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City of Covington Weekly Report Week Ending March 21, 2021

On the cover are CPD and COV team members (L-R) Allen Martin and Vic Partee.

Discover Covington's 2021 Event Calendar

In the mood for music or movies? Maybe a 5K? 2021 in Covington has them all and more! Select the "2021 Event Calendar" button below to see the full list of events. Please note events are subject to change or cancellation, but we may also add more so follow us on Facebook, Instagram or visit our websites to find out more about what's happening in the COV!!!

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

Hillary Wilder, Covington-Newton 911

  1. Where were you born? Decatur, Georgia
  2. What was your first car? 1988 Jeep Wrangler
  3. What was your last job before you worked at the City?Investigative Assistant at GA DDS Office of Investigations
  4. How long have you worked for the City? Seven years
  5. What is your favorite part about working with the city?Short commute and close proximity to home
  6. What is your favorite book and/or movie? Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice
  7. Where is your ideal vacation spot?Anacapri, Italy
  8. What is your favorite food?Carbohydrates!
  9. If you could have dinner with a celebrity, dead or alive, who would it be? Ludwig van Beethoven
  10. What is your hidden talent?Lol...I can blow air out of my eyes!
  11. Name one thing you are proud of in your life.My relationships and compassion for others.
Mayor Steve Horton is all smiles at the Welcome Center museum for a photo shoot and article by Georgia Trend magazine.
  • Fiber expansion meeting
  • Housing update
  • Economic Development update
  • Council meeting
  • IT collaboration meeting
  • Land application review and tour
  • Personnel meeting
  • National Gas utility workers day lunch
  • Radio system update
  • GCCMA district lunch
  • ICMA LGFM monthly conference call
  • Schneider Electric update
  • Covington Sustainability meeting
  • Community engagement meeting
  • Corridor and density research
  • Employee development survey creation
  • WE LEAD preparation meeting

Select the button below to access the audio from the March 15, 2021 City Council meeting conducted by teleconference.

One of City Clerk Audra Gutierrez's cats, Phoebe, prepares for the second of three public hearings during the teleconference of the City Council meeting on 3/15/21.

  • Attended March 15 City Council meeting by teleconference
  • Prepared March 15 meeting summary and minutes
  • Attended March 15 small group meeting at the Airport
  • Fielded 39 phone calls
Phoebe couldn't stay awake for the third public hearing.

Darrin DeLamar cuts roots out of a sewer main.

  • 19 water meter calls
  • Four fixed water leaks
  • Seven miscellaneous calls
  • Eight sewer calls

Zack McKibben and Dustin Nichols install a sewer marker on a manhole.

  • Finished performance appraisals
  • Worked on FY2021-2022 budget
  • Worked on accreditation
  • Attended three Zoom meetings
Hawker 850 departing Covington Municipal Airport.

Photo by Nicholas Key

Airport team member Zachary Spencer lowers the flags to half-staff in honor of those affected by the tragedy carried out at Metro Atlanta spas. Photos by Maddi Powers.
  • Three emergency leak investigation and repair.
  • Three check meter requests completed.
  • Three inspections and unlock meters completed.
  • One service call completed.
  • Eight farm taps were painted.
  • Two new services installed.
  • Seven new locate requests called in for new services.
  • One anode bed repaired.
  • Mike Jewell attended virtual GMA Legislative Policy Council meeting.
  • Mike Jewell attended Heat Energy Assistance Team Board meeting.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Mike Willis, Engineering Technician in the Engineering Department, for obtaining his CPESC (Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control) Certification. He has been working for over a year to prepare for the CPESC exam and he passed! Well done Mike!

Total CAD Calls Received: 1,683

Total Agency Calls Generated: 1,898

Law Calls Generated: 1,480 (77.98%)

  • Covington Police Department - 432 (22.76%)
  • Covington Marshal’s Office - 0 (0.00%)
  • Newton County Animal Control - 2 (0.11%)
  • Newton County Sheriff's Office - 971 (51.16%)
  • Oxford Police Department - 33 (1.74%)
  • Porterdale Police Department - 42 (2.21%)

Fire Calls Generated: 155 (8.17%)

  • Covington Fire Department: 45 (2.37%)
  • Newton County Fire Department: 110 (5.80%)

Newton County EMS Calls Generated: 263 (13.86%)

Drive through birthday for Nanny Hazel's 100th Birthday Party

On Sunday March 21, C-shift officers Sgt. Chris Cain (pictured), Officer Justin Stott and Officer Bob Yarborough participated in Nanny Hazel’s 100th birthday drive through at the National Guard Armory on Carroll Street.

