Albert Lea City Council 1st Ward

Published 9:22 am Friday, October 17, 2008

Editor’s note: Candidates in each race are listed in alphabetical order.

Vern Rasmussen

Age: 44

Email newsletter signup

Address: 1426 Edgewater Drive, Albert Lea, MN 56007

1. What is the best thing the city can do to attract businesses?

The city of Albert Lea is not directly involved in the recruitment of prospective businesses, that is the job of Albert Lea Economic Development Agency. So the biggest responsibility of the city is to work with ALEDA to make Albert Lea attractive to businesses. I feel we need to maintain and improve our infrastructure, improve the amenities, maintain costs to make us marketable, listen to concerns of existing companies to help make them competitive and communicate with other agencies to maximize our efforts to attract business.

2. What steps should Albert Lea take on its downtown business area?

We should continue to be proactive in securing the history of our downtown with options such as the facade-improvement loan fund and look for other funding options to help maximize the historic value of the downtown. The downtown needs to have a more focused goal for all of the property owners so that they work more as a whole and not separate individuals. I would also like to see more effort in the availability of housing in the downtown to help bring people to the area.

3. Do you think the preagenda meeting is necessary? Why?

I feel that the preagenda is a needed meeting. This meeting helps to build a more cohesive council by allowing dialogue in an informal setting. A council meeting needs to have rules of decorum that restrict the free exchange of ideas and disagreements. Without a preagenda meeting, some of the council meetings could be very lengthy and I wonder how effective, for example, a six- to eight-hour meeting would be. Preagenda meetings are open to the public, and I encourage all citizens to attend.

4. How do you rate the city manager’s performance over the past five years?

I think that her performance is one that every individual can evaluate for themselves. The city manager works under the authority of the City Council, which makes the performance of a city manager a direct reflection of the City Council.

5. What changes would you make concerning the relationship between city officials and county officials?

Communication is a constant area for improvement because we all have issues to deal with. I have always been able to talk to any county official when needed. I think the biggest misconception is that just because the two boards occasionally disagree that they don’t communicate. Every board has its needs and concerns to address in the most effective way they deem necessary. It may be a suggestion to have a scheduled meeting quarterly or semi-annually between a few members of each board to discuss ideas or concerns.

6. What are your plans to improve the quality of life in Albert Lea over the next four years?

I feel that we need to continue to improve the health of our infrastructure, promote the safety of our community, look to improve our natural resources to improve tourism, encourage and assist in support for industries, partner with other boards/agencies, listen to the people, and be positive about our future.

7. What changes would you make in the city budget and/or in tax rates?

I feel that the current city budget has been looked at extensively and is at a fair level. No one wants to see increases in the tax rate but the costs of health care insurance, salaries and energy continue to soar. Albert Lea has also not had the increases to local government aid, which result in more local responsibility for taxes. When you compare the city of Albert Lea to other cities our size in the area, we have about the same rate of increase. This being said, it is the responsibility of citizens and staff to be active in identifying areas to be more efficient. I think those communities that are able to think outside the box are going to be successful in the future. We will not be able to catch the rising costs with taxes so we must be more sound in our decision making and ideas. The only way this happens is to have an active community.

8. What is your track record of community service?

My involvement in the community starts with being a supporter of the city of Albert Lea. I’ve been involved in volunteering for several coaching opportunities for youth, working for local fund raisers, library board, human rights board, Port Authority, joint board between watershed and the city, St. Theodore endowment board and church usher.

9. Please tell us why voters should pick you:

Over the past four years I’ve had the privilege to serve the 1st Ward of the city of Albert Lea, and I thank you for that honor. I stepped into this position with the desire to build for the future and make Albert Lea a place to be successful for families and businesses. I feel that we have come a long way in our vision for the future growth of our community. I hope to continue that vision of success with your vote on Nov. 4.

With your support I will strive to maintain costs with innovation, build a strong infrastructure to support our growth, bring opportunity for recreation and arts, develop the Blazing Star Landing to benefit the city, not a developer, communicate with other boards, and build a positive image of Albert Lea. These are lofty goals for one individual, so I ask all individuals in Albert Lea to take responsibility and promote your community.