Albany City Council held its last regular meeting of 2018 last Tuesday evening, December 4 with all council members on hand.

The meeting was brief and also somewhat emotional to some, as it was the last regular meeting for outgoing mayor Nicky Smith and three council members, including long-term members.

Councilmen Leland Hicks and Frankie Stockton, who have served on the council for many years, will not be back in 2019, as well as Carl Ferguson, who, like the mayor, chose not to run for re-election this year.

The only items of business on the agenda were to approve second and final reading to amend the water department budget to reflect adding $263,135.60–most of which is in grant funding–for the Rowena water line project.

The council also entered into a very brief closed session to discuss personnel with no action being taken upon returning to open session.

During the meeting, mayor Smith commented on his 16-year tenure as mayor and complimented all of the current and past council members and officials he has worked with.

Council members Delk and Hicks also made similar comments during the meeting, each thanking the mayor for his service to the city.

Mayor Smith also presented plaques of appreciation to the outgoing council members, as well as incoming mayor Lyle Pierce for his 40 year service on the Albany Police Department, a large portion of that time serving as assistant police chief.

The council held its annual employee Christmas dinner this past Tuesday night and a special call meeting the following afternoon, Wednesday, December 12, to review the past year’s audit report.

The next regular meeting of Albany City Council is scheduled for Monday, January 1 but may be changed due to it falling on New Year’s day.