Thanks to a surplus from last year’s budget and sacrifices of new equipment by police, as well as other recurring fund sources, the step-pay plan for Covington police and firefighters is one step closer to fruition.

At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Council President Matt Faust said money has been found to fund a step-pay plan for police and firefighters. He said that recurring funding sources will allow the city to put a plan into effect.

Police Chief Richard Palmisano said the police department is “putting on hold” many of the new equipment requests originally in the budget, including radar, and will seek repairs on older equipment for now. Although details of the plan have not been presented, Mayor Candace Watkins said there is enough to do an initial salary adjustment.

An attempt this fall to raise money through a sales tax increase of 1/4 percent for the proposed plan that failed in the October 2008 election.

Jeffrey Boehm, a police officer with 11 years of experience, was sworn in as a patrolman with the Covington Police Department by City Attorney Deborah Foshee.

Unanimous approval of an ordinance approving budget amendments for the 2008 budget reflected a higher than expected sales tax revenue for the year. Councilman Lee Alexius said the sales tax estimates on the annual budget are usually conservative. The amended ordinance reflected a $457,035 general fund balance increase with net changes to both the undedicated sales tax fund balance and the dedicated sales tax fund balance. There was also a net increase of $62,198 in the growth management fund.

In other business, the council discussed the issue of a crosswalk on South Tyler Street.

After being hit by a car while crossing South Tyler Street (La. Highway 21) near Sonic, St. Paul’s School freshman Aaron Falkenstein delivered a request to put a crosswalk across the busy street for pedestrians. A favorite after-school hangout, Sonic draws many students from area schools within walking distance, all of whom must cross the busy street.

“I would like a crosswalk there to prevent others from going through what I went through,” said Falkenstein. His mother, Shelley Falkenstein, accompanied him to the City Council meeting.

City Councilman Trey Blackall proposed a resolution for the next meeting supporting the idea that could be forwarded to the state Department of Transportation and Development, who would create the crosswalk.

Mayor Candace Watkins explained that since the street is also a state highway, the city can not simply create the crosswalk, but the city administration will start the process to with DOTD. A proclamation recognizing Feb. 12 as the 100th anniversary of the founding of the NAACP was made by the Mayor and presented to James “Gus” Davis, Covington branch president of the organization. A resolution by the City Council was adopted unanimously in support of the NAACP and their anniversary for “its steadfastness in the struggle for justice and equality” and a commitment to working with the local and national NAACP to achieve its mission for the betterment of the citizenry.

A resolution was adopted unanimously accepting a conservation servitude granted by Jahncke Landing, LLC. The servitude is located at First Avenue and the Bogue Falaya River and will supercede the prior servitude and additions made by Jahncke Landing, LLC. An ordinance authorizing the Mayor to execute a contract with Eighteen18, LLC is still tabled pending receipt of information.

Rusty Savoie, John Wilkes III and Joy C. Rabalais were all confirmed by the City Council as assistant city attorneys. City attorney Deborah Foshee had recommended them for the positions and presented their resumes for consideration.