Albany City Council opened the way for a local downtown business to install a drive-thru pick-up window and delayed second reading on the ordinance franchise renewal for Mediacom at its first meeting of the year last Tuesday, January 5. Five of six members were on hand.

Albany Mayor Nicky Smith opened the meeting by thanking everyone who took part in any way in making the annual Christmas at Home food and toy drive another success, especially those who donated items. He also noted he had sent city employees who help make deliveries to homes a letter of thanks.

The council then heard a presentation from Arica Collins, owner of Dyer Drug Company of Albany, and Clint Gilley, of Arnold Engineering out of Bowling Green pertaining to a plan to renovate the building and add a drive-thru pick-up service to its customers.

Collins and Gilley presented a drawn design of what the project would look like, noting the plans had been verbally approved by the state and requesting council approval to proceed.

As far as the city’s aspect, there would be three parking spaces from the corner of Dyer Drug to the west on Cross Street eliminated. The plans call for customers to be able to veer off Cross Street to the drive up window and veer back off onto Cross Street. The area would take out the sidewalk from the approximate location of Dr. William C. Powell’s office to the corner of the drug store.

Council members, in discussing the proposal, felt the change may actually help traffic flow from Cumberland Street either crossing or turning onto Cross Street, allowing more visibility.

Following some discussion, councilman Leland Hicks made a motion to approve the request, which was seconded by councilman Tony Delk and passed by unanimous vote.

If the plan is officially approved by the state, it isn’t known when the construction process may begin or how long it may take.

Mayor Smith then gave a brief review of ongoing city projects, including the water line extension project along with bypass to Hwy. 738 with nothing new to report since December’s meeting.

City legal advisor Norbert Sohm then discussed Mediacom Cable’s franchise renewal, which was approved on first reading last month.

Sohm said after being in contact with the cable provider, they had agreed to a 10 year, in lieu of a 15 year contract and basically agreed to fund an office location for local residents to pay their bills, which is now being done at city hall.

It was again noted that the city itself, due to telecommunications deregulation, had no say over the rates charged by a cable or utility provider, which is handled solely by the state’s Public Service Commission. However, Sohm noted that if the courts overturn a ruling that cable companies did not have to pay franchise fees and again allowed local governments to add such fees, that aspect of collecting them was built into the new franchise agreement.

Councilman Delk questioned the necessity of the city even having to approve a franchise if the city had no say in rates, but it was noted the franchise gave permission to the franchise holder to run lines and service equipment on city property to provide the cable service.

Sohm said that a representative from Mediacom was expected to be present at the council’s next meeting in February and some council members, expressing some concerns about cable rates, down time, and other issues, felt it better to wait until they can talk with a representative before giving the ordinance a second reading.

A motion to table second reading of the franchise ordinance agreement was made and passed by unanimous vote.

Albany Fire Chief Robert Roeper then addressed the court about the possible purchase of another fire truck, as well as a brush truck from the same company, at a much discounted rate.

Roeper, in discussing the age and repairs necessary to most of the existing vehicles, said many of the trucks purchased were purchased from Empowerment Zone funds back in the mid-to-late 1990s.

The fire chief noted that one fire truck broke down on the way to a fire and another “had problems” when the department got to the same fire scene. “The trucks are in need of constant repair,” he said.

However, while having one of the trucks repaired, he ran across a truck for sale with only 15,000 miles that would cost only $64,000–as compared to around $300,000 for a brand new truck–plus a brush truck for another $4,800 from the same individual, or a total of $68,800 for both.

After a brief discussion, the council, on a motion by Hicks, authorized the mayor to refinance a Certificate of Deposit, containing funds from fire membership fees, to pay for the trucks. The motion passed unanimously.

In relation to the action, councilwoman Tonya Thrasher suggested some of the fire trucks be labeled, or marked some way in remembrance of past long-time firefighters, which Roeper said he would do.

There was no other items on the agenda and the half-hour session was then adjourned.

The next regular meeting of Albany City Council is scheduled for Tuesday, February 2 at 5 p.m. at city hall and is open to the public.