COUNCIL TO VOTE ON STARTING STORMWATER PROJECT: At its meeting Monday, the Albert Lea City Council will vote on an engineering agreement to design a $1 million stormwater project, funded mostly by a state grant. The project would consist of an extensive rain garden at 1300 Front Street with public trails for walking. The area is prone to flooding and the stormwater basins would help hold and filter stormwater. The city owns the project site and would use a Stormwater Resiliency Grant of nearly $900,000 to pay for most of the project. The council meeting is open to the public and held in the council chambers on the top floor of City Hall, 221 E. Clark St. For the complete agenda and city councilor contact information, go to https://cityofalbertlea.org/council/.
DEVELOPMENT INCREASES VALUE: Before a private developer built the Front Street Apartments, the land parcel was valued at $52,200. Now the land value is $2.8 million. In addition to increasing the local tax base, the apartments are helping Albert Lea fill a critical need for housing, expand housing choices and maintain affordable housing. About 10 of the 48 rental units qualify for rent subsidies. The city supported this development by using $944,000 in state funding toward the $1.26-million-cleanup of contaminated soil at the 3.4-acre site at the Blazing Star Landing. The city is also supporting the project with $474,000 in tax increment financing over 26 years. For more about Albert Lea’s housing goals, see the Comprehensive Plan at https://cityofalbertlea.org/wp-content/uploads/Chapter-3-Housing.pdf. For more about the Blazing Star Landing, visit https://cityofalbertlea.org/bsl/.
STATE AGENCY TO HELP FUND NEW APARTMENTS: The Minnesota Housing Agency recently selected a project in Albert Lea for $15.1 million in funding from state and federal programs. The funding will go toward a private developer’s plan to build 60 apartments at the Blazing Star Landing for low- to moderate-income residents. The apartments are estimated to cost $24 million to build and would be located south of the proposed Kwik Trip. The development would help fill a critical need for housing and help the city maintain or grow in population. For more information, visit https://loom.ly/hLujjWY.
NEW ERA FOR BLAZING STAR LANDING: By using state grants to help with cleanup costs, the City of Albert Lea continues to develop the Blazing Star Landing 1 parcel at a time. The city initially sought development of the entire 35-acre site as a whole, but soil contamination proved to be too big a barrier. The soil contamination resulted from a fire at a meatpacking facility in 2002. The city acquired the site after the meatpacking company went bankrupt. Now the city is seeing success with a private developer building apartments in the southwest corner in 2022, a new Kwik Trip proposed for the northeast corner, and more apartments proposed for a third parcel. Several acres will be left as green space. For more information, visit https://cityofalbertlea.org/bsl/
WELCOME TO THE NEW WARD 5 CITY COUNCILOR … Keith Van Beek will be sworn in at the Jan. 13 City Council meeting. The Freeborn County native brings a variety of experience to the council, including 18 years of management work. He volunteers in many ways, including taking part in the annual Santa Toy Run, serving on the Ride for Heroes Board, and helping the Freeborn County Humane Society. Van Beek describes himself as a reflective listener, focusing on understanding people before responding. For how to watch council meetings, see what’s on the agenda, and contact your city councilor, visit https://cityofalbertlea.org/council/.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Mayor Rich Murray!
A MESSAGE FROM MAYOR RICH MURRAY: While the Albert Lea City Council has canceled its meeting for Dec. 23, the City of Albert Lea, Albert Lea Economic Development Agency and other partners are working hard to develop more jobs, businesses, housing, child care and retail opportunities for our community. Mayor Rich Murray expects 2025 to be a productive and exciting year for Albert Lea. Keep following us for updates.
DON YOUR UGLIEST CHRISTMAS SWEATER: Ugly Sweater Skate, Sunday, Dec. 22 from 4:30-6 p.m. at the City Arena, 701 Lake Chapeau Drive. $5 includes skate rental. Ugly sweater contest, photos with Santa Bob, music and prizes!
GIFTS IDEAS: Pick up gently-used books at low prices at the Fountain Lake Bookstore, 221 E. Clark St. All proceeds go toward programs at the Albert Lea Public Library. Friends of the Library, which runs the bookstore, donated nearly $12,000 to library programs this past year! The Albert Lea Rec Department also has gifts for skaters with scan cards for open skate and hockey. The cost is $60 for 20 admissions. That’s only $3 per session! For beginner skaters and hockey players, there are Learn to Skate lessons on Sundays from Jan. 5 - Feb. 9 . The cost is $50 per skater. Happy holidays!
HIGHER UTILITY FEES? At its meeting Monday, the Albert Lea City Council will consider raising water and sewer fees by 5% and 7% respectively in 2025 to cover higher costs. That would be $5.09 more a month, based on using 6,000 gallons a month, the average for a family of 4 in Minnesota. Despite the increase, Albert Lea would still have lower fees than many other cities in southern Minnesota. The council vote will come after its annual truth in taxation hearing on Monday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m. The hearing is open to the public and held in the council chambers on the top floor of City Hall, 221 E. Clark St. For how to contact your city councilor, go to https://cityofalbertlea.org/council/. The meeting will also be live on ALTV at cityofalbertlea.org/ALTV.
TAX INCREASE LOWER THAN FIRST PROPOSED: At its meeting Monday, the City Council will hold its annual truth in taxation hearing before voting on the city’s tax levy, general fund budget, capital improvement plan and fees for 2025. The council is considering a lower tax levy than first proposed due to increases in some revenue like interest income and decreases in some costs, including workers’ compensation insurance. The Dec. 9 work session starts at 5:30 p.m. and the regular meeting at 7 p.m. Both are open to the public and held in the council chambers on the top floor of City Hall, 221 E. Clark St. For how to contact your city councilor, go to https://cityofalbertlea.org/council/.
Reduce, reuse and recycle this holiday season! The average Minnesotan throws away an extra 1.5 pounds of waste per day during the holidays. Keep the holidays green by reusing and recycling materials whenever possible. Learn more about what and where to recycle on the city’s website: https://cityofalbertlea.org/holiday-recycling. For items that can’t be reused or recycled, take them to the Transfer Station, 2506 Richway Drive. For fees and other details, visit https://cityofalbertlea.org/transfer-station
Albert Lea is a beautiful, progressive, dynamic community located in the heart of south central MN
