Sounds like to me Austin had a problem, recognized it, and acknowledged that they had a responsibility to correct it, and it so by purchasing the properties and removing the people from the flood area. Contrarily, Albert Lea has a problem, recognized it, did a little 30 years ago to try and mitigate it (purchased some of the properties), and has since refused to make the necessary corrections/improvements to greatly reduce the flooding occurrences and assist the homes that are still there being flooded and having their value suppressed. Additionally, Albert Lea has lied for many years about the cost to make corrections. Okay, lied may be a harsh word. At a minimum, they have been too lazy to look into all options to make the correction. A total reconstruction of all the streets that would be along the path of a new, correctly sized, storm water force main from the lift station, is not needed. The City should not have been going by what was looked at in the late 1970’s as what would need to be done. Sorry but construction technology has changed in the last 30 years.
Benefits of spending this $2M and greatly reducing the occurrence of flooding include: reduced damage to private property, reduced damage to the City’s infrastructure, reduced inconvenience for traveling public from no longer having the roads in this area flooded out, reduce City costs for repairs of flood damage, reduced City costs for not having to send crews up to barricade off flooded streets. This will also increase the property values in the area since the flooding risk will be greatly reduced, which will in turn generate more tax revenue for the City. It should also eliminate any flood insurance need and possibly reduce current properties insurance premiums since the risk would be greatly reduced.
And whatever the State is going to do with curbing and paving on South Broadway is going to do next to nothing to reduce flooding in the area. All it’s going to do is provide for some additional storage area within the street for the storm water. So, what’s that going to do? Just prolong the time that water floods South Broadway. The piping from there to the lift is not going to change so the volume and time for that volume to move is not changing. And the lift station is not being changed so it can still only pump so much water at a time.
Albert Lea Mayor and City Council needs to do what is right for once and spend the $ to fix this actual problem. How much benefit did the residents of Albert Lea get from the new street lights and what did they cost? How about the added cost spent on the bridge on Lakeview to have the decorative faux rocks? How about how much did they spend on the “Study” to try and get rid of the park and rec director? All things which added no value to the residents corrected no infrastructure problems and added ZERO to property values.
The city of Albert Lea is looking to acquire land near their public works building on Commercial Street to increase the amount of space and efficiency currently located at the shop, Albert Lea city manager Chad Adams said Thursday night
The project, titled Phase I in a planned, two phase project, is expected to cost approximately $2 million. The funds are planned to come from the city’s general fund budget reserve, the water fund and sewer fund. Taxes wouldn’t be raised, according to Adams.
Phase II is expected to cost approximately $8.6 million.
The city purchased a building at 314 S. Broadway for $130,000, which currently houses the Christian & Peterson Law Firm.
George Marin was the only councilman to vote against this wasteful spending.. Video of his opinion on why its wrong to spend taxpayer dollars on this crap while pressing issues go without any attention..
Well, looks like they can easily find $2M to purchase property next to the current city garage for future expansion needs, but cant find $2M to correct 30+ years of flooding in a neighborhood and business area? And they are taking part of the $ from the sewer and water fund? Really? And only George was able to realize the insanity of it? I guess A.L. will never change.
The City also purchased 310 S Broadway Ave. earlier..
They will both eventually be sold for $1.00 each to a developer, maybe..
And the City of Albert Lea wants to increase assessments by 318% since 2003 on neighborhoods that are flooded nearly every year and sometimes more than once..
“It bothers me a little bit that there is such a large concern from the community that we aren’t spending money wisely,”said Albert Lea City Sixth Ward Councilor Al “Minnow” Brooks. “We represent the people. It’s their money that we are spending. I just want the public to know that I take these things really seriously and we need to sit down and listen to the needs of our constituents.”
A lot of construction is slated for 2016, as well as in the years following, Adams said. Major capital projects included in the 2016 preliminary budget include Park Avenue reconstruction. Reconstruction will include the water, sewer mains and the road itself. Road reconstruction is planned for Lake ChapeauDrive.Lakeview Boulevard construction is planned from Hatch Bridge to Martin Road. Construction is also planned on Edgewater Drive and the airport at the arrival and departure building. The city will be getting grant funding on the airport project from the state and federal aviation and transportation authorities, Adams said.
A portion of Virginia Place hasn't seen new pavement for 52 years and allowed to flood for at least 40 years when these issues could have been corrected decades ago..
There must be a project slated for 2016 that can wait so the flooding can be stopped in this area for the reduced cost of $2.1 million, not $20 million..
Edgewater Drive can get by for a while with patching while this Emergency Project is done.. Or do those residents on Edgewater Drive deserve special treatment more than the rest of the City that goes without?
Al "Minnow" Brooks, are you listening? You'll say its not in the budget at this time or the City can't afford such a project at this time or you'll say maybe next year and next year goes on for many many years..
In City Council–City Manager government, the elected council appoints a city manager, makes major decisions, and wields representative power on behalf of the citizens. The city manager is, in turn, responsible for hiring a city staff to carry out implementation of city ordinances.
Why have a City Council if all they do is pass everything the City Manager/Staff wants passed and when? If the City Manager says jump, the City Council jumps..
Why are our leaders only followers when setting the agenda.. True leaders should be the ones to set the agenda and recommend what should be done with a vote from the City Council.. Does a particular project move forward or not to the agenda, Yay or Nay.. Not because the City Manager/Staff says do it..
Remember boys and girls,
