Covington council approves $300,000 repaving, adopts code housekeeping updates and clears driveway permit; wastewater plant passes DEQ inspection

The Covington City Council on Feb. 3 approved a $300,000 amendment to the city’s 2026 operating and capital budget to repave North Taylor Street from Columbia to West 26th, adopted housekeeping updates to building and vegetation ordinances, and passed a resolution allowing Sharp 9 Properties to construct a driveway on an unconstructed portion of East 34th Avenue.

The repaving measure, sponsored by Councilman Burrell, draws funding from the GMA fund the city shares with the parish. Councilman Burrell said the project is “well needed” and that officials expect work to begin or be completed by the summer. The motion to adopt the budget amendment passed on a roll call with affirmative votes recorded from Councilman Roberts, Councilman Inman, Councilman Burrell, Councilman Botsford, Councilman Burrett and Councilman Bushnell.

City consultants from Desire Line presented an ordinance amending the city’s zoning and building code language to align references with the International Building Code and International Residential Code, to update certain fees, and to clarify administrative roles such as the certified building official and code enforcement. Evelyn Campo of Desire Line described the changes as “housekeeping text amendments” designed to reflect state-adopted standards and current building science. After opportunity for public comment and the council’s motion, the ordinance was adopted on a council roll call.

In new business the council approved Resolution 20 26-01, which authorizes Sharp 9 Properties to construct a driveway on an unconstructed portion of East 34th Avenue under specified conditions including a maximum 50-foot approach from the southwest corner of Lot 1, no access permitted from Lee Road, and installation of two 42-inch equivalent arch pipes in the roadside ditch to department standards. The resolution passed following a motion and roll-call votes.

The meeting included community announcements and public comments. Longtime parade organizer Larry Rolling told the council about upcoming Lundy Gras (Feb. 16) and Mardi Gras Day (Feb. 17), named Tim Lantrop of the English Tea Room as the parade’s grand marshal and described the route and planned attractions, including 23 traditional floats, eight marching bands and a new “crew of carts” for decorated golf carts. “We invite the public to be out there to enjoy this great event,” Rolling said.

Mayor and public works staff also reported results of a five-year DEQ inspection of the city’s wastewater treatment plant. Jim O’Berry and staff credited operator Mike Brandt and crew after the DAQ inspector found no violations; as the inspector put it, “I’ve never seen a better plant than what you have here in Covington.”

The mayor said several line-item budgets are being returned to the general fund after project needs changed; he cited roughly $425,000 in funds being returned from a set of projects, including drainage and trace beautification work, and explained that some previously budgeted projects were completed in-house or came in under cost. The administration also announced a schedule change, moving the April 7 council meeting to March 31 to avoid the Easter holiday.

What happens next: the adopted budget amendment and ordinances become part of the city record and project teams will coordinate timing and permitting; the city published a community open house for land-use code updates on Feb. 5 for residents to review additional code changes and provide feedback.