Albany City Council held its regular monthly meeting last Tuesday evening, November 5 with all members on hand.

Mayor Nicky Smith opened the just under half-hour session by thanking some individuals and groups. The mayor thanked those who helped with the downtown city clean-up the week prior to the Foothills Festival, the Foothills Festival committee for their work in putting on the program this year, the Homemakers club, Brown Baggers, for trimming the roses around town and reminded everyone that the annual Christmas at Home food and toy drive is currently underway.

Councilwoman Tonya Thrasher also thanked those who set up spaces to pass out treats around the square (the second annual event) on Halloween night. Despite the adverse weather early on during the evening, it was estimated that about a hundred children visited the area to trick-or-treat with those who had set up.

A couple new to the Albany area then addressed the court with some questions they had about the local Tri-County Animal Shelter. The only information the city could provide was the name of the local animal control officer, James Stonecipher. They referred the visitors to the fiscal court, as the county basically is in charge of maintaining the shelter and gave them the phone number of the judge-executive’s office for them to get more answers to their questions.

Mayor Smith then gave a brief project report update, noting that the state should have plans for the new fire station completed within days, including a few changes to the original plans. Once the reviews are complete, the project can be let for bids on construction.

The bid process is expected to take about 30 days and the target date for completion of the new facility, to be located near the EMS and Air Evac buildings and Wellness Center in north Albany, is still April of next year.

Some other ongoing projects are still unchanged, as the city is still awaiting state approval to relocate a six-inch water line and four-inch force main that now runs through the middle of a pond. The cost is $125,000 to be paid by the state.

Also, the city is still awaiting word on requests for funding to extend sewer lines to two locations, to the interchange where Wolf River Dock Road intersects at the bypass at an estimated cost of $400,000 and from Hwy. 1590 to the new feed mill facility at a cost of $150,000. Applications for financing for both projects have been submitted to the state for consideration.

Councilwoman Thrasher then discussed a possible “noise ordinance” after some residents in one area of the city had voiced complaints about late night carpentry type work that had kept them up.

Thrasher presented a couple of area ordinances relating to noise, including one from nearby Burkesville, which is basically a disturbing the peace ordinance. That ordinance set hours in which such noise or work in some areas could take place as well as possible fines for persons violating the ordinance.

The council requested City Attorney Norb Sohm to look into the feasibility of such an ordinance, as well as whether or not the city may already have some type of ordinance on the books that would address the matter.

The council then entered into a 10-minute closed session to discuss a possible new business that may locate in the area but took no action upon returning to open session.

After the closed session, councilman Tony Delk suggested the city look into the cost and financing of running water and sewer lines along the new 127 Bypass, noting that future businesses that may want to locate along the route could benefit from having water and sewer accessibility.

Mayor Smith said an estimate had been taken on the cost of running a water line only along a portion of the area and that was about $1.3 million. However, he said he would continue to look into possible funding sources, including low interest loans and grants that may come available.

The council also scheduled its annual city employee Christmas dinner for Thursday, December 5 at 6 p.m. at the Fairgrounds Building.

The next regular meeting of Albany City Council is scheduled for Tuesday, December 3 at 5 p.m. at city hall and is open to the public.