An Emergency Generator should have been installed years ago at the Virginia Place Lift Station in the event of a power outage..
Storm and Human Sewage being allowed to backup into the homes of residents during flash flooding is the worst form of disrespect a City can do to the residents in the area..
Emergency Generators sitting at a City Garage doesn't help when the sewage has already backed up into a person's house..
This is only one street that has been neglected by Al "Minnow" Brooks.. But the multi-million dollar sidewalks and lights that go around the lake sure look nice..
According to City Engineer Steven Jahnke, the City of Albert Lea has been struggling with what to do with Virginia Place since 1998..
He's been working on it for the past month after 17 years.. If the experts said the street needed pilings, then put'em in.
Banks wouldn't make mortgage loans available if they had been properly informed by the City of Albert Lea and/or Freeborn County that these issues exist..
Something smells very fishy, possibly illegal and Brooks is just as complicit..
Watch at 1 hour 35 minutes 55 seconds to 1 hour 37 minutes 12 seconds
Sounds to me like you either feel like you’re not getting yours or you just have an ax to grind with Brooks.
Typically water and sewer infrastructure should now last about 100 years (possibly more with the newer materials). Road surfacing when bituminous should last a good 30 years as long as it is maintained during that time frame (crack sealing, chip sealing, a mill and overlay at some time). And curbing and sidewalk should go about 50 years before it needs any work.
There are 6 Wards in Albert Lea so from some previous posts it sounded like you feel Brooks’ Ward is way behind in getting their share of the work. Now, granted some of this work was in the late 90’s and early 2000’s but if you get that much work in a Ward in that time, and then spread the same about out to all the wards, you’re on a lengthy rotation. Previous infrastructure improvement projects in 6 Ward: • Reconstruction of Margareta from 8th to Broadway – total surface, curbing and sidewalks with some utility work • Total Reconstruction of Frank from James to 7th – included all water, sanitary and storm • Total Reconstruction of James from 2nd to 7th – included all water, sanitary and storm • Total Reconstruction of St Joseph from 4th to 7th – included all water, sanitary and storm • Surfacing of Oakwood and Waldorf • Surfacing of Kenneth and Eunice • Resurfacing of Oline • There was also a large mill and overlay project that also included some curbing replacement and sidewalk replacements that were throughout Ward 6 • I also believe there was major work done on Myers Road and Crossroads Blvd not too long ago
I bet I’m even missing some work that has been done in this Ward in the last 15 years or so. I don’t know the value of this work but I bet it’s large (over $3M total).
Yes, Virginia is in BAD condition. Sounds like it’s been on the radar since 1998. If your engineer is correct about the need for piles for the utilities and road, then you’re talking BIG $. Others have pointed out the vacant lots and city owned lots along this road that also affect the assessments and ability to pay for the improvements. Does Albert Lea have a big pot-o-cash laying around to pay for this? Do the residents that live along that road each have one to pay for it?
You said “Banks wouldn’t make mortgage loans available if they had been properly informed by the City of Albert Lea and/or Freeborn County that these issues exist..” Which “issues” are you referring too? Do you work in banking? I’ve never heard of a City or a County getting involved in a mortgage loan process.
Calling Jahnke a liar is pretty bold. What exactly is he lying about? I can see you stating he’s a poor public speaker. Maybe even a less than adequate engineer. But if you want to throw out liar and also imply Brooks has something illegal to do with the road not being reconstructed you better put out some facts.
You doubt what they are saying, request the soils report that Jahnke referred to and read it yourself to see if their assessment of the soil conditions have any merit.
-------------- After we screw up health care reform, let's take on the initiative of unscrewing the education system (gov't education) Tacitus: (c. 56 AD-c. 117) "The more corrupt the state, the more it legislates."
If the experts said the street needed pilings, then put'em in. 
Remember boys and girls,
