On Monday night, the Albemarle City Council discussed the implementation of a Stanly County Schools Public Safety Program, starting with a firefighter program at Albemarle High School. 

Fire Chief Shawn Oke said the advantages of the program would be once the students enrolled in the program graduate, they will have almost everything they need to be a NC Certified Firefighter; they would only need two additional classes dealing with live fires. 

Another advantage would be the city would have young, local, well-qualified firefighters hungry to help the city fire department, he said.

Oke said it would also be an advantage to the county volunteer departments as well. 

Oke wants to eventually provide a training facility that the city fire department as well as high school students could use. The school system said there was land behind Albemarle High School they could dedicate to the program. 

 The firefighter program will be the first Stanly County Public Safety program, but Oke hopes to eventually create an emergency medical services program and a law enforcement program as well. 

 In other action, the council:

 -Passed a motion to condemn the property at 608 Summit Ave.

-Passed a motion for Piedmont Natural Gas for a gas line extension of 205 feet on South Second Street, turning onto Aquadale Road and an extension of 1,750 feet with a majority in the Badin Road right of way.

-Passed a motion to repair the Chuck Morehead Pool before 2019 season and repair the Rock Creek Pool before the 2020 season.