An Albany bond issue to pay for new police and fire stations should pass because those facilities are needed. But its passage will be made easier if the council makes sure the issue is not needlessly complicated by urban renewal. To be clear, if voters approve a general obligation bond issue of $20.3 million, as […]
For years Albany officials have planned to replace the city’s downtown fire station and the police department on Jackson Street near the Linn County Jail. City voters likely will get a chance this fall to make it possible by voting for a bond issue to raise $20.3 million. The bond proceeds would be added to […]
The city of Albany faces a potential dog dilemma, but it’s nothing like the uproar about Blue. You may recall that Blue was facing euthanasia in 2011 after biting a toddler, while his owner and supporters fought to keep him alive. The battle ended when Blue was broken out of an Albany kennel and disappeared. […]
If you were anxiously awaiting the long-planned renovation of Albany’s Main Street from First Avenue to Santiam Road and Fourth Avenue, you’ll have to wait another year. The project had been scheduled this summer, and the city staff had estimated the cost at $1.5 million. But when bids were opened on June 4, only three […]
It was all sweetness and light Monday at the unveiling before the Albany City Council of a proposed charter amendment to fix problems with the city’s new debt limit. Council members nodded their agreement with the proposal and will probably act in June to put the measure on the ballot in a special election Sept. […]
Four Albany City Council members made what could become a big mistake on Wednesday. Councilors Floyd Collins, Ray Kopczynski, Dick Olsen and Bill Coburn voted not to place in the city charter the debt-limit initiative voters had approved in March. Only Councilors Rich Kellum and Bessie Johnson were against rejecting the voters’ decision this way. […]
Albany briefing: Exec session on real estate
In Albany, the city council got a progress report Wednesday night on negotiations for real estate the city hopes to acquire for an expansion of Station 11, the main fire station on Lyon Street downtown. As usual, and as allowed by the Oregon Public Meetings Law, the discussion was held in “executive session,” from which the […]
Tags: Albany bond issue, Albany City Council, Fire Station 11, John Bradner