COVINGTON — Upset that the MainStrasse Village Association is talking about reviving Mardi Gras in 2001, after earlier announcing plans to cancel it, some residents say they will boycott a meeting to solicit their views on the issue.

        The village association has called a meeting for Tuesday to learn whether residents would support “a more community-friendly” Mardi Gras. The meeting will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Main Street Methodist Church, Eighth and Main streets.

        Notices of the meeting were mailed to about 700 residents Thursday.

        However, at a Thursday night meeting of the Covington Neighborhood Collaborative — a group representing 11 neighborhoods — many attendees said Mardi Gras 2001 is not open to discussion.

        “The general consensus was that there isn't going to be enough time to discuss this,” said Rachel DeLugish, a neighborhood development coordinator at the Covington Community Center. “The general feeling was that when they've had these meetings in the past, they haven't listened to (residents.)”

        Ms. DeLugish said residents also wanted to know why the village association was even discussing the issue, after it had said that it wasn't going to sponsor Mardi Gras in 2001, and city officials had said they weren't going to let them do it.

        Paul Wolgin, operations director of the MainStrasse Village Association, could not be reached for comment Friday.

        Mayor-elect Butch Callery agreed that the meeting should be delayed to give residents enough notice. He and Commissioner J.T. Spence said they would be willing to listen to proposals for a revamped Mardi Gras, if neighborhood concerns are addressed.

        Commissioner Jerry Bamberger and Commissioner-elect Craig Bohman have said they haven't seen anything to persuade them to change the city's original stance not to hold Mardi Gras in 2001.

        As a newcomer to city government, Commissioner-elect Alex Edmondson said he wants to attend Tuesday's meeting and hear from both sides before taking a stand.

        Earlier this year, Mardi Gras 2001 was canceled, after residents complained of widespread public urination, vandalism, litter and public nudity during the 2000 edition.

        For some restaurants and bars, however, the event was a financial success.

        “The village association is not in a position to summon us to a meeting on an issue which has already been decided,” said Dan Burr, a member of the steering committee of the Mutter Gottes Neighborhood, which borders MainStrasse. “The (city) commission, the city managers and the mayor all canceled Mardi Gras for 2001. We feel that our only dealings should be with the city of Covington.”

        Mutter Gottes resident Molly Navin agreed.

        “My only opinion on the issue is that it's a non-issue,” Ms. Navin said. “The city said that there should not be a Mardi Gras (in 2001) ... I will not be attending (Tuesday's) meeting.”

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