City okays annexation petition
A petition to annex almost 160 acres in a new development east and south of the Albany city limits was approved during the most recent city council meeting on Monday, July 9.
Known as the Clarke Estate Development, the tract of land backs up to the school’s ag farm and runs alongside Hwy. 6.
The petition was signed by A.V. Jones Jr. and Daphne Holcomb, but there are several others involved in the project, according to city manager Billy Holson.
More information about the development itself will be included in an upcoming article.
Annexation Plans
Because the entire project encompasses a large area, this is the first of three phases planned in the voluntary annexation process, Holson explained.
“By law, only a certain amount can be annexed at a time,” he said. “The property has to be contiguous and adjacent to the city limits, and it can’t extend out more than a half mile from the current boundaries.”
Annexation will incorporate the property onto the city’s tax rolls.
After approving the petition, which starts the annexation process, the council moved to the next step, to pass a resolution calling for two required public hearings to be held at City Hall on Tuesday, July 24. The first hearing will be held at 6:00 p.m., followed by a second one five minutes later.
Airport Lounge
Holson reported that four bids had been received for the re-worked airport pilots lounge, but even the lowest bid was about $80,000 more than anticipated.
The city manager asked and received authority to meet with the engineers and the low bidder to “try to get a 25 percent decrease for the scope of work,” stating that the city’s legal counsel had okayed that process, even though the bid had not been accepted.
Holson explained that even though the city has probably “missed out” on the current year’s RAMP grant funding, next year’s grant should be able to be increased.
“If we can get 25 percent off this bid, I think we can come up with enough donated money to add to what we have in the airport fund,” he said.
The council rejected six bids in May because they were about twice as much as the amount of funding available for the project, all of which will come from grants, private funding, and designated accounts.
The architects and engineers scaled back on the facility and it was re-bid in June.
Police Chief
Holson reported that interim police chief Mike House has been named as permanent chief following a brief closed session at the end of Monday’s meeting.
House has been serving as chief of police since Eric Hemphill left Albany in April.
Holson also said that he is starting the process of looking for a second officer.
Other Business
•Municipal judge Belinda Perez told council members that law enforcement officers have been invited to speak to children at the Community Vacation Bible School next week, and she has procured coloring, story, and safety books that they can give to VBS participants.
•Council member Carolyn Waller passed on a thank you from Jon and Dale Stasney concerning the city pool lifeguards that had helped during last week’s ChinaAid family camp, stating that they had represented Albany well.
•Holson reported on the city’s current finances, commenting that in spite of another lightning strike and unexpected costs at the water plant and city pool, expenses for the month were still under budget.
