Mayor proclaims 20th anniversary of Covington Outreach Association; celebrates successful festival

Mayor Lee Harmon read and presented Proclamation 03-26 honoring the Covington Outreach Association (COA) on its 20th anniversary and presented the proclamation to Annie Harrison, COA's executive director. Councilmembers expressed appreciation for COA's two decades of service to the Covington community.

Harmon also reported on the recent Schoolhouse Park Rocks festival, saying the event was successful, bands were well received and attendance was strong; he thanked the Covington Events Association, village staff, and the police and fire departments for their roles. Mr. Shively, identified as a member of the Covington Events Association, thanked council and the community for attending and supporting the festival.

Administrator Jordan Hodges provided administrative updates: the Broadway Utility Project is ongoing and the village is addressing concerns about road closures and detours; the village did not receive the Brownfield grant in this round (the $1 million for Miami County funds went to the City of Piqua), but will have an opportunity to reapply for redistributed funds later; Hodges said the village will apply again for an ODNR NatureWorks grant and that the village received an OPWC grant to assist with State Route 48. Hodges also noted the village will be hiring in the utility department soon and that interviews for a new police chief are scheduled. Village offices will be closed May 25 for Memorial Day.

Council members closed the item by thanking volunteers and event organizers; no further action was taken on these updates.