Albany City Council held a special called meeting last Thursday, January 30, with five of six members on hand and water meter funding being the primary issue on the agenda.
The council opened the short meeting by holding first reading of a 2024-25 budget amendment, which reads, “…Albany City Council’s budget shall be amended to include $1,039,099 in CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) and $1,029,100 in grant program funding”
Second reading and action to approve the amendment was scheduled to be held at the council’s regular meeting held this past Tuesday, February 4 (too late for press deadline.)
There was only one other vote taken last week. On a motion by Councilwoman Renee York, the body voted unanimously to approve a resolution pertaining to the project, which states:
“The City of Albany, Kentucky, has received Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) approval in the amount of $1,039,099 for the following project: Albany Distribution System Master Meters and Residential Meters. Be it resolved that cost overruns associated with the project will be borne by the City of Albany.”
Local attorney Gary Little sat in as legal advisor for the council at last week’s special session.
The project is for purchase and installation of 33 new “master meters” and 4,000 residential meters throughout the county. The meters are said to be vital in detecting water leaks and water losses, and getting a more accurate account of the gallons of water used that needs to be billed for.
There was some discussion about the current status of grant funding in today’s political climate, as Mayor James Bray noted that the President had frozen some grant funds but a federal judge and ruled in opposition to that mandate.
Although status of project funding across the country was unclear as of last week’s meeting, Bray noted the city would continue to do its part and proceed with what they need to do to continue to apply for funding and hope the situation is resolved.
The mayor said “we are trying to get ahead of the curve. We will do our documentation to proceed with it and do our legislative part,” adding, “I don’t feel (funds) will be locked up forever.”
The council met this past Tuesday night and details of that meeting will be published next week.