On the agenda: Covington 08/17/2026 Meeting  — Data Center (Aug 17)

REGULAR MEETING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY OF
COVINGTON, GEORGIA, AUGUST 17, 2026, 6:40 PM.
Mayor Fleeta Baggett presided with Mayor Pro-tem Jared Rutberg, Council Members: Charika
Davis, Anthony Henderson, Travis Moore, and Kimberly Johnson, City Manager Deputy City
Manager John King, City Clerk Audra Gutierrez, and City Attorney Frank Turner, Jr. Council
Member Dwayne Turner attended virtually.
Reverend Dr. Royeese Stowe gave the invocation.
Mayor Baggett led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of
America.
Kimberly Smith presented the City of Covington Civility Award to Vanesa Perez-Torres, Erika
Gonzales, Camille Taylor for outstanding job performance, teamwork above and beyond the
scope of duties.
Mayor Baggett gave council members IDA Packets with workforce training and employment
programs to share with citizens.

1.

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Motion made by Council Member Henderson, seconded by Council Member Moore to approve
the minutes from the Regular Council Meeting held on August 3, 2026.
Motion carried unanimously.
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2.

Motion made by Council Member Rutberg, seconded by Council Member Davis to approve the
final reading of an amendment for Gasoline Stations with or without convenience stores:
“AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF COVINGTON, GEORGIA, TO AMEND THE
COVINGTON MUNICIPAL CODE, ENACTED AND ADOPTED ON THE 16TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2001,
AS AMENDED BY PREVIOUS AMENDMENTS, TO ALTER CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF TITLE 16 OF
THE SAID CODE OF ORDINANCES TO AMEND SECTION 16.08.010 (DEFINITIONS) OF CHAPTER
16.08 (INTERPRETATIONS AND DEFINITIONS), TO AMEND SECTION 16.16.020 (PERMITTED
USES) OF CHAPTER 16.16 (STANDARD ZONING DISTRICTS), TO AMEND SECTION 16.20.330
(GASOLINE STATION AND GASOLINE STATION WITH CONVENIENCE STORE) WITHIN CHAPTER

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16.20 (SUPPLEMENTAL USE PROVISIONS), TO REPEAL CONFLICTING ORDINANCES AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES.”
Motion carried unanimously.

3.

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Motion made by Council Member Rutberg, seconded by Council Member Johnson to approve the
final reading of an amendment to the Data Center ordinance with the following changes:
There shall be two public meetings that must be held at least 7 days apart with the meeting
location capable of having an overflow capacity. The noise pollution limit at the property line shall
be adjusted to reflect a maximum of 55 decibels from 8AM-8PM, and 50 decibels from 8PM-8AM.
“AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF COVINGTON, GEORGIA, TO AMEND THE
COVINGTON MUNICIPAL CODE, ENACTED AND ADOPTED ON THE 16TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2001,
AS AMENDED BY PREVIOUS AMENDMENTS, TO ALTER CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF TITLE 16 OF THE
SAID CODE OF ORDINANCES TO AMEND SECTION 16.08.010 (DEFINITIONS) OF CHAPTER 16.08
(INTERPRETATIONS AND DEFINITIONS), TO AMEND SECTION 16.16.020 (PERMITTED USES) OF
CHAPTER 16.16 (STANDARD ZONING DISTRICTS), TO ADOPT SECTION 16.20.195 (DATA CENTER)
WITHIN CHAPTER 16.20 (SUPPLEMENTAL USE PROVISIONS), TO REPEAL CONFLICTING
ORDINANCES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.”
Motion carried unanimously.

4.

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Motion made by Council Member Rutberg, seconded by Council Member Johnson to approve
first reading of planning and zoning amendment to Sec. 16.12.020.D. regarding the Covington
Planning Commission Appointment and Terms. with the following stipulations:
Composition: Shall be one nominatee at large per mayor and council member that shall serve
same term as elector with term expiring Jan. 1. The additional two seats may be filled by a
majority vote from a pool of applicants.
Qualifications: Shall not be city employee or serve on any other appeals, zoning or planning
board.
There will be no compensation.
Removal of a member may be made by the appointee or by majority vote from council members.
If removed the member cannot be reappointed to the commission during that term. Members
may be removed for having more than three absences.
“AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF COVINGTON, GEORGIA, TO AMEND THE
COVINGTON MUNICIPAL CODE, ENACTED AND ADOPTED ON THE 16TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2001,
AS AMENDED BY PREVIOUS AMENDMENTS, TO ALTER CERTAIN PROVISION OF TITLE 16 OF THE
SAID CODE OF ORDINANCES FOR THE PURPOSE OF AMENDING SECTION 16.12.020 (PLANNING

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COMMISSION) OF CHAPTER 16.12 (PROCEDURES) THEREOF TO REPEAL CONFLICTING
ORDINANCES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.”
Motion carried unanimously.

5.

