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Covington council approves vehicle sale, police equipment purchases and fund transfer; tables officer pay increase
Summary
Council approved selling a Crown Victoria to Covington School Corp., authorized police equipment purchases, approved a $167,000 transfer into wastewater depreciation at the Board of Works, scheduled a July 31 budget workshop, and tabled a proposed $10,000 officer pay raise.
At its July 1 meeting, the Covington City Council recorded several unanimous approvals and one item tabled for later consideration.
The council voted 5-0 to sell a retired police Crown Victoria to the Covington School Corporation for $1,500 so the vehicle can be used by a school resource officer. The motion to sell was made by Councilmember Smith and seconded by Councilmember Copenhaver.
Police Chief Foster also requested authorization to purchase storage boxes for new police trucks (minutes list about $1,600 per truck) and to buy three rifles; the minutes record a cost of $2,000 for the rifles (the minutes do not make clear whether that is a unit price or a total cost). Councilmember Easter moved approval and Councilmember Copenhaver seconded; the motion carried 5-0. The minutes specify the purchases will be paid from the Police Non-Reverting fund.
On finance matters, the Board of Works meeting recorded on the minutes included a motion by Mayor Crain, seconded by Councilmember Easter, to transfer $167,000 from Waste Water Operating to Waste Water Depreciation; the motion carried 3-0. The Board also approved payment of claims 3-0 at the same meeting. The July 15 Board of Works meeting minutes show claims were again paid 3-0.
Councilmember Randles requested a $10,000 immediate pay increase for each police officer; Councilmember Copenhaver said she would review budget impacts and the council agreed to table any pay increase vote until the August meeting. The council set a budget workshop for July 31, 2024, at 9:15 a.m. for department heads to submit budgets and for the council to review funding options.
Other items discussed included new water-meter mapping by the street department, a delayed stop sign installation at 9th and Railroad, sidewalk work to be included in a future Community Crossings bid package, and a request to pursue soundproofing for the police department office area. The minutes record that Superintendent KC Smith will inspect signage and pavement options at a new subdivision entrance and report back to council.
