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News & Information from the City of Albany, Oregon
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Visit Albany City Hall during Open House
December 2
The City of Albany will
host an open house at Albany City Hall, 333 Broadalbin Street SW, at
5:30 p.m. Monday, December 2, 2013. Albany residents are invited
and encouraged to attend to learn about City programs and services and
talk with elected officials and City staff.
City Manager Wes Hare
said the event is an opportunity for Albany residents to meet informally
with members of the City Council and those who serve on the City's
advisory boards and commissions. Visitors can see demonstrations and
displays and talk with staff to learn more about what happens every day
at the Library, the water and wastewater treatment plants, Fire
Department, Police Department, in building inspection, land-use
planning, Municipal Court, at Albany Municipal Airport, on City buses,
and how City finances are managed.
Light refreshments will
be provided. Melanie and Suzanne, a local flute and harp ensemble, will
provide music for the occasion.
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| Police seek volunteers for security, safety inspection program
Safe and Secure Seniors
Independent is a free home security and fire safety inspection program
for residents 55 years and older in Albany. The program's purpose
is to help independent citizens maintain safe and secure homes. It
is a program made of volunteers and Albany Police Department members
who are trained to perform security inspections, inspection for fire
hazards, install security hardware such as dead bolt locks and door view
holes, and assist residents with resource information.
The program is currently
looking for volunteers who would like to spend 1-3 hours a month
installing dead bolt locks, view holes, and sliding door pins; and those
who are comfortable working with community members, inspecting homes
and completing detailed paperwork.
Interested volunteers can apply by contacting Community Education Specialist Sandy Roberts at 541-917-3206 or sandy.roberts@cityofalbany.net.
The application process includes a background investigation.
Formal training follows before volunteers begin doing inspections and
installations.
"SASSI is an invaluable
tool to assist vulnerable seniors and give security to members of our
community," Roberts said. "I look forward hearing from you and
working with you."
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 Outdoor yard debris burning ends December 15
Albany residents
who intend to burn yard debris from fall cleanup projects must do so by
December 15, the last day for outdoor burning until next spring.
Before igniting a pile, call the Daily Open Burning Information Line
(541-451-1904) after 8:30 a.m. to find out if it is an approved day to
burn and what time the fire must be out and keep a safe method to
extinguish the fire readily available.
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Freeze grease and save your drains
Grease
from cooking, gravy, cooking oil, and sauces may look harmless as a
liquid; but when it cools, it gets thick and sticky. Grease poured
down a drain sticks to pipes and eventually causes clogs and messy
sewer overflows.
Get rid of grease properly:
- Scrape food scraps into the trash or compost bin.
- Or, catch food scraps and other solids with a strainer in the sink drain and empty the strainer into the trash or compost bin.
- Pour
grease into steel cans, cover with a "Freeze the Grease" lid, put cans
in the freezer to harden then throw them in the trash.
- Wipe pots, pans, and dishes with dry paper towels before rinsing or washing them, then throw paper towels in the garbage.
- Rinse dishes and pans with cold water before putting them in the dishwasher.
Don't:
- Pour grease down sink drains or toilets.
- Use
cloth towels or rags to scrape oil or grease off plates and utensils
because grease will drain to the sewer when the towels are washed.
- Run water over dishes, pans, fryers, or griddles to wash oil and grease down the drain.
For more
information or to get a free Freeze the Grease lid or liner, call City
of Albany Industrial Pretreatment Program, 541-497-6222.
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Fire stations make improvements to prevent water leaks
In June, City Bridges reported that Albany's downtown fire station had
been repainted in an attempt to seal it against water leaks. Fire
Station 14 in North Albany got a similar makeover in August.
Station 14, 2850 Gibson Hill Road NW, opened in the fall of 1998 and had
been plagued with leaking masonry walls for several years, causing
mold, mildew, and structural damage. The 15-year-old structure
will get a new roof next spring to provide additional protection.
Quality Painting of Oregon painted Fire Station 14 for $13,000.
Fire Station 13,
1980 Three Lakes Road SE, also new in 1998, got a new roof in 2012 and
will get new exterior paint in the future to prevent further water leaks
there.
For more information about Albany Fire Department, call 541-917-7700.
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General Information
541-917-7500
Mayor
541-791-0300
Ward I Councilors
541-926-7348
541-928-2961
Ward II Councilors
541-928-0649
541-917-0490
Ward III Councilors
541-791-2494
541-791-0158
City Manager
541-917-7505
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Keep your home
holiday fire-safe
Holiday trees: If
natural trees are part of your holiday traditions, be sure to keep them
watered. Indoor holiday trees account for hundreds of fires every
year. Typically, shorts in electrical lights or open flames from
candles, lighters, or matches start tree fires. Well-watered trees
are not a problem; a dry, neglected tree can be.
Selecting a tree:
Needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from the
branches and should not break. The trunk should be sticky to the
touch. Bounce the tree trunk on the ground; if a lot of needles
fall off, the tree may have been cut long ago and could be a fire
hazard.
Caring for a tree:
Do not place a tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace or
heat vent. Heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily
ignited by heat, flame, or sparks. Do not put up a natural tree
too early or leave it up longer than two weeks. Keep the tree
stand filled with water at all times.
Disposing of the
tree: Never put tree branches or needles in a fireplace or
wood-burning stove. When the tree becomes dry, discard it
promptly. Republic Services will pick up bare unflocked trees at
the curb by 6:00 a.m. on customers' regular garbage collection day
December 26, 2013-January 11, 2014.
Holiday lights:
Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots,
gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking
or wear before putting them up. Use only lighting listed by an
approved testing laboratory. Old and/or burned out holiday lights
can be recycled in the lobby at Republic Services' Albany office, 1214
Montgomery Street SE, Monday-Friday, December 2, 2013-January 11, 2014.
Do not overload
electrical outlets: Do not link more than three light strands
unless the directions indicate it is safe. Connect strings of
lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into the
outlet. Make sure to periodically check the wires; they should not
be warm to the touch. Do not leave holiday lights on unattended.
Holiday
decorations: Use only nonflammable or flame-retardant decorations
and keep them away from heat vents. Metallic or artificial trees
should be flame retardant.
Don't block exits:
Ensure that trees and other holiday decorations do not block exit
ways. In the event of a fire, time is critical; and a blocked exit
puts you and your family at risk.
Never put wrapping paper in the fireplace:
Wrapping paper in the fireplace can result in a very large fire,
throwing off dangerous sparks and embers that may result in a chimney
fire.
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For past issues of the City Bridges newsletter, go to:
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