The Covington City Council approved a budget increase Tuesday to cover a $50,000 cost overrun to the Covington Trailhead.

The overruns were due partially to submerged soil debris not detected in the bid process and the relocation to the site of the Downtown Development Office. The overrun was first questioned, then approved by the council, 7-0.

In another matter, Covington Mayor Candace Watkins announced that Parish National Bank will accept cash utility payments on behalf of the city with no cost to either the city or the customers, but as a community service. In other council business:

• Patricia Clanton and Harold Burns appeared with suggestions for the council concerning preservation of the only known remaining ox lot map of the city of Wharton, forerunner of Covington. A suggestion was made and then approved the map undergo preservation and storage in the archives at Southeastern Louisiana University, which has the facilities to store and protect the document.

Whether the map would be housed "on permanent loan" or as a "donation" to the archives has not been determined. However, a copy of the map will be made and the document's access restricted. The document would be available for display during Covington's upcoming bicentennial in 2013.

• A resolution was adopted in support of a grant obtained that will facilitate landscaping of the Trailhead. The $45,000 grant will be fully funded and expenditures by the city will be fully reimbursed under the terms of the grant.

• Fifteen FEMA trailers still in the city have been identified as follows: seven are awaiting pickup by FEMA; five have been given permits to remain for 30-60 days; one has been given two weeks to find another residence for family members using the trailer; one has been given two weeks to show cause why the trailer needs to remain; and one has been given 30 days to be removed.

The street overlays project will be prioritized into streets that can be overlaid with city funds and streets that can be overlaid using growth management funding. Growth management funding can only be used in certain cases, including streets that are main arteries for schools, day care centers and other institutions. These projects will be prioritized, and the bidding process will begin once the council reviews and approves the priority lists.

• Peggy Schoen was appointed and confirmed by the City Council to serve on the Historic District Commission. She will be a business representative as her art studio is located on North Columbia Street in the HDC.

• Committee reports included an update by Councilman Lee Alexius as administrative liaison. Some of his report included a move by the council to add a line item in the budget for income from streets that are revoked and purchased by citizens. The money has been designated for parks and recreation.

Council president Trey Blackall publicly congratulated Councilwoman Frances Dunn on her efforts on behalf of the Keep Covington Beautiful committee and their trash pickup in neighborhoods on Saturdays.