The Alba City Council moved through a packed agenda at its latest meeting, taking on a bit of everything from financial questions to staffing decisions to policy overhauls while setting the stage for bigger conversations next month.

Early in the meeting during the consent agenda, council members zeroed in on a lingering financial concern: a discrepancy in the water and sewer fund. Alderman Tammy Kirkpatrick once again pointed to a gap between roughly $200,000 and $10,000 in reported balances, prompting questions directed to the city’s auditor. The council approved the consent agenda, with the exception of that one issue, which remains unresolved and will require clarification.

The council also formally accepted the resignation of Assistant Secretary Jenna Trussell with no opposition.

Attention then shifted to economic development, where a proposed print shop sparked discussion about zoning. The owner of McCauley Labels in Quitman is currently eyeing property near the local Dollar General store to relocate and expand their operations. The project, described as a light manufacturing print facility, could bring significant monthly revenue into the city in sales tax dollars. However, questions over zoning definitions—specifically whether the use qualifies as light industrial—led the council to direct the city attorney, Phillip Alexander, to review the ordinance and potentially draft an amendment or variance. The move keeps the project alive, but pauses final approval until legal guidance is returned.

On the public safety front, the council unanimously approved hiring a new part-time police officer to fill a recent vacancy. The hire is expected to strengthen weekend coverage.

Cost-cutting efforts led to one of the more debated votes of the night: whether to discontinue the city’s Dish Network subscription. While some argued the service remains useful for real-time weather and emergency updates, others said mobile devices and internet access provide faster alerts. In the end, the council voted 4–1 to cancel the subscription and install a television antenna instead, aiming to reduce expenses.

A substantial portion of the meeting focused on updates to the city’s personnel policy. Among the key changes were the following: eliminating a standalone HR title role in favor of department heads and the city secretary, redefining orientation as a probationary period, and revising rules around overtime, breaks, and reporting procedures. The council also discussed how to fairly compensate police officers working 12-hour shifts on holidays, a topic slated for further action next month.

Additional revisions addressed outside employment during leave, use of city vehicles, and stricter reporting requirements for workplace incidents. The updated policy package ultimately passed unanimously.

In staffing matters, the council agreed to offer a part-time City Hall position to Laura Rein. If she declines, officials will reconvene to consider other candidates. Meanwhile, the city is preparing to post an opening for a municipal clerk, with applications expected to be reviewed later this month.

The meeting closed with public comments that raised serious concerns about recent regulatory violations. During the public comments section at the end of the meeting, Mayor Paul Kelbe reported notices had been received related to water quality, including lead and copper reporting, as well as a wastewater discharge issue. Those items are expected to be placed on next month’s agenda and will take center stage at the next council meeting.