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Motion made by Council Member Johnson, seconded by Council Member Rutberg to approve
the final reading of an amendment to Ordinance 2.06 Ethics:
“AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF COVINGTON, GEORGIA, TO AMEND THE
COVINGTON MUNICIPAL CODE, ENACTED AND ADOPTED ON THE 16TH DAY OF OCTOBER 2001,
AS AMENDED BY PREVIOUS AMENDMENTS, TO ALTER CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF TITLE 2 OF THE
SAID CODE OF ORDINANCES TO AMEND SECTIONS 2.06.080 (COMPLAINTS) AND 2.06.090
(BOARD OF ETHICS) OF CHAPTER 2.06 (CODE OF ETHICS) TO REPEAL CONFLICTING ORDINANCES
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.”
Motion carried with council members Johnson, Moore, Rutberg, and Turner voting in favor of
approving the ordinance. Council members Henderson and Davis voted in opposition.

6.

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Motion made by Council Member Davis, seconded by Council Member Henderson to approve
signing a GDOT tentative allocation letter for FY27 Budget: 550-7563-52.1204 ENGINEERING
SERV/AIRPORT.
Motion carried unanimously.

7.

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Motion made by Council Member Moore, seconded by Council Member Johnson to approve an
amendment to Sec. 10.08.010 - Parking of vehicles in residential districts, subsection "B." & "C."
to include language in "B." for parking on Public Streets and "C." to include a distance restriction
for parking to a sanitation/roll-cart.
Council members Johnson, Moore, and Rutberg voted in favor. Council members Henderson,
Davis, and Turner voted in opposition. Motion denied with Mayor Baggett voting opposed,
breaking 3 – 3 tie.

8.

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Motion made by Council Member Davis, seconded by Council Member Henderson to approve
renewal of the City’s Property & General Liability with Traveler's Insurance in the amount of
$1,684,076.00.
Motion carried unanimously.
******

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9.

Motion made by Council Member Henderson, seconded by Council Member Davis to approve a
Letter of Understanding for the Serverfarm Natural Gas sales agreement.
Motion carried unanimously.

10.

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Motion made by Council Member Moore, seconded by Council Member Henderson to approve
a one year Temporary Delivery Interconnect Agreement with Transco Pipeline.
Motion carried unanimously.

11.

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Motion made by Council Member Moore, seconded by Council Member Davis to approve the
adoption of a resolution authorizing the execution of various documents related to the issuance
of the Newton County Public Facility Authority’s Revenue Bonds (City of Covington Projects),
Series 2026, including a bond purchase agreement, necessary documentation to waive certain
stormwater fees, and an intergovernmental contract with the Authority, contingent upon
approval at the 8/18/2026 Newton County BOC meeting.
Motion carried unanimously.

12.

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Motion made by Council Member Rutberg, seconded by Council Member Moore to approve an
initiation to rework the Golfcart Ordinance 10.18.
Motion carried unanimously.

13.

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After a lengthy discussion, motion made by Council Member Henderson, seconded by Council
Member Davis to deny amending the Agenda Item Request guidelines.
Council members Henderson, Davis, and Turner voting in favor. Council members Johnson,
Moore, and Rutberg voting in opposition. Motion denied with Mayor Baggett voted in favor,
breaking 3 – 3 tie.

14.

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Motion made by Council Member Moore, seconded by Council Member Rutberg to approve
amending the Agenda Item Request guidelines.
Council members Johnson, Moore, and Rutberg voting in favor. Council members Henderson,
Davis, and Turner voting in opposition. Motion carried with Mayor Baggett voting for, breaking 3
– 3 tie.

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15.

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Motion made by Council Member Rutberg, seconded by Council Member Johnson to leave the
mayor and council decorum fee as it stands at $150.00, and follow Robert’s Rule’s of Order.
Council members Johnson, Moore, and Rutberg voting in favor. Council members Henderson,
Davis, and Turner voting in opposition. Motion of carried with Mayor Baggett voted in favor,
breaking 3 – 3 tie.
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Maurice Carter thanked the Mayor and Council for listening to the recommendations from
Sustainable Newton and the work put in by planning and zoning regarding the data center
ordinance and encouraged them to continue trying to be conscious of their impacts.
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John King recognized Lee Harvey and the Public Works Department for their work getting their
reaccreditation with the American Public Works Accreditation Association. He commended
Covington 911, Police, and Fire Departments for their swift work at a potential drowning. He
recognized that because of Officer Bruce’s lifesaving measures, the young victim is doing well.
Audra Gutierrez reminded Mayor and Council to submit their Personal Financial Disclosure
Reports before the state’s September 1st deadline.
Council Member Henderson expressed concern about the crime level coming from Walmart and
would like to explore options to deter crime in the area.
Council Member Rutberg inquired about the status of the officer injured the previous Friday. He
reminded everyone that he would be meeting with property owners from the square tomorrow
to discuss sanitation options. He recommended fellow council members pay attention to the
motions being made, pointing out that on item 16 his motion was in line with what certain council
members were requesting and they still voted against the motion.
Attorney Frank Turner Jr. announced that there was no longer a need for the executive session
to discuss land.
Mayor Bagett stated she reached out to the 911 staff Saturday and some were still shaken by
Friday’s incident. She pointed out that often times the behind the scenes work of the 911
operators can be stressful and overwhelming, mentioning they need support and recognition for
the jobs they do. She is glad they are getting new facility soon.

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******
Being no further business meeting, the meeting adjourned at 8:22 PM.

________________________________
Fleeta S. Baggett, Mayor
_________________________________
Audra M. Gutierrez, City Clerk

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