By Kathleen Leese
For Miami Valley Today
COVINGTON — Covington Council members heard about the Shield’s Classic Drum Show that will take place in Covington on Saturday, April 27, during their April 1 meeting.
Mayor Lee Harmon told council members that Joe Scheib will be holding the Shield’s Classic Drum Show in Covington on April 27 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 4263 State Route 48. There is a $5 general admission fee and it is free for seniors and students. Roger’s Drums were at one time made in Covington. A proclamation declaring April 27, 2024, as Shield’s Classic Drum Show and Homecoming Day was signed by Harmon.
In other business, Police Chief Tim Cline updated council members on the Government Center remodeling. He noted it is moving along with approximately 90% of the roofing completed. He said they are still waiting for some of the project items to be finished. It was noted that the memorial bricks have been removed by the street department until a location can be determined for placement.
Village residents should note there is plywood on the windows at the Government Center until the windows are completed. Lead times for door frames is adding time to the internal schedule, but not causing a delay for the project overall. Due to weather issues, there were delays in digging footers for the front.
The council heard from Linda Williams of Y’All’s Country Club, 196 N. High St., Covington, who thanked Tyler Rench, village administrator, for clarifying paperwork associated with the demolition project adjacent to her business and home. Williams said she was not forced to sign any paperwork and had her legal counsel review prior to signing. All paperwork is now complete.
Also during the meeting, Rench gave council members an update on the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) construction project, telling them they had completed the welding of pipes. The crews will smooth out the intersection of Bridge and Main Street.
Rench noted the Dodd Street fire hydrant issue is being addressed and the village is waiting on an adjuster to review the situation.
Rench also provided an update on the Schoolhouse Park splashpad, telling council members the splashpad has been plumbed and tested. The east side of the park has a sidewalk where AES placed a power pole and there are guide wires in the way. Windstream informed the village the wires will be removed. They are currently working on tornado clean-up and that has slowed progress in other communities.
The village is working to determine whether the parking lot at Schoolhouse Park can be paved. There was some discussion regarding information previously received on the matter.
There was also discussion about a handrail removed at Schoolhouse Park during demolition. The contractor does not have it in the contract to replace the handrail. Westerheide Construction has agreed to provide the labor if the village provides the handrail.
Council members learned that grass seeding has been completed at the Rudy property. M & T is ready to seed after Westerheide Construction has completed their work. There will be a punch list to make sure all items are completed.
Harmon asked for a discussion involving an ordinance O1-23, section 4. He explained there have been complaints from property owners who own rentals and are required to place a deposit each time a tenant moves out and they must put the utility bills back in their name.
Rench responded that he had checked with area communities and those communities only have deposits required by the tenants. There was discussion and council members were asked to think about ideas or suggestions for handling and requiring deposits and how to handle utility accounts.
Next, Cline told council members he had spoken with other police chiefs regarding how military leave policy is handled within their departments. Troy Police Chief Shawn McKinney provided a copy of the Ohio Revised Code section 59:23.05 which details military leave. The village follows the Ohio Revised Code, so no new policy needs to be passed. The village of Covington will continue with its existing policy.
Under new business, council discussed a resolution authorizing the renewal of health insurance for village employees. Rench stated this is a yearly process and the cost of premiums will increase 7.12% overall, which is lower than many other communities.
Council member Amy Welborn questioned why Bradford employees do not pay any of their premiums, but are in the same program as the village of Covington. Harmon explained Bradford on average has a lower pay rate than Covington and factors insurance into their pay scale.
Council members suspended the three reading rule in order to allow the necessary paperwork to be completed for implementation of the new premiums by May 1, 2024. Council members approved the resolution.
Cline told council members he has learned the village can apply for reimbursement from the state of Ohio through a special program they are offering to assist with overtime required by the Covington Police Department during the solar eclipse.
Council member Julie Blumenstock told those present she has received several compliments about Rench for the good job he is doing from various residents and business owners.
Council member Dawn Duff asked if there were any updates on the wires hanging in the alleys. Cline said he had notified Windstream, but if the wires are not hanging over a state highway, there is no guarantee when Windstream will take them down.
The next meeting of the council will be on May 6.
The writer is a regular contributor to Miami Valley Today.
