Covington City Council members approved for pavers that would recognize former employees and city officials to be placed on the sidewalks around the square at their meeting on Monday.

A subcommittee comprised of council members Chris Smith and Janet Goodman presented council with the requirements for having an inscribed stones placed on the square.

In order to be eligible for a paver, a person must have served on the Covington City Council either as a council member or as a mayor of a period for at least one term of four years or be a council member who died while serving in the first term. The person must not currently be serving as a city council member.

At the special request of Smith and Goodman, the last retired member of city council to receive an inscribed stone would be current City Manager Steve Horton, who is set to retire on Dec. 21.

Smith told council that each stone will be inscribed with the person's name and date of service to the city. City employees are only eligible for a paver once they have completed their service to the city. Pavers currently on the square would remain on the square as they have been placed.

The stones will be installed on the city square under the direction of the city manager. However, Smith said the council member could request that their paver be placed at a specific location on the square. The pavers will not be on the same row as the planned "Walk of Stars" pavers, which would feature notable actors, films and TV series' filmed in Covington/Newton County.

Smith said in addition to the pavers, the city will also will place a three-sided triangle monument at the front of city hall that will recognize public safety employees, public service employees and city council members who retire from the city after serving 25 years.

Council members who served after January of 1994, which was the year the current city hall opened, would be eligible for listing on the employee monument. The 25-year requirement would not apply to retired city council members.

Also at the meeting, the council approved for a portion of road between Floyd Street and Mill Street to be named in recognition of William A. Moate, a meter reader supervisor with the city's electric department who died after being hit by a car while working in January 1973.

City Manager Steve Horton said Moate started working for the city in May 1946. He said it's always a tragedy for a family and even for an organization to lose someone and he believe the city should give recognition where it was due.

"He gave his life doing what he could to try to get the power back on for people who he, I'm sure thought were in desperate circumstances because they needed the power," Horton said. "We appreciate what Mr. Moate did for us."

Horton said the portion of the street will be named William A. Moate Memorial Drive. He said the city will place signage up to recognize the portion of the street and hold a unveiling ceremony at a later date.

Moate's son Billy Moate and his family attended the council meeting.

"I'd like to thank the city for considering this," Moate said. "We appreciate you all for doing this for my dad. Thank you."