PATROL

  1. On March 15, CPD officers responded to Nitro-2-Go to a theft. A short time later, they responded again to a shoplifting. During the first incident, officers viewed video surveillance and observed George Roe shoplifting approximately $250.00 worth of alcohol. During the second incident, officers responded to a shoplifting where George Roe concealed $150.00 worth of alcohol. When confronted by officers, he attempted to flee the store. Roe was subsequently transported to the jail on existing warrants and was issued two citations for shoplifting.
  2. On March 18, CPD officers responded to Mike's Tire Depot where a black female, in a white Kia Optima, left without paying after four new tires were put on her car. The vehicle is missing its grill and front bumper.
  3. On March 20, Sharon Crutchfield was arrested at Walmart for felony shoplifting after she attempted to leave the store without paying with a buggy filled with over $1000 worth of items.
  4. On March 20, officers received a call about a male acting erratic and jumping into the roadway on Conyers Street in the area of Legion Drive. Officers located the 37-year-old white male who was intoxicated and suffers from a mental health condition. The male was turned over to EMS and taken to the hospital after his mother advised that he is on multiple mental health medications and when he drinks, he acts out. The male was admitted into the hospital as a 10-13 patient and will receive treatment.

CID

CID Sgt. Allan Seebaran examined Person Crimes and Property Crimes CID detectives worked for March 15, 2021 to March 21, 2021 and compared them with the previous two years. He found the following results:

PERSON CRIMES

From March 15, 2019 to March 21, 2019, there were 11 reported person crimes; during the same date range in 2020, there were seven reported person crimes; and from March 15, 2021 to March 21, 2021, there were nine reported person crimes. For this date range, the statistics were as follows:

  • There was a 36% decrease (from 11 to seven) in reported person crimes from 2019 to 2020.
  • There was a 28% increase (from seven to nine) in reported person crimes from 2020 to 2021.
  • There was a 18% decrease (from 11 to nine) in reported person crimes from 2019 to 2021.

PROPERTY CRIMES

From March 15, 2019 to March 21, 2019, there were 21 reported property crimes; during the same date range in 2020, there were 19 reported property crimes; and from March 15, 2021 to March 21, 2021, there were 17 reported property crimes. For this date range, the statistics were as follows:

  • There was a 19% decrease (from 21 to 19) in reported property crimes from 2019 to 2020.
  • There was a 10% decrease (from 19 to 17) in reported property crimes from 2020 to 2021.
  • There was a 21% decrease (from 21 to 17) in reported property crimes from 2019 to 2021.

ADMINISTRATION

Fire Chief Jeremy Holmes spoke about "Adopting Excellence: Cultural Shift Starts with You" at the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs Inc. Executive Conference in Savannah.

OPERATIONS

A SHIFT

  • One significant call for the week: Responded automatic aid to a vehicle accident on I-20 east bound at mile marker 95. Upon arrival, found a two-vehicle crash with two fatalities and one critical who was flown out by Life Flight. I-20 was shut down for a considerable time.
  • Pre-plan Cinelease Studio with tour of buildings and water supplies (map pictured)
  • Replace power cord port on T-22
  • Normal station duties
  • A Shift responded to 15 calls for the week: B-2 had five responses; E-21 had six responses; T-21 had four responses; R-21 had one response; S-21 had one response; and T-22 had four responses

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A Shift training including Charles Drew (left) doing air consumption drills and hose line deployment drills on the right.
  • Tier 4 Lexipol training
  • SCBA review
  • Blue Card command training
  • Forcible entry with props
  • Paramedic and EMTA training
  • Fire Officer 3 training
  • Total training hours: 100.10

B SHIFT

Forcible entry and confined space equipment training
  • Completed station day
  • Cut grass at both stations
  • Reviewed Lexipol Tier 4 policies
  • R. Tanner attended FO3 Class at West Point Fire Department
  • Trained on confined space equipment, forcible entry and FAO pumping
  • Attended meeting on Cricket Frog Trail project
  • Attended meeting on new radio system project
  • Assisted NCFD with Dollar General fire (pictured below)
  • Responded to two fire calls; six EMS calls; one service call; and two auto/mutual aid calls
  • Total training hours: 66 hours
Responded to an emergency at Dollar General for mutual aid assistance to the NCFD and responded to a lawnmower fire.

C SHIFT

Station 21

Thermal imaging, forcible entry training and hose line deployment
  • Five EMS incidents, three motor vehicle incidents and one commercial fire
  • EMS training
  • Employee evaluations
  • Aerial operations, forcible entry and hose line deployment

_

Station 22

Replacing ceiling tiles @ Station 22
  • Four fire alarms
  • Six hours of training average
  • SCBA Training
  • Driver operator training
  • PT
  • Weekly apparatus cleaning and maintenance completed
  • Cleaned and sanitized station
  • Lexipol policy review
  • Replace ceiling tiles at Station 22
  • Established expectations with new crew

_

Battalion 2

Mutual aid on a structure fire
  • Three structure fires
  • Completed all evaluations

ACCReDITATION

  • Continued review of Community Risk Assessment/Standard of Cover document
  • Compiled information and submitted CFD weekly report
  • Logged confined space activity in ERS daily log
  • Processed and mailed out Firefighter Pension Fund Check
  • Spoke with Lake Mary Fire Department training chief regarding staffing/accreditation
  • Approved PO’s and invoices in BS&A
  • Attended Kiwanis meeting
  • Updated Category 9 to the 10th edition FESSAM (Accreditation Template)
  • Assisted with Kiwanis Golf Tournament fundraising event
  • Entered announcements on First Arriving dashboard
  • Ordered office/station supplies

New Engine 22 at Williams Fire for shelving and equipment installation before delivery!

