Albia council approves bridge pre-engineering, residency change, CARES funds application and liquor permit

The Albia City Council on Dec. 7 approved a series of routine but consequential items, including a pre-engineering agreement with BNSF Railroad for the South Clinton bridge project, a change to the residency requirement for patrol officers, a resolution to apply for CARES Act COVID-19 relief funds and approval of a new beer and liquor permit contingent on dram-shop liability insurance.

Dennis Conley moved and Brandon Williams seconded approval of a pre-engineering agreement with BNSF; the motion carried 6-0. Police Chief Brad Evinger asked that the residency requirement for patrol officers be extended to permit a 45-minute travel time; the council retained the existing residency requirement for the chief and assistant chief and approved the change (Conley moved; Hill seconded; vote 6-0).

The council voted to approve a resolution to apply for CARES funds for COVID-19 relief (approved unanimously) and approved a new beer and liquor permit for Indian Hills Inn pending proof of dram-shop liability insurance. The minutes record the liquor permit approval as conditional on the dram-shop coverage.

Council also directed City Attorney Bob Breckenridge to send correspondence to the Iowa Southern Railway requesting repairs to crossings; Street Commissioner Jeff Stephens will provide a list of crossings to the attorney. Separately, Planning & Zoning’s earlier recommendation not to close an alley east of 304 North 3rd Street—because of a planned storm-drain replacement—was accepted by the council 6-0. The council tabled consideration of closing a street south of 551 North F Street until the next meeting to gather more information from a neighboring property owner.

Supervisors’ reports noted police-department negotiations were complete, interviews for a new officer would be completed by Dec. 21, and a sanitation lining project had been finished. The meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.