Albany Fire Department issues and a few ongoing water line projects took up most of the agenda at the Tuesday, April 1 regular meeting of Albany City Council. Five of six members were present for the brief regular session.

David Bowles of Monarch Engineers first gave the council a brief update on projects, noting that funding mechanism requests to state and federal agencies are now in place following the city’s actions to seek funding for extending water lines along some areas of the 127 Bypass to hopefully encourage future business and/or industrial development.

The total project cost is estimated at a little over $1.9 million and Bowles warned the council of patience as far as funding requests, noting it may take “six months or more” for any official responses on requests for grants or low-interest loans.

The engineer also noted that the relocation of sewer and water lines along the intersection of Hwys. 127 and 1590 are now complete and the city is still awaiting word from the state on financing sewer extension projects from the bypass to Hwy. 738 and another along Hwy. 1590 to the Ventress–Cobb feed mill facility.

Mayor Nicky Smith then told the council that a new fire department vehicle, that had been pruchased in part from grant funds the city had applied for last year, had arrived.

Following adjournment of the meeting, Firefighter Nathan Thrasher showed the vehicle to council members, including the options built into the 2014 Super Duty F250.

According to Mayor Smith, the truck had a sticker price of $46,000 but was purchased at the state contract price of $33,627.00. Some $21,869 of that amount was from a USDA grant and the city had set aside $11,758 to complete the purchase and pay for the extra lights and other equipment on the vehicle.

In another issue related to the fire department, there will apparently be enough funds left from the fire station construction grant to add one of the two alternates that were listed when the facility was bid for construction, that being to add a fourth bay area.

A motion to amend the construction contract to include the extra bay was made by Councilman James “Smitty” Smith and passed by unannimous vote.

The council, on a motion by Frankie Stockton, voted to declare a Ford Explorer as surplus property and sell via sealed bid, with bids to be opened at next month’s regular meeting.

Councilman Tony Delk also thanked whomever it was that was responsibile for repairing and cleaning up the mud slide problem on Virginia Avenue in north Albany, near the Clinton County High School property.

The next regular meeting of Albany City Council is scheduled for May 6 at 5 p.m. at city hall and is open to the public.