City awards grant contract

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany city council members awarded the administrative contract related to a Community Development Block Grant application to Public Management of Cleveland during a regular monthly meeting on Monday night, Jan. 11.

Albany grant coordinator Carrie Holson stated that a three-person committee had reviewed the two applicants and was recommending Public Management over Jet Development. The motion by Austin Sherwood passed unanimously.

Kay Howard, a grant consultant who has worked extensively with local entities in the past, is associated with Public Management.

This 90-10 grant award could range from $75,000 to $350,000, with funding to be used for infrastructure improvements.

City manager Billy Holson is hopeful that the city will be awarded the full $350,000 maximum.

Budget Amendments

The city manager went line by line over budget items that needed to be amended before the end of the budget year on March 31, 2021, stating that a big part of the increase on both the expense and revenue sides is due to a large donation to the golf course.

He also noted that salaries were down in some departments because the city had been unable to hire and keep personnel in the field.

“We’re going to have to talk about how we might fix that when we get into budget workshops next month,” said Holson.

He noted that there are currently only 15 city employees, although there were as many as 23 a few years ago. 

“I’d like to hire a Public Works Superintendent next year and replace several key people who are retiring,” said Holson. “We need to start filling these spots back up and keep them here, and that may mean making some hard decisions about where the money is coming from.”

The amendments were accepted on a motion by Lester Galbreath.

Lynsi Musselman, who was appointed to a council vacancy last month, was welcomed to her first meeting by mayor Susan Montgomery.