Village of Albany

The Village of Albany's Comprehensive Plan outlines a vision to retain its small-town qualities, natural beauty, and improve its economy to maintain a viable community. Key strategic goals include accommodating orderly, fiscally sound, and attractive development with minimal environmental impact, and providing adequate, attractive, and affordable housing for all residents, compatible with land capabilities and surrounding uses, while planning for future growth.

The board and Plans Commission have been working on the Downtown Revitalization. The board approved the renewal of the Hidden Valley ad, election workers, allowing the clerk to change the number of election workers at a given election, stopping anyone other than contractors from removing items from recycling center, several payments to Iowa-Grant Trucking for their work on the Sewer Ponds, the bid from Payne/Dolan to do some street work in the village, a Green County Co-op agreement regarding Clean Sweep, several fence plans, the purchase of the Legion Property across from the village hall, street closings for the delayed Street Dance and for the Fall Festival, Operator's Licenses, stating that the amount of unmetered usage would be set by Resolution instead of ordinance, to change the amount of cubic feet that will be used for non-metered sewer users, an increase of the sewer rates, some training for employees, Library Tax Exemption Resolution, a three year contract with Pellitteri, keyless entry to the fire department, changing closing time in Class A establishments to sell liquor, a Conditional Use Permit to Tonya Stephan to allow her to have a part time hair salon in her home, a zoning change for the former United Methodist Church, a Certified Survey Map for Justin Farley to split his property into two lots. The board also met with Iowa-Grant Trucking to come to an agreement regarding the sand needed for the sewer project so that the job can be finished.

The Village of Albany is addressing burning regulations, emphasizing the need for common sense and consideration of neighbors. A public hearing is scheduled to discuss upgrades to the wastewater collection system and treatment facility to address capacity issues and new ammonia discharge limits, with potential impacts on sewer use rates. The board is considering a referendum on the Fall Election ballot regarding street repairs due to budget restrictions. The board approved a contract with the village auditor, a new contract with Aramark for public works uniforms, hired a park caretaker and commissioner, and appointed members to the Library Board. They also approved street closings for events, additional hand rails in the downtown area, employee trainings, and a letter of credit for developers. Furthermore, they proclaimed Arbor Day, approved handicap parking, a conditional use for horses, fence plans, a crack sealing bid, concrete in the Recycling Center, a variance for a deck, the 2009 audit, licenses for 2010-2011, the village hall roof replacement, street repair bids, and a slurry seal bid.

The Village Board approved operator's licenses for multiple individuals and various employee trainings. They also approved an offer to purchase land in the Industrial Park, authorized a land survey for the sale, and approved applying for a Clean Water Fund Loan for sewer repairs. Additionally, they allowed temporary no parking on Cincinnati Street for the Alumni FFA Show, approved the Annual Dance Permit for the Albany Lion's Club, and set criteria for closing river access during flood warnings. The board agreed to purchase additional garbage bags, set permanent Recycling Center hours, adopted an ordinance regarding the smoking law, and approved a temporary street closing for the Fall Festival. They also approved rezoning land in the Industrial Park, adopted a resolution regarding the library tax exemption, approved village employees to accept Senior lunches in the EMS room, and approved a variance for a property on North Mechanic Street. Furthermore, they approved a safety contract, inspections and repairs for wells, the purchase of new backhoe tires, and a fence plan for a property on School Street.