On the agenda: Covington 09/21/2026 Meeting — Flock camera (Sep 21)

REGULAR MEETING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY OF
COVINGTON, GEORGIA, SEPTEMBER 21, 2026, 6:30 PM.
Mayor Fleeta Baggett presided with Mayor Pro-tem Jared Rutberg, Council Members: Charika
Davis, Dwayne Turner, Anthony Henderson, Travis Moore, and Kimberly Johnson, City Manager
Tres Thomas, Deputy City Manager John King, Clerk Audra Gutierrez and City Attorney Frank
Turner, Jr.
Reverend Dr. Royeese Stowe gave the invocation.
Mayor Baggett led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of
America.
The Civility Task Force presented commendations to Jason Hasty, and members of the 911 B
Team Night Shift, CFD C Team, and CPD Officer Jonathan Bruce in recognition of their actions
during an incident on August 14th.
The Civility Task Force also presented the Civility Award to Megan Almond.

1.

******
Motion made Council Member Davis, seconded by Council Member Henderson to approve the
minutes from the Regular Council Meeting held on September 1, 2026.
Motion carried unanimously.

2.

******
Motion made by Council Member Moore, seconded by Council Member Davis to approve the low
bid from A & S Paving in the amount of $93,553.65, for the Welcome Center Repaving Project.
A & S Paving Inc.
R & B Developer Inc.
McLeroy Inc.

$93,553.65 w/ contingency
$129,945.40 w/ contingency
$135,308.85 w/ contingency

Motion carried unanimously.
3.

******
Motion made by Council Member Moore, seconded by Council Member Davis to approve best
RFP from Carter & Sloope in the amount of $62,400.00, for the Green Acres Lift Station Design.

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Consultant Quality Schedule
GWES
Carter&
Sloope
Keck &
Wood
Thomas
Hutton
Garver
Audurra

Approach

Cost Experience

4
4

5
4

4
5

4
3

4
5

Total
Score
4.2
4.2

Proposal

4

5

4

3

4

4.0

$70,500.00

3

4

3

5

4

3.8

$27,800.00

4
5

3
3

4
4

2
1

4
4

3.4
3.4

$78, 900.00
$129,123.00

$49,900.00
$62,400.00

Motion carried unanimously.

4.

******
Motion made by Council Member Moore, seconded by Council Member Davis to approve the
best RFP from Fortis Siteworks LLC in the amount of $144,445.20, for LAS Culvert Rehabilitation.
Fortis Siteworks LLC
Site Engineering Inc.
Anderson Grading & Pipeline, LLC
HD – Construction
GA Sewer & Storm
Lewis Contracting Services, LLC
Coggins Construction Company LLC
Helix Grading & Utility, LLC
Blount Construction Company, LLC

$144,445.20
$183,667.00
$186,006.00
$188,776.50
$229,765.00
$260,770.00
$289,980.02
$328,000.00
$334,421.57

Motion carried unanimously.
******
Hicks Avenue resident Jean Cartledge stated water pressure is low on Hicks Avenue since the
construction on Floyd Street and Newton Drive. Ms. Cartledge further stated stormwater runoff
is deteriorating the road and inquired as to when the street was last evaluated.

5.

******
Motion made by Council Member Turner, seconded by Council Member Moore to approve a
proposal from Motorola Solutions in the amount of $130,301.07, for the relocation of the
dispatch equipment to the new 911 center, which includes the Primary Dispatch Site Relocation,
AXS Console Upgrade, Backup Control Station Expansion and Equipment & Network Migration.
Motion carried unanimously.

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6.

******
Motion made by Council Member Henderson, seconded by Council Member Davis to approve
the lowest and best bid from A & S Paving Inc. in the amount of $1,779,003.49, for the 2026
LMIG/LRA Paving Project.
A & S Paving Inc.
R & B Developer Inc.
F & S Scarbrough
McLeroy Inc.
Pitman Construction
Blount Construction Inc.
MHB Paving

$1,779,003.49 w/ contingency
$1,801,638.21 w/ contingency
$1,850,870.95 w/ contingency
$1,623,462.85 w/ contingency
$1,905,557.73 w/ contingency
$2,003,244.00 w/ contingency
$2,055,881.04 w/ contingency

Motion carried unanimously.
******
A public hearing was held at 7:02 PM concerning a Special Use Permit to allow for Medical
Aesthetic Services in an existing Spa in NM zoning district.
7.

