While a handful of residents are excited about the potential expansion of Covington's Southview Cemetery, Mark and Angela Davis don't particularly want their home surrounded by tombstones.

The Davises live next door to the 2197 Church St. property of Billy Fortson, who has offered to donate a portion of that land to the city cemetery in exchange for a couple of the cemetery lots that would be created.

Mark Davis told the Covington City Council Monday that he worries the cemetery will reduce his property's value and decrease his privacy and quality of life. He asked the city to not expand the cemetery, but the council did not take any action.

After that Davis asked if the family could have priority for the new lots, so they could purchase the ones closest to their property.

Currently, five or six people are on the city's waiting list; the council will make a final decision when the land survey is completed.

In other city news, the council voted to fund next year's July 4 celebration. The council voted to spend a maximum of $7,500 on fireworks, but left the other costs uncapped.

Voting to give their support now will allow Main Street Director Josephine Kelly to solicit donations from industries, which have to complete their budgets before the end of the year.

The city is also purchasing another house in Walker's Bend for $34,000. Some of the money is remaining Neighborhood Stabilization Program grant money, while $12,000 is from mortgage payments made by previous NSP home buyers.