A decision on the Albert Lea Lake dam project could come as soon at Oct. 7 as the county commissioners consider the joint project with the Shell Rock River Watershed District.

Freeborn County Administrator John Kluever came before the Shell Rock River Watershed District Board of Managers Tuesday morning to update the board on the county’s actions regarding the Albert Lea Lake dam project.

Kluever told the watershed board it would be best to officially request the county Board of Commissioners put the project on the Oct. 7 meeting agenda, so the commissioners can weigh in on how to move forward.

At the outlet of Albert Lea Lake to the Shell Rock River, the dam and bridge structure needs to be replaced, both parties agree. The watershed district approved a plan in early August, which includes a variable-crest dam be moved north to South Shore Drive. It would add two fishing piers, a walking path, canoe access and an eight-stall parking lot on the east side of the river.

Landowner Greg Jensen, who recently purchased the land surrounding the existing bridge, is against a variable-crest dam because he said he doesn’t want to see the level of Albert Lea Lake dropped for a fish kill. He said lowering the lake would risk an insurgence of cattails, thus making it unsuitable for recreation.

“From a pure county point of view, we have a bridge that needs to be replaced out there,” Kluever said.

County Engineer Sue Miller would like to get bids out before the end of the year, according to Kluever, so construction on the project can begin in the next construction season no matter what form the project takes.

Watershed Administrator Brett Behnke has said the watershed district doesn’t necessarily want to lower the lake, but wants to have the option open in the future.

Jensen said his lawyer is drafting a proposal that would include Jensen donating some land to fisherman and allowing for the road to be lowered in order to widen it, supplying ample room for parking. The new proposal would also include a fixed-crest dam.

“I think it’s a plan that will work very nicely for everyone,” he said, adding the landowners he talked to who live on Albert Lea Lake do not want the water level lowered, either.

“I’m just doing what I think is right for the lake,” he continued.

There is confusion, too, surrounding who owns the bridge and therefore who has the authority to make decisions about the structure. Jensen has documentation signed by the county board chairman in 1958 that gives the land and the bridge to the then-current landowners, the Palmer family.

Within the past few months, the Palmer family sold the 28 acres to Jensen, who also owns the surrounding 270 acres.

“There really is no question as to who owns that,” Jensen said. “The plan that they have in front of them now just isn’t going to fly because I own the property” and there are other details that need to be ironed out by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

The county commissioners held a workshop Aug. 22 to get the commissioners more information. On Sept. 2, during the regular board meeting, the commissioners went into closed session to discuss the project. Kluever said the commissioners also met with Jensen recently.

Kluever said the county attorney has sent a request for information to the DNR. Nothing can move forward until questions have been answered, he said.