Appendix

from 2023-2027 Comprehensive Plan

by cityofcovingtonga

Chapter Six: Economic Development

Stuffed animal drive underway in Covington

STAFF REPORTS

news@covnews.com

COVINGTON, Ga.

— The City of Covington Management Development Program Class of 2022 is conducting a stuffed animal drive from April 11 to May 6. The stuffed animals are being collected to benefit Piedmont Newton Hospital, the Newton County Sheriff’s Office and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta to help “comfort kids in crisis.” Members of the public are encouraged to drop off stuffed animals at one of three locations: Covington City Hall, located at 2194 Emory St.; Covington Fire Station 21, located at 2102 Pace St.; and Covington Fire Station 22, located at 11234 Alcovy Road. Stuffed animal being donated should be new, pose no choking threat and measure under 15 inches tall. The Covington Management Development Program class is provided through the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia.

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D-Covington, will seek reelection for a second term in state House District 113, but she faces a challenge in the Democratic primary from fellow Newton County resident Billie Boyd-Cox.

The race for state House District 114 features former Newton County commissioner Tim Fleming of Covington and Morgan County businessman Wendell McNeal for the Republican nomination. The winner will face Malcolm Adams, of Oxford, who is unopposed for the Democratic nomination, in the general election. For state Senate District 17, incumbent Brian Strickland,

SPLOST committee to hear requests for funding in May

By TOM SPIGOLON tspigolon@covnews.com

COVINGTON, Ga.

— Newton County’s

SPLOST Oversight Committee heard they likely will be working overtime to hear requests for inclusion in the planned 2023 SPLOST renewal vote. They also were updated on the status of projects recently added to the voter-approved 2017 list.

County Projects Consultant Jeff Prine told committee members Monday, April 11, that the Board of Commissioners recently voted to distribute the $19 million the 2017 SPLOST is projected to produce above the original $65 million amount. New projects included a renovation of Washington Street Community Center and construction of the Yellow River Trail, for which the county is working with a private developer to build the first phase near the former Oaks golf course, Prine said. Others include the fi

nal phase of the Denny Dobbs Park skate park, which likely can be completed by October; and construction of a Westside Youth Facility at Fairview Community Park and Springhill Park off Lower River Road — both of which the county will issue

R-McDonough, seeks a third term, but he faces opposition from Republican challenger Brett Mauldin of Madison. The winner will face Democrat Kacy Morgan of Madison in the general election. State Sen. Tonya Anderson, D-Lithonia, seeks a fourth term representing District 43. She faces a challenge in the primary against Democrat Joe N. Lester, of Conyers. Local candidates that qualified for congressional races included incumbent Democrat Hank Johnson, of Stonecrest, for U.S. House, District 4, as well as Republican challengers Jonathan Chavez, of Conyers,

requests for proposals for design services, Prine said. He said designs for both can be completed by the end of this year and their construction go out for bid early in 2023.

On the 2023

SPLOST, commit-

tee Chairman Baxter

Bouchillon said the 1% sales tax — a continuation of the 2017 SPLOST — is estimated to produce around $108 million over its six-year life if approved by voters in the Nov. 8 General Election.

He said the county was in negotiations with the six cities on the percentages of the funds each will receive if the SPLOST is renewed. If the current split is used, the county would receive about $80 million of the total, Bouchillon said.

Bouchillon told committee members he recommended the project list include five catego

ries: Basic Infrastructure, Quality of Life, Debt Reduction, Public Safety and Economic Development

He said he expected the committee will need to meet twice-weekly in May to hear from all the county departments and others seeking to be part of the funding.

“This is kind of the once-every-six-year thing,” Bouchillon said.

Department heads

and Surrea Ivy, ,of Gwinnett County.

For U.S. House District 10, qualified Democrat candidates include Jessica Allison Fore, of Athens; Tabitha Johnson Green, of Sandersville; Phyllis Hatcher, of Conyers; Femi Oduwole, of Loganville; and Paul Walton, of Hull. Republicans that qualified include Timothy Barr, of Watkinsville; Paul Broun, of Athens; Mike Collins, of Jackson; David Curry, of Monticello; Vernon Jones, of Watkinsville; Marc McMain, of Monroe; Alan Sims, of Winder; and Mitchell Swan, of Good Hope.

have been given a May 2 deadline for their project recommendations for the funding.

Projects must meet the requirements of the state’s SPLOST law, he said.

Bouchillon said the committee’s goal is to recommend a final project list to the Board of Commissioners by its June 7 meeting — after which the Board can make changes to the list and approve it before the renewal vote on Newton County’s ballot. The county government is requesting suggestions from community members and organizations for projects for the SPLOST at https://www.co.newton. ga.us/ImageRepository/

Document?documen-

tID=4474. Bouchillon also noted the Newton Chamber of Commerce “took the ball and ran with it” to gain feedback about the SPLOST project list. Chamber President Debbie Harper, an ad-hoc member of the committee, said a survey was included in a newsletter sent to its membership. He said committee members could allocate one-fifth of the $80 million to projects in each of the five categories.

However, Prine noted county transportation

director Chester Clegg still must submit his project requests which likely will far exceed the $16 million a onefifth division would produce.

He said Clegg likely will recommend fund-

ing to widen heavily traveled Brown Bridge Road from its current two lanes by adding a middle turn lane — a project that will cost more than $16 million.

brief the community on the process in developing the comprehensive plan, and to obtain input on the proposed planning process. Citizens, business owners, and all stakeholders are invited to attend the Public Hearing to provide comments, ideas, and suggestions. If you are unable to attend and wish to receive information regarding the hearing, please contact Oxford City Hall at (770) 786-7004 or comments@ oxfordgeorgia.org