Covington City Council continues to look for a replacement for the position of city manager, but the seat was not empty at the council's meeting on Monday night.

Deputy city manager Billy Bouchillon sat in and will serve as the interim city manager for the city of Covington until a new city manager is appointed. Former city manager Steve Horton retired on Dec. 21, 2012, but attended the council meeting.

Covington City Council met in executive session on Tuesday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. and will meet again in executive session on Wednesday, Jan. 9, and Thursday, Jan. 10 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., to continue narrowing down the pool of candidates for the position of city manager.

Mayor Ronnie Johnston said the council hopes to have a decision of the top three candidates for the position as early as next week, but at the council meeting, he expressed that he was grateful for Bouchillon taking on the role for the time being.

"Thank you for stepping up and doing this for the city," Johnston said. "One very positive thing is I don't feel rushed at all to find the best city manager that we can possibly find because we are in pretty good hands right now."
"We can take our time to do the right thing."

Bouchillon said he appreciated the well wishes and the support of the council as he fills in until a new city manager is hired by the city.

"I just really want to thank you all for having confidence in me to fill this gap between Steve Horton and the next city manager," he said.

Bouchillon, who serves as public works director for the city, was appointed as deputy city manager for Covington in January 2012.

As public works director for the city he oversees engineering, water and wastewater, facilities maintenance, the safety/risk program and the automotive shop. He has also served as assistant public services division director under bill Meecham; the public services division includes utilities (electric, gas and telecommunications) as well as public works.