Peggy Desjardins, Michael Hundley and Jan Robert to four-year terms on the Covington Historic District Commission; it appointed Craig Huvall and Leroy Jenkins as alternate members of the Covington Board of Adjustments. All confirmations were approved by roll call without recorded opposition.
The council also introduced three ordinances for further consideration: an ordinance authorizing the mayor to sell a portion of Joyner Street (2024-04-01); an ordinance authorizing sale of a portion of the South America Street right-of-way in the Fabbroville subdivision (2024-04-02); and an ordinance levying and adopting the millage rates for all properties subject to taxation in the city for 2025 (2025-04-03). Those items were introduced and will return to a future meeting for public hearing or final action.
Votes at a glance - Ordinance to amend the 2025 operating/capital budget (item 2024-03-02): motion to adopt; roll-call approval; tally 7 yes, 0 no; outcome: approved. Note: $115,000 moved back to replenish the general fund after additional auditorium repairs were found. - Resolution confirming mayoral reappointment of Peggy Desjardins to the Covington Historic District Commission (term: 4 years): motion to accept; roll-call approval; tally 7 yes, 0 no; outcome: approved. - Resolution confirming mayoral reappointment of Michael Hundley to the Covington Historic District Commission (term: 4 years): motion to accept; roll-call approval; tally 7 yes, 0 no; outcome: approved. - Resolution confirming mayoral appointment of Jan Robert to the Covington Historic District Commission (term: 4 years): motion to accept; roll-call approval; tally 7 yes, 0 no; outcome: approved. - Resolution appointing Craig Huvall as an alternate to the Covington Board of Adjustments: motion to accept; roll-call approval; tally 7 yes, 0 no; outcome: approved. - Resolution appointing Leroy Jenkins as an alternate to the Covington Board of Adjustments: motion to accept; roll-call approval; tally 7 yes, 0 no; outcome: approved. - Introduced (first reading) — Ordinance 2024-04-01 (portion of Joyner Street sale): introduced; roll-call recorded; outcome: introduced for later action. - Introduced (first reading) — Ordinance 2024-04-02 (portion of South America Street right-of-way): introduced; roll-call recorded; outcome: introduced for later action. - Introduced (first reading) — Ordinance 2025-04-03 (2025 millage rates): introduced; roll-call recorded; outcome: introduced for later action.
Council members who participated in roll-call votes were recorded as voting yes on the actions above. No recorded public comments were made on the budget amendment or the appointments during the hearings.
Why it matters: The budget amendment returns $115,000 to the general fund to pay for repairs discovered while fixing the auditorium; confirming local board members fills vacancies on bodies that review historic‑district matters and zoning variances. The millage-rate ordinance introduction begins the formal process that will set property tax rates for 2025.
Looking ahead: The council listed its next regular meeting for May 6, 2024, at 6 p.m.
