COVINGTON, Ga. — Citizens who wish to express their approval, displeasure or concerns will have another opportunity to do so at City of Covington meetings.

The Covington City Council approved a motion on April 20 that creates a trial run for a public comment section at the beginning of each meeting. The new section will take place at 6:30 and run no longer than 30 minutes. 

Previously, the city only had one public comment section — not counting public hearings — after the action items on the agenda. This change was made in January 2024 after Mayor Fleeta Baggett assumed office.

But citizen commenter Diane Gaither took exception to the placement of the public comment section during the city’s April 6 meeting.

“I don’t understand why we have to wait until the end of the meeting in order to make a comment about a subject matter that’s on the floor that’s very important,” Gaither said.

This seemed to resonate with Councilman Dwayne Turner, who added the item onto the agenda.

“If we can add it [to] just give them more of an opportunity to talk,” Turner said. “That’s just kind of what I think.”

Councilman Anthony Henderson outlined Newton County’s procedure, which allows citizens to deliver comments twice — once on agenda topics only at the beginning of the meeting and again about any subject toward the end of the meeting. But City Attorney Frank Turner Jr. cautioned against that format, citing First Amendment protections.

Councilman Jared Rutberg expressed concerns about redundancy if this was implemented. Rutberg cited public hearing procedures, which allows anyone to speak in favor or against any zoning-related matters in 10-minute periods. He was worried that some comments at the beginning of meetings could be a repeat of what would be said during those zoning items.

One suggestion pondered by council members was starting the meetings at 6 p.m. and allowing the first 30 minutes to feature citizen comments only. However, Councilwoman Charika Davis said that this would not be feasible due to her work commitments.

After some additional discussion, Rutberg made a motion to implement a trial run for an unspecified amount of time for a public comment period for up to 30 minutes at the beginning of each meeting. Dwayne Turner seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

Minutes after the vote, one citizen commenter, Thelma Nolley, took her three minutes to express her displeasure with Councilwoman Kim Johnson. Nolley has long accused Johnson of not meeting with her constituents, something that continued during the most recent council meeting.

Baggett intervened, telling Nolley that she could not “call individual people out.” Nolley took exception to this.

“If I can’t call nobody out, then what good is an election?” Nolley asked. “Because when you go, you mark the ballot.”

Suddenly, Johnson stood up and threw what appeared to be $150 — which is the fine for council members speaking out of turn — in the direction of Frank Turner and Baggett.

“I have a job,” Johnson said. “If you need to talk to me, I’ll lend you my number. And I’m willing to talk to you anytime you would like to talk. All you’ve got to do is call me.”

Davis rebutted, stating that Johnson did not follow Robert Rules of Order (the parliamentary procedure that government entities tend to follow). 

“If that had been me, you would’ve tried to fine me or kick me out,” Davis said to Baggett.

Baggett eventually gaveled Davis down, ending the argument.

“We’re better than this,” Baggett said.