COVINGTON, Ga. — As more funding was approved for the Covington Town Center Tuesday night, Jan. 21, Councilwoman Fleeta Baggett stood her ground and questioned whether the newly-elected council was bound to the project's contract.

In the contract approved by a previous Covington city council, Foxfield Company, the developer, was assured there would be a sewer alignment crossing Alcovy Road to be used by future establishments. Bids were opened for the sewer alignment, and Anderson Grading and Pipeline had the lowest bid of $521,734.18.

"Now is the time to do it," Councilwoman Susie Keck said, "You have all that construction and everything going on."

Two council members — Baggett and Don Floyd — did not agree on spending such money on the project with no signs of progression on the property.

"We're going to spend half a million dollars to put it out in the middle of nowhere?" Baggett questioned, "With no guarantee that anything will be done out there?" 

"He has $10 million worth of infrastructure," Keck said, "I'm sure something is going to get done out there."

Baggett questioned whether the contract with the developer was binding from one council to another.

"I'd rather talk it out offline, certainly if we end up litigating,"  City Attorney Frank Turner said, "I don't want to sit here on the record and say we're obligated or not obligated ... He will make a claim we're obligated under the contract."

The council approved the funding 3-2, with Baggett and Floyd voting against it.