By Melinda L. Lucas

Members of the Albany city council met briefly on Tuesday morning to propose a tax rate, discussing a couple of options but agreeing quickly that they did not want to “put any more burden” on local taxpayers than necessary.

City manager Billy Holson stated that he was “comfortable” working with what is now termed the “no-new-revenue’ (NNR) tax rate, previously known as the effective tax rate.

The NNR is based on a rate that would produce the same amount of taxes if applied to the same properties taxed the previous year.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County commissioners took care of several agenda items before continuing to work on the budget for the upcoming fiscal year at a special session on Monday afternoon, Aug. 17.

Lease agreements for motor graders for both Pct. 2 and Pct. 4 were approved.

Pct. 2 commissioner Ace Reames reported that he had traveled to Oklahoma City to look at a 2019 Caterpillar motor grader, while Cody Jordan of Pct. 4 found a John Deere at Yellowhouse in Abilene.

By Donnie A. Lucas

For the third consecutive week, no positive tests for the COVID-19 coronavirus were reported in the county, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

In a notice on Facebook by county judge Robert Skelton, the latest report made on Wednesday listed no new confirmed cases and no cases still active.

However, the report did report two “probable” cases, which is defined as a person who meets clinical criteria but who tests negative.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany ISD’s board of trustees set a date for a special meeting to adopt the 2020-2021 budget and tax rate during a regular session on Monday, Aug. 17.

The board plans an early morning meeting on Monday, Aug. 31, the last day that the budget can be adopted, according to state law.

Budget Projections

By Lynsi Musselman

Albany’s United Parcel Service (UPS) man, Larry Loveland, has delivered countless packages to residents for over 15 years.

Some might say he is one of the most important visitors to town, next to Santa Claus.

Loveland is depended on by his customers, Monday through Friday, and always “delivers.”

On Monday, Aug. 10, while Loveland was making his way to Albany via Hamby, he made a stop at a house on his route in western Jones County, just north of Fort Phantom Lake.

By Lynsi Musselman

Board members of the Albany Chest will meet to organize the 2020 fundraising campaign, nominate and elect new directors, and choose officers for the upcoming year during a Sept. 2 meeting that will be held at The Feed Store at 5:15 p.m.

Current board chair Amy Kelly said four directors will complete their current terms, with positions held by Robert Dacus, Lacey Anderson, Susan Montgomery, and Susie Beard up for election.

According to the Chest bylaws, directors can serve up to two three-year terms before they cycle off.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Members of the Shackelford County Appraisal District’s board of directors passed a proposed budget of $391,745 for 2021, an increase of just 1.1 percent from the current budget, during a meeting held Aug. 14.

Snyder had given preliminary figures to participating taxing entities earlier in the summer so those board and council members could include them as they prepare for the next fiscal year, according to chief appraiser Clayton Snyder.

Budget Details

By Lynsi Musselman

The Old Jail Art Center was notified recently that the museum had received a Humanities Texas Relief Grant.

This summer, Humanities Texas awarded over $1.1 million to 198 Texas nonprofits that suffered financial losses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recipients other than the OJAC were other museums, libraries, preservation organizations, and heritage and cultural centers.

By Melinda L. Lucas

Even during unusual times like the current coronavirus pandemic, regular blood donations are needed in order to ensure the continued adequacy of the supply at area hospitals, so Hendrick Regional Blood Center’s bloodmobile is in Albany on Thursday, Aug. 20 for the regularly scheduled Kiwanis Club sponsored blood drive.

Hendrick Regional Blood Center will park its bloodmobile at First Baptist Church at the usual time from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.

By Lynsi Musselman

Residents who live along or travel Highway 6 in Shackelford County have been anticipating road construction to begin for well over six months.

TxDOT public information officer Tanya Brown reported this week that the long-awaited paving project planned for Highway 6 between Albany and Eastland County will begin this October.

The $12 million project, that includes widening of Battle Creek Bridge, will hopefully be wrapped up by June 2021.