Capital improvements amended

By Melinda L. Lucas

Updating the five-year plan for capital improvements, reviewing current finances, and discussing the waste contract were the primary topics on the agenda of an Albany city council meeting held Monday evening, Oct. 10.

After reaching the fiscal year mid-point Sept. 30, city manager Billy Holson went through the city’s capital improvements budget.

The plan includes future expenditures for the water plant, distribution system, wastewater department, streets, and other infrastructure.

Holson commented that it continues to be difficult to acquire asphalt, so some of the planned street repairs are delayed.

One of the biggest expenditures, about $250,000, over the next year will be the purchase of 600 new radio-read water meters to replace mostly manually read meters, but also some of the 20-year-old radio meters as they stop working.

Holson said that city employees are working on GIS mapping of the water and sewer lines, projected to cost about $20,000 during each of the next two years.

Amendments to the budget were approved.

Holson stated that the city’s overall financials look good for this time of year.

Waste Contractor

Because two other waste contractors have inquired, council members decided to allow Holson to advertise for bids for the city’s solid waste contract.

Republic Services provides the current service.