New Alba Mayor Don Heinert quickly got to work Monday after being sworn in.

He and new council members Debbie Shaddox and Tammy Kelbe were elected without opposition.

Mayor Preston “Sonny” Hass wished them well and headed out.

First up was the annual financial audit. 

Kelly Birdwell with Wilf and Henderson, in her first audit for the city, said the city had a very good audit, and there were no findings.

She suggested a couple of changes in the segregation of duties, to help mitigate risks. City Secretary Lindy McCarty said the recommendations have already been implemented.

The city ended the year with more money in the bank, thanks largely to sales taxes which were up for the year.

At year-end on Sept. 30, 2020, the city had a general fund balance of $222,000, of which $70,000 is unassigned.

That was followed by a lengthy discussion about downtown buildings.

The council is considering an ordinance regulating vacant building.

But as council member Tammy Kirkpatrick noted, most of the issues have been mitigated by recent business activity in downtown.

Jan Noble said she is concerned about what may happen to the building next to hers at 189 S. Broadway. There is some question about whether the building has gone into foreclosure and who is responsible for its status.

The council declined an offer made recently to the Alba Economic Development Corporation about selling a vacant lot next to city hall.

Presentations were heard from two of three trash contractors who answered the city’s request for proposals. The council plans to make a decision in June.

Kirkpatrick was elected mayor pro tem to replace Heinert, who had served the past two years.