An ordinance that would revoke part of Independence Street and sell it to homeowners near the Bogue Falaya River was tabled by the Covington city council Tuesday.

Part of the reason the ordinance was tabled was a question of ownership of the property that border the river and is located “on the other side of the street,” said Covington Councilman Lee Alexius. He said he could find no records on any maps declaring ownership of the property.

It is his belief the property in question was once covered by the river. Further research needs to be done to determine whether the city or the state owns property once part of a river. The city also wants to confer with the state attorney general’s office to clarify what the city can do to change the way fair market value in cases of revocation would be calculated. Councilman-at-large Matt Faust said the property would enhance the value of the homeowners in this case far more than present fair market value formulas would indicate.

Attorney for the property owners Jeff Schoen also asked for the matter to be tabled pending the fair market value calculation question and he also wants the matter to be considered by the full council since five votes are needed for revocation and only six councilman were present.

Other ordinances tabled at the meeting included a package that would amend the code ordinances pertaining to the Covington Historic District Commission. Due to some ambiguous language and terms not clearly defined, the CHDC ordinances will be sent back to committee for further review.

In other business, the council adopted an ordinance allowing the mayor to execute a contract with the Renaissance Neighborhood Corporation that would allow the city to provide water and sewer services to the mixed income housing project even though it is not in the city limits.

The council also passed an ordinance annexing land into the city that will house The Chimes Restaurant on U. S. Highway 190 and the Bogue Falaya River.

The deadline for adding items to city council meeting agenda from 4:30 p.m. Tuesday the week before the meeting to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday before the meeting, was passed by the council, plus an ordinance that updated the requirements and aligning them with the state provisions regarding the paving of streets; and an ordinance that allowed for the movement of water revenue bond money from the restricted account to the general fund was approved by the council.

Long-time resident Melody Penn was appointed to the City Parks Oversight Committee representing District A.

She was nominated by Councilwoman Frances Dunn and sworn in by city attorney Deborah Foshee. The council also approved the reappointment of Leonard White to a full term on the Board of Adjustments. White was nominated by Alexius.

Mayor Candace Watkins reported that the city was not selected to receive a Louisiana Economic Development grant. Only 12 cities were selected for the pilot program out of 25 applicants.

Alexius reported that several leases of city property are being reviewed. In some cases, rents have not been raised for 12-15 years and some are incorrect.

Alexius also reported that cable competition is coming to Covington in accordance with state law allowing cable company competition. At least one cable company, operated by AT&T, will be offering consumers a service called U-Verse as an alternative to Charter cable.

It was also reported that Charter will no longer carry the government access channel 10, but this was an error. St. Tammany Parish spokesperson Suzanne Parsons-Stymiest said that by law, all cable channels must carry the government access channels. Negotiations are underway with satellite providers, but cable will continue to provide both Channel 10 and the St. Tammany Parish School Board Channel 13.