Water plant costs explained

By Melinda L. Lucas

With a short agenda, Albany city council members utilized Monday night’s meeting time to learn more about the long-range plan for capital improvements and water plant repairs.

During the financial report, city manager Billy Holson reported that 20 sets of filters, at a cost of $2,100 each, had been ordered to replace failing modules at the water plant, and he has plans to purchase 40 more before the end of the budget year.

“Most of the 180 sets that are in the system have been in the train since 2011, and they’re past the seven years that they’re supposed to last,” said Holson. “Some of them have been failing, so we’re at the point where we’ve got to spend some money on them.”

He explained that other major repairs have been needed at the plant for the past few years, and new modules have taken a back seat.

“We will move money from other departments to cover it,” Holson said.

One area that will have extra money this year is street repair.

“The main reason we haven’t done a lot of capital improvements in that department is a lack of employees,” said the city manager. “We’ve been so shorthanded that we didn’t even get the machine out this year.”

Answering a question from a newer council member, he explained that some streets in desperate need of resurfacing continue to be on hold because the water and/or sewer lines underneath them need replacing first.

Holson also expressed concern that it has been a problem finding workers the last few years.