The City of Albany may soon have a nuisance ordinance in place as city government began the process of putting such a document together at its first meeting of 2015 held last Tuesday, January 6. Five of six members were present, including newest councilman Brad Thrasher.

The issue of putting together a nuisance ordinance for the Albany City Limits was discussed last year but no official actions were taken.

At last week’s meeting, Mayor Nicky Smith presented the council with a copy of four separate ordinances from other cities, including neighboring Monticello, for council members to review and possibly draw ideas from. He said the city may be able to take parts from each ordinance and put together one that would be beneficial to Albany.

Council members did note that whatever ordinance may be drawn up and put in place, it would need some enforcement to make it work.

Currently, about the only thing the city can do about nuisance areas in the city are to clean them up and put a lien on the property. “Some buildings are beginning to get run down,” Mayor Smith noted.

Following a brief discussion, a committee was formed to work on a nuisance ordinance, made up of council members Brad Thrasher, Tonya Thrasher, Tony Delk, the mayor and also the Albany Police and Fire Chiefs, with assistance from city legal advisor Norb Sohm. They were expected to have an initial meeting later this month to begin working on a proposed ordinance to take to the full council for consideration.

Although there was no progress update from Monarch Engineers last week, it was noted that a Notice of Intent to seek loan funding for a proposed 12-inch water main transmission along the new bypass has been published as well as a Notice of a Public Meeting to take comments from the general public about the proposed $1.9 million water line project.

When constructed, the line would run from the Perry Hay farm property north of Albany to the Hwy. 738 intersection of the bypass and would hopefully help attract more business and possible industry along the bypass route.

In other business:

* The council opened bids on some old surplus property such as push mowers, a chainsaw and other items. There was only one bidder on each piece of equipment, those from Bobby Jones at a combined total of $73.16, which the council voted to accept.

* With necessity of council action, Mayor Smith presented council members with a copy of the Kentucky Open Meetings and Open Records laws as required by statute.

* Mayor Smith thanked everyone who helped in any way, especially volunteers, during the 2014 Christmas at Home food and toy drive.

(A separate article of the Christmas at Home totals can be found this week beginning on page 1.)

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