Albany City Council held its regular monthly meeting last Tuesday evening, April 7 with five of six members on hand and two predominant issues being discussed.

The council first heard from county resident Raymond Shelton who was requesting the city’s help in getting water to his property in the Cartwright Community east of Albany off Hwy. 350 (Old Monticello Road). Shelton told the council he had been trying to get water to the property for over three years.

Kenneth Delk with the water department told the council they have been looking at the options available, noting that the property in question was located on what is known as Cartwright Mountain and is in a rocky, rough terrain. He said to run a line to the area, it would almost require a road be built and would require heavy equipment use of a backhoe, and possibly even a trackhoe. He also said the city had even had the Department of Highways looking at the area.

Delk said the closest way to get a line to Shelton’s property would be going on an adjoining landowner. However, Shelton said the joint property owner had refused to grant an easement to run a line on the adjoining property.

It was suggested that Shelton possibly offer the owner of the adjoining property money to obtain an easement and following more discussion Shelton was asked to again try and get the adjoining property owner to grant an easement, which would be the simpler and less costly way to get water to his property.

Mayor Nicky Smith also asked Shelton to check back with the city occasionally to see if any progress was being made or if any other options may be available.

Ashleigh Bridgeman and Tracy Aaron with the Lake Cumberland District Health Department, with Bridgeman an employee at the local health department, addressed the council about the possibility of the city adopting a “smoke free” or tobacco free ordinance for the city.

Bridgeman passed out several pages of information and statistics about smoking and tobacco use, including the dangers of second hand smoke. It was noted that 79 percent of adults in Clinton County, in a most recent survey, showed they did not smoke and 85 percent of teenagers do not smoke, both below the state average, which is a positive sign.

Bridgeman also noted the Health District had approached several area schools about making school facilities tobacco free.

The health department representatives asked the council to begin considering such a tobacco free ordinance for the city.

The council took the request under advisement but took no official action at this time.

Mayor Smith also told the council that the city may again apply for another round of grant funds that, if approved, may be used to construct a sidewalk in north Albany to around the park and the council commended the city street department for their recent work in spring cleaning city streets.

The next regular meeting of Albany City Council is scheduled for May 5.