Motion made by Council Member Johnson, seconded by Council Member Moore to approve a
SUP, case number PSU26-0006, to allow for Medical Aesthetic Services in an existing Spa in NM
zoning district located at 4130 Carroll St N.W.
Motion carried unanimously.
******
A public hearing was held at 7:10 PM concerning a City Initiated Future Land Use Map
amendment and rezoning. Charles Hicks was in attendance to state the property owner is in favor
of the FLUM amendment and rezoning.

8.

Motion made by Council Member Henderson, seconded by Council Member Davis to approve a
Future Land Use Map amendment from IND (Industrial) to COM (Commercial) and rezone from
M2 (Heavy Industrial) to CM (Corridor Mixed-Use) property located on Hazelbrand Road case
number PR26-0004.
Motion carried unanimously.

9.

******
Motion made by Council Member Rutberg, seconded by Council Member Henderson to approve
a Final Plat, case number PFP26-005, for The Quarry at Neely Farms to create a total of 15 lots
and dedicate approximately 5.626 acres for roadway purposes to the city of Covington for the

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property located at Dr. M.L. King Jr. Avenue and Scenic Parkway and consists of Tax Map Parcels
C082 005, C082 005N, C082 005H, C082 005B, and C082 005C.
Motion carried unanimously.

10.

******
Motion made by Council Member Henderson, seconded by Council Member Moore to approve
the low base bid from Roberts Hauling Pipeline Construction, Inc. in the amount of $1,444,460.00,
and approval to expend up to the budgeted amount of $4,000,000.00, for the Green Acres Water
Main Replacement Project.
Roberts Hauling & Pipeline
Matthews Development
FS Scarbrough
Dekalb Pipeline
Fortis Siteworks LLC
Helix Grading & Utility
JDS
RDJE, Inc.
Anderson Grading & Pipeline
GA Sewer & Storm
Ohmshiv
HD Excavations
Site Engineering

$1,444,460.00
$1,564,741.13
$1,980,963.00
$1,999,423.00
$2,012,138.00
$2,064,930.00
$2,116,351.93
$2,121,704.00
$2,182,387.00
$2,525,422.80
$2,656,927.00
$2,702,760.00
$2,898,827.00

Motion carried unanimously.
******
11.

Motion made by Council Member Johnson, seconded by Council Member Moore to approve a
resolution and request from the Water Resources Department for approval to enter into a Loan
Agreement with GEFA for an additional $12,000,000.00 with a 20% Principal Forgiveness of
$2,400,000.00, to support ongoing improvements at the City of Covington WRF, ex post facto.
Motion carried unanimously.

12.

******
Motion made by Council Member Henderson, seconded by Council Member Davis to approve a
resolution amending the FY 2027 Budget to reflect recent changes in the final tax digest and
liability insurance renewal.
Motion carried unanimously.

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13.

******
Motion made by Council Member Rutberg, seconded by Council Member Turner to approve a
GDOT Supplemental Agreement No. 01 to the PFA with regards to the SR 12/US 278 from Turner
Lake Road to SR 81 CID project.
Motion carried unanimously.
******

14.

Motion made by Council Member Rutberg, seconded by Council Member Johnson to approve the
proposed update to the City’s Personnel Policies as presented by Fisher Phillips Law Firm.
Motion carried with council members Moore, Johnson, Turner, Davis, and Rutberg voting in
favor. Council member Henderson voting opposed.

15.

******
Motion made by Council Member Rutberg, seconded by Council Member Turner to approve the
appointment of Kharmin Beam to the Covington Development Authority (CDA).
Motion carried unanimously.

16.

******
Motion made by Council Member Rutberg, seconded by Council Member Henderson to approve
appointments to the Planning Commission effective 10/01/2026:
Term expiration 12/31/2029
Kiara Cannon appointed by Council Member Davis
Rosie Crawford appointed by Council Member Henderson
Nytravious Smith appointed by Council Member Turner
Term expiration 12/31/2027
Lee Mayfield appointed by Council Member Johnson
John Maxwell appointed by Council Member Moore
Kim Carter appointed by Mayor Baggett
Shawn McGovern appointed by Council Member Rutberg
Term expiration 12/31/2028
Greg Shy – at large
John Travis – at large
Motion carried unanimously.

