Covington is going to miss City Manager Steve Horton, who has guided the city through good times and bad for the past seven years. But because of Horton's long-term planning - the city has known he was going to retire for more than a year - Covington has the chance to take its time in finding a replacement, including hiring an outside firm to head up the replacement search. The Covington City Council has chosen The Mercer Group, an Atlanta firm, to help find the next top administrator for the city.