Big Thank You to the City Council for their recent work on the mid-year budget amendment. Each item in the amendment requires Council folk meeting with the staff, phone calls and committee hearings. I and my administration appreciate the fact that council members take much of their time – I’d say much more than the average citizen realizes – to study, learn and understand these requests.

As of August, City Department heads and directors are already two months deep into the budget process for 2024 … so we will be asking Councilmen in August, September and October to once again take much of their time to assist us in this process. Preliminary budget review meetings between the mayor and council members have already begun.

I’d like to congratulate two of our City employees, Director of Cultural Arts and Events Sarada Bonnett and Fire Fighter Kimmie Duncan for being selected into the Leadership St. Tammany Class of 2024. Very nice and speaks well of our city.

Leadership St. Tammany helps citizens increase their leadership skills and sense of community responsibility through a 10 month program. Through group discussion, on-site exposure, and presentations from leaders in our community, participants are educated on various facets of our parish (the good and the bad) including government, business, and civic and cultural organizations. The interactive curriculum helps individuals understand the ways that various civic branches of St. Tammany are connected. LST

Lurline Dr. Phase I (Substantial Complete, adding curb cutouts to enhance drainage, giving up on sod until cooler weather.)

Lurline Dr.  Phase II (Goes out for bid this week with a  budget of $1.3M).

Sewer point repairs / CIPP in River Forest (bids due 9/07 with a budget of just over $2M).

Patricia / Michelle subsurface culvert re-build (bids due 9/21 with a budget of $350,000).

Downtown: Gibson St. / Rutland St. / Hebert Lane drainage-resurface (75% design completed with a budget of $1.5M).

Replace the bridge at Columbia Street & Mile Branch  … the Utility Relocation Assessment was funded by August’s mid-year budget amendment ($2M).

Menetre Park Boat Launch (Design 95% Complete, in permitting process with Army Corps of Engineers) $1M.

In addition to these and also in various stages, Engineering is overseeing or assisting with  the 15^th Ave Dog Park (fencing being finished this week), Downtown Traffic study,  traffic studies for roundabouts at Columbia / Jefferson and Columbia / 30^th Ave, replacement of a water main on Magee Street, rebuilding the sewer collection system from Ozone Park to the Treatment Plant ($3M State + $2M Fed = $5M project), coordinating with DOTD on revitalizing discussion of a roundabout at 21^st and Tyler, coordinating with DOTD about a possible school crossing at 17^th and Tyler, coordinating with DOTD on a possible improvement in the ditch on the west side of Tyler near 17^th and 16^th Avenues and coordinating with DOTD about a pedestrian crosswalk at Boston and Columbia.

When I say the engineering department oversees all of these projects, what I really mean by department is 3 - 4 people: Engineer Callie Baker, staff engineer Colin  Mansfield,  a Project Manager position which is currently vacant, and Construction Inspector Jacob Brister … all under our CAO Erin Bivona’s leadership. The list above is some serious work product for 3 – 4 people to churn out. Much appreciated.

Each week the Covington PD makes scores of traffic stops. In the past two weeks these stops have led to some interesting consequences:

A couple of years ago, my administration, along with our City Council and our Community, made a decision to strongly support our officers. We have been rewarded with a Police Department that is active, engaged and professional. When you see a member of the Covington PD, thank them. They deserve it.

Replies to this e-mail go directly to Mayor Mark.

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