By Kathleen Leese

For Miami Valley Today

COVINGTON — Covington Village Council members heard from Covington Police Chief Tim Cline about the success of a recent event held in the village during their meeting on Monday, Sept. 16.

Cline said the village’s end of summer celebration which offered a chance for those in the village to come together and celebrate summer one more time before the routine of school and other activities get underway was a success with approximately 175 individuals in attendance. During the event, 120 hot dogs were served along with 94 free Kona Ice tickets given out to local children.

Cline thanked everyone who helped make the event a success, expressed appreciation to all of those involved. He specifically thanked Glen Hollopeter, of Littman Thomas Insurance, the Covington Tomorrow Club (formerly the Covington Noon Optimist Club), Covington retired Police Officer Steve Blei and Covington Police Officer Philip Russell, Mayor Lee Harmon, Covington Fire and Rescue and Covington Police Department for their work on the celebration.

“They did a great job,” Cline said. “It turned out great.”

Harmon said celebrations will continue in spring 2025 with the grand opening of the Schoolhouse Park in the village. He is already working on getting donations for that event and told council members it will be a big celebration.

Also coming up is the annual Covington Fire and Rescue Winner’s Pork Chop Dinner on Sunday, Oct. 13, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Covington Fire Station, 801 E. Broadway St . Dinners will be available to eat at the fire station or for drive-thru. The dinners feature a Winner’s Pork Chop, cole slaw, au gratin potatoes, a roll, cookie and a drink. Tickets for the event must be purchased in advance by Sunday, Sept. 29, and can be purchased from any Covington Fire and Rescue member or by going to the fire station which is staffed 24 hours a day. Tickets are $14 each. The event is open to the public.

In other business, Village Administrator Tyler Rench gave an update on the renovations at the Government Center. He said it is now expected the center will be completed by Nov. 15. They are currently waiting on an air handler.

Rench reported work on the new Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) is continuing; there is a change order for an addition to the project involving water wells. The plant is expected to be operational later this year.

Rench said he is waiting to hear from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) regarding the placement of a sign at North High Street and US Route 36 to address the issue of individuals who are parking in a no parking zone there after the area was widened. The other option is to extend a no parking line.

Rench said Schoolhouse Park is currently waiting to have some punch list items completed.

Also Monday, Council:

• Heard a second reading of an ordinance for an amendment for the trash and recycling rules and regulations. This amendment would require local residents to place their trash at the curb by 7 a.m. on collection day and have the trash receptacles removed by 7 p.m. the same day. The reading resulted in some discussion, with Council member Martin Leistner questioning if residents could put out their trash the night before.

Leistner said, “I always put mine out in the evening.”

Following some discussion, Rench said he will make adjustments to the amendment and present it to council again at the next meeting.

• Was introduced to a resolution to authorize the village administrator to apply for a pass through grant through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). The grant would be for $250,000 which needs to be applied for as soon as possible. It would reimburse the costs for Schoolhouse Park. It was noted that $5,000 of the grant would be paid to ODNR for administrative fees.

• Declared an emergency and suspended the readings and approved a resolution to accept the Miami County tax rates. Rench said an emergency reading was necessary due for approval was necessary before the next council meeting is scheduled. The deadline is Sept. 30. The next meeting is not until October.

• Was introduced to a resolution to allow the village administrator to enter an agreement to extend a lease for the temporary offices, located at 21 N. High St., for the Government Center which are which is being used until the center’s renovations are completed. The lease extension is necessary because is set to expire in October and construction is not expected to be completed until Nov.15.

• Was introduced to a resolution to authorize recycling rates for Covington Schools. Rench said he proposed to the school district the recycling rate would remain the same for the next four years, at which time it would be revisited. There are currently 15 totes for recycling in the district.

• Heard a reading of a resolution for a change order to the WWTP which would allow Peterson Construction to remove overhead and outdated electrical lines and a singular power line would be installed underground. The current power lines date back to around 1950 and have required repairs.

The change order that would allow the extra work to be completed on the power system would cost $251,419 and would be paid from the $1.3 million contingency fund. Rench noted that the electrical work would “piggy back off that (WWTP) project” and must depend on the approval of a loan for the work.

Harmon spoke about the potential power line updates and noted, “any time we have an opportunity to update, do it.”

Cline told council members that stop signs are being installed in the village by the public works department including at South Wall, Harrison and Spring Streets and more will be installed.

He explained Covington Police “aren’t sitting on these (stop signs) to give tickets now,” but are trying to bring attention that “there is a stop sign now.”

During the meeting, Council member Julie Blumenstock asked what happens to the water from the splash pad and was told that it drains into the storm water drain. ‘

Blumenstock asked if it was possible for the village to have a community night where a portable screen could be put up in the area of the splash pad for movie nights. Harmon said the village of Bradford does that and it could be done in Covington as well.

The next meeting of the Covington Council will be held on Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Covington Fire Station, 801 E. Broadway St.

The writer is a regular contributor to Miami Valley Today.