CUSTOMER SERVICE

UTILITY BILLING/METER READING

  • 4,432 bills processed
  • Billing cycles 5, 6, 11 and finals
  • 207 work orders completed
  • Five meter/ert change outs
  • 0 Tantalus meters changed
  • Routes read: cycles 7 & 8
  • Meter readings read: 6,512
  • 96 disconnects
  • 86 reconnects

PURCHASING

  • Total purchase orders issued – current month - 309
  • Total purchase orders issued – current budget year - 2,749

Current / Upcoming RFP's/Bids

  • 2500KVA Transformer: Out for bid
  • Cornish Creek Switchgear: Out for bid
  • Ashley Drive Pipe Lining Project: Out for bid

MUNICIPAL COURT

  1. There were virtual and in-person court sessions this week.
  2. 49 new citations were processed and filed in the court.
  3. 16 tickets were disposed of and closed.
  4. A total of $3,517.00 in fines and fees were collected from mail, web, probation and in-person counter payments.
  5. There were six open record requests/certified disposition requests and three verifications that warrants were removed properly.
  6. A total of 683 separate case files for the week were scanned into Courtware Software.
  7. The office received 260 emails and responded to internal and external customers accordingly.
  8. 185 calls made and received from/to telephone customers.
  9. Mailed out 40+ packets with solicitor’s recommendation for entering a plea.

LAST WEEK'S TASKS & EVENTS

  • David Powell of the Human Resources Department celebrated 30 years of service to the City (pictured)
  • Received 16 applications for open positions
  • Scheduled interviews for Gas Equipment Operator, Meter Reader, Utility Locator and Engineering Technician positions
  • Offered the CPD Evidence Tech position to the selected candidate
  • Posted Water/Sewer Line Worker and GIS Technician positions
  • Onboarded new police recruit
  • Onboarded two new retirees
  • Organized activities for our Health Fair and Open Enrollment in May
  • Set up and conducted drug screens for several new employees
  • Worked with several Department Directors on department reorganization possibilities
  • Met with a department head to determine course of action on an employee issue
  • Met with City Manager to discuss the HR Specialist position
  • FMLA discussions
  • Working with insurance broker on upcoming renewal and auxiliary benefits for our employees
  • Priced new AEDs for City facilities
  • Completed Flagger Training for the entire Street Department
  • Processed damages to City and private properties

Ongoing Events

  • Providing quality customer care to our employees and retirees
  • Prepared submission to the Weekly Report
  • Review of job descriptions for current and future positions
  • Monitoring the coronavirus pandemic and listening to professionals about proper return to work protocols
  • Auditing all employee benefits
  • Review of timekeeping abnormalities in NovaTime

Job Postings

  • Tree Trimmer
  • Electric Lineman
  • Water/Sewer Line Worker
  • GIS Technician
  • Staking Technician
Concrete poured at Welcome Center for shaded seating under existing carport
  • Concert meeting at Legion Field
  • Discover Covington Tourism Board meeting
  • YMCA Kickball Opening Day
  • Meeting with digital marketing company
  • Met with Arts Association to discuss and plan 2021 concert series
  • Finalized work plan for tourism marketing firm
  • Updated tourism television advertising plan
  • Information preparation for 501C6 meeting
  • Continued organization of brochures
  • Gave tour for hotel partner
  • Continued discussions for marketing needs and bid assessment
  • Continued working with Hazzard Homecoming organizer for May 1 event
  • Discussion with Newton Trails rep about brochure assistance
  • Reviewed final report from the Aquatic Survey completed by Ecological Solutions for the DNR Trail Grant
  • Discussed corridor lease with Newton Trails
  • Began work on the Revitalization Area Strategies needed to apply for CDBG financing
  • Began revitalization of existing city parks
  • Completed initial stakeholder interviews for Covington Central Park Master Plan
  • Phase I meeting with Perkins & Will to review initial thoughts on park master plan
  • Updated social media and website
  • Met with Now Covington website team
  • Met with Schneider Electric regarding PR planning
  • Completed Weekly Report for week ending March 7, 2021

COVID-19 STATISTICS

These are the most recent statistics received on Friday, March 26, 2021 via phone call with the GNR Health Department:

NEWTON COUNTY

  • Confirmed cases to date: 10,277 (1,005 more cases than discussed exactly one month ago)
  • Deaths due to COVID-19: 199 (20 more deaths than discussed exactly one month ago)
We should continue to follow prevention measures while we race to get more people vaccinated." -Dr. Arona, GNR Health Departments

GEORGIA

  • Confirmed cases to date: Over 1.05 million
  • Deaths due to COVID-19: 16,417

PLEASE CONTINUE TO:

♦ Wear a mask in public

♦ Social distance including stay at least 6-feet apart from individuals

♦ Wash your hands

♦ Do not go out if sick

If interested in volunteering to help with vaccination locations, please select the button below to sign up.

Pictured: Hawker 850 departing Covington Municipal Airport. Photo by Nicholas Key.

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