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******
17.

Motion made by Council Member Turner, seconded by Council Member Rutberg to approve the
appointment of Barbara Brown to the Citizen Review Board.
Motion carried with Council members Turner, Moore, and Rutberg voting unanimously.

18.

******
Motion made by Council Member Moore, seconded by Council Member Rutberg to approve the
appointment of David Zarneke to the Citizen Review Board.
Motion carried with Council members Turner, Moore, and Rutberg voting unanimously.

19.

******
Motion made by Council Member Henderson, seconded by Council Member Rutberg to approve
moving forward with the Cost of Service Analysis concept.
Motion carried unanimously.
******
Rosie Crawford thanked the City for checking on her property, discussed Flock camera issues, and
thanked council for appointments to the CRB.
Diane Gaither-Howard discussed issues with the Highway 278 medians and the Turner Lake
roundabout.
******
Tres Thomas thanked everyone for their participation in the Fuzzrun. He recognized city
departments for all their work organizing and working the event. He stated that the DOT has
pushed back completion of the Emory Street Bridge project again. He explained that the power
outage from the previous week was due to a tree falling and breaking power poles near Turner
Lake Rd. He thanked the city employees for their assistance in securing the area and making the
necessary repairs. He congratulated Larry Manning on his new job as City Manager of Porterdale.
Larry Manning thanked everyone for all their support during his time at the city and with his new
job. He looks forward to working with the City of Covington in the future.
Council Member Rutberg addressed Ms. Gaither’s concerns stating Hwy 278, Emory St., the
Bypass and Hwy 36 are all state highways controlled by GDOT but the area of her concern is part
of the CID Phase 3 and is scheduled to be evaluated in a few years. He congratulated Larry
Manning for his new job.

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Council Member Davis thanked Tres Thomas and John King for meeting with her to discuss items
of concern and beginning the process of addressing the concerns. She congratulated Larry
Manning for his new job.
Council Member Turner congratulated Larry Manning for his new job. He asked if the city can
send a letter about the Hwy 278 median drop off. He requested the names of all employees that
assisted with the power outage. He asked what can be done about Hicks Ave.
Tres Thomas explained that repaving can be addressed with the transportation department but
without property owners loosing real-estate, nothing can be done about the width of the road.
Council Member Turner asked that the road paving ranking be sent to him. He discussed Flock
cameras and how Chief Bradford and his team determine best placement.
Council Member Henderson congratulated Larry Manning for his new job. He stated that Ms.
Crawford has a right to question Flock camera placement and recommended an open records
request. He advocated for Walmart to be responsible for increased security.
Council Member Moore congratulated Larry Manning for his new job.
Council Member Johnson congratulated Larry Manning for his new job. She agreed with Ms.
Gaither about traffic at the Turner Lake round-about. She asked Tres Thomas about additional
signage when the roundabout is widened.
Council Member Turner thanked HR for work with employee handbook. He thanked Judy Johnson
for all her work.
Attorney Frank Turner Jr. commented that he has had hear police chief Fuesting state Flock
cameras are placed at the main throughfares in and out of the city, with Brown Bridge being one
of these throughfares.
Mayor Baggett acknowledged concerns about Flock cameras. She believes they are being
negatively over-dramatized by the media. She listed numerous platforms that monitor citizens
and prevent privacy. She stated that the information provided by Flock is only intended to assist
with public safety and deter crime, not monitor citizens.
******
20.

Motion made by Council Member Davis, seconded by Council Member Henderson to enter into
Executive Session at 8:21 PM for the purpose of discussing land acquisition.
Motion carried unanimously.
******

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21.

Motion made by Council Member Davis, seconded by Council Member Turner to enter back into
Regular Session.
Motion carried unanimously.
******

22.

Motion made by Council Member Rutberg, seconded by Council Member Henderson to approve
the initiation of an Overlay Text Amendment.
Motion carried unanimously.
******
Being no further business meeting, the meeting adjourned at 8:39 PM.

________________________________
Fleeta S. Baggett, Mayor
_________________________________

Audra M. Gutierrez, City Clerk

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