Fire dept. report given

By Melinda L. Lucas

New Albany Volunteer Fire Department Chief Joel Viertel gave a report to Albany city council members during their regular April meeting on Monday night, stating that he and Captain Travis Gardenhire plan to fly to Oregon later this month to finalize the $220,000 purchase of a 2022 Dodge diesel 5500, which will serve as both a “rescue truck” and a “brush/utility truck.”

The vehicle is being paid for with $175,000 from an anonymous donor, added to $45,000 from the fire department’s “restricted account,” which is regulated by the city council.

Viertel also reported that the AVFD members had voted to purchase the adjoining property behind (south of) the fire station for $8,500, with plans to put  crushed rock down in order to be able to bring their larger trucks into the parking area in muddy conditions.

The money would need to come from the restricted fund, and Viertel asked that the item be placed on the May agenda for council consideration.

He went over recent expenditures by the department that had come from the AVFD’s bank account and told about a workday held earlier this month at the station.

Other Business

•Morgan Verette, project manager for Public Management, presented several policies needing approval in connection with a current Block Grant program. The resolution was approved.

•David Cleveland was appointed to continue serving as one of two city representatives on the West Central Texas Municipal Water District Board.

•The council agreed to participate in the opioid settlements reached by the Texas Attorney General.

•City manager Billy Holson went over the year-end financials, explaining a few items that were over budget and noting that most were well under.

•The council went into closed session for a little under an hour to discuss personnel, but no action was taken when the meeting was reopened.

•Mayor Susan Montgomery thanked Lynsi Musselman for heading up the April cleanups.