Covington County Commission Chairman Bill Godwin said he is “guardedly optimistic” about the New Year.

“We’re going to get a little uptick in economic activity,” Godwin said. “Nothing dramatic.

“We will have a few more jobs in the area, if for no other reason than retail activity in Andalusia.”

Like Covington Electric Cooperative CEO Ed Short, Godwin believes lower gas prices and economic development activity at the airport will have positive impacts.

“You are going to see some activities increase at the airport,” Godwin said.

“With gasoline prices down, there will be more traffic though the county,” he said. “Those people will spend money with us. That’s where most of our economic activity will come. Because gas is down, people will be able to travel more. When they come through here, hopefully they will stop and spend money.”

The county restructured debt in 2015 that will allow it to do some things that have not been possible in the past, the chairman said. However, recent flooding and damages to county roads will slow progress.

“The downside of flooding is that we will have a setback in improving county road structures,” he said.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Godwin said, damages to county roads and bridges by Christmas week flooding was estimated at $3 million.