Albany City Council was presented a draft version of the proposed 2014-15 fiscal year City of Albany budget at its regular meeting last Tuesday, May 6 at city hall. Five of six members were present for the just over half-hour session.

Albany Mayor Nicky Smith presented council members a draft version of the budget, with the totals to be finalized upon first and second readings and pending any changes council members may deem necessary. However, the overall budget is similar to the current and past years budget.

Mayor Smith did touch on some items about the upcoming budget, including an increase to the Mountain View Park from $10,000 to $12,500; funds to replace a broken warning siren at the Albany Police Station and a slight wage increase for city employees.

Council members will review the budget totals and will hold a first reading and eventually second reading to adopt the budget in the coming weeks. The new budget will take effect July 1.

David Bowles of Monarch Engineers gave a brief monthly progress report with a few changes since last month’s meeting.

Construction work to relocate water and sewer lines at the intersection of Highways 127 and 1590 are complete and the city is still awaiting word from the state on funding requests for extension of sewer service to the interchange where Wolf River Dock Road (Hwy. 738) intersect with the bypass (estimated cost of $400,000) and sewer service on Hwy. 1590 to the new feed mill that is under construction (estimated cost of $150,000).

Also, preliminary requests for funding in the form of grants and low-interest loans have begun for the possible water line extension to areas along the new bypass, which would consist of a 12-inch water transmission main beginning near the Perry Hay farm and extending along the bypass to the Hwy. 738 interchange.

The overall cost is just over $1.9 million and the process to secure funding is expected to take several months.

Also during the meeting, the council awarded the high bid of $301.23 from Bobby Jones on a 1997 Ford Explorer that had been declared surplus property.

The council also entered into an approximate 15-minute closed session to discuss possible or pending litigation with no action being taken upon returning to open session.

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