Covington council approves sale of South Monroe right-of-way to secure drainage access

The Covington City Council on July 7 approved an ordinance authorizing the mayor to sell a portion of the South Monroe Street right-of-way between West 15th and West 14th avenues and to create a servitude that ensures city access to a drainage swale serving nearby properties.

Councilman Inman explained that the unopened right-of-way is currently used as a driveway, and that a resident, Jerry Braswell, approached the city seeking to purchase it. Inman said the sale would include provisions establishing a servitude to allow the city to enter and maintain a drainage swell that drains portions of Madison and Monroe and nearby blocks. "We currently do not have access to go in and maintain this drainage well," Inman said, arguing that creating the servitude would allow the city to prevent future drainage problems.

Inman told the council he had walked the site in a rainstorm and affirmed the location of the drainage flow. He said it is his understanding that adjacent property owners are in agreement and that the sale document includes provisions allowing those neighbors to exercise existing agreements after the conveyance.

The council held a public hearing, closed it, and adopted the ordinance by roll call. No substantive public opposition was recorded in the transcript. The council president congratulated the relevant parties following the vote.

The approved sale is administrative in nature but intended to secure city access for maintenance; staff should record the servitude terms in the sale documents and confirm the maintenance and access provisions before conveyance.