Tackling two dilapidated structures in one night, the Albert Lea City Council voted to work with the owner on a timeline for one, while voting to move forward with the order for removal of the second after a timeline for improvements could not be reached.

The efforts were made out of a desire to improve the appearance of the community for those who live and work in Albert Lea, the councilors expressed throughout the meeting.

Regarding the first, at 316 Railroad Ave., owners Steven and Jolene Svendsen submitted a timeline to clean up the house. The timeline states that by April 25, they would have the garage removed, windows replaced, soffit and fascia boards replaced and roof and siding replaced.

Councilor Minnow Brooks motioned that if any one of the dates on the timeline are missed, he would like to move forward with the order for removal.

The council tabled the order for removal for this house at its last meeting, giving the Svendsens two weeks to come up with a plan to redeem the property and how it will be paid for.

The plan was submitted Feb. 4.

The property was deemed unfit for human occupancy on April, 9, 2007, and during a follow-up inspection made on Sept. 9, 2008, the inspection department identified it to be “dilapidated, unsanitary and inadequate in maintenance creating a fire hazard,” according to city documents.

Regarding the second property, at 418 Ulstad Ave., councilors decided to move forward with the order for removal of the property. If at any time before the property is removed, however, the owner can submit a timeline for improvements, including when problems will be fixed and how they will be financed.

The property was placarded as unfit for human occupancy on May 17, 2007, but during a follow-up inspection of the property on Sept. 19, 2008, many of the conditions still existed.

Some of the problems found include a poor foundation, damaged and missing siding and roofing, a rotted roof dormer, windows and window trim, junk and debris in the yard, damaged front steps and improper wiring, according to the inspection department. The legal owner of the property is Linda Stinehart.

Jim Radke, who has been working on the property for several years, said he had a couple thousand dollars worth of supplies that were taken away by Thompson Sanitation from the property. This included shingles and other supplies to clean up the house.

Albert Lea Police Lt. J.D. Carlson said the Police Department first had contact with the property regarding junk and refuse on April of 2008. After nothing was done to clean up the items, Thompson Sanitation cleared the property in June of 2008.

Radke voiced his concern about the money put into those supplies and about trying to receive a federal grant to help clean up the house.

He said no one has been living in the house for about two years, and the water and utilities are shut off to the house.

Councilor Vern Rasmussen asked Radke when he thought he could come up with a plan of action for the house.

Radke responded that he couldn’t say anything definite and that “money’s a little hard to come by.”

Rasmussen said if a plan to clean up the house can’t be put in place, it would be hard for him to justify not having the house removed.

Fire Chief and Building Inspector Paul Stieler said from the inspection department’s viewpoint, the house has reached the point where it is not feasible to put money into the house.

“You could almost reconstruct one for the amount it’s going to cost to fix that,” Stieler said.

He did note, however, that he would be willing to work with the owner if a plan could be reached, like with the Railroad Avenue property.

City Manager Victoria Simonsen said someone from the neighborhood submitted correspondence to the city about the situation.

That person indicated the property has not been lived in for at least 10 years, the house is full of garbage that “they can actually smell it from their house,” and they’ve seen squirrels and other rodents going in and out of the house, Simonsen said.

Councilor Ellen Kehr said from looking at the inspection report and at the other factors involved, it does not seem like there is a commitment to fix up the property.

“I just don’t feel that it’s responsible to the other people who live in the neighborhood to not remove it,” Kehr said.

The owner still has more than a month to come up with a plan before the house is removed, Mayor Mike Murtaugh said.

In other action, the City Council:

Authorized the submittal of a grant application to the Economic Development Administration for $700,000 to go toward the construction of 777th Avenue. The road would service the Interstate 35 and Interstate 90 Business Park.

This application comes on the heels of a $250,000 state grant that was awarded last week for the project.

The Albert Lea Port Authority applied for the state grant on behalf of the city and will do the same for the federal grant.

The federal grant will be submitted to the Grants for Public Works and Economic Development Facilities through the Economic Development Administration.

If the $700,000 federal grant is awarded, that will leave about $450,000 in costs, which the Port Authority will be responsible for.

The city will bond for the project, and the Albert Lea Port Authority will make the payments.

Approved the preliminary and final plat of the Linde Addition, which is a two-lot subdivision on the south side of South Shore Drive, east of Highway 65.

The easterly lot will be used for residential and the westerly lot will be used as a storm water retention pond.

Approved the preliminary and final plat for a buildable lot at the northeast corner of Hershey Street and Bridge Avenue. The lot is currently part of the parking lot in front of Herberger’s.

Though there is no current business venture planned for that location, this would make the lot buildable in case the need arises.

Voted 5-2 to approve an agreement with the Albert Lea School District and Community Education for the placement of a boat storage building near Brookside Boat Landing on Richway Drive.

The agreement states that Community Education will pay to have the structure constructed and that the city will own, repair and maintain the building. The building will be deeded over to the city, and Community Education will lease it from the city for $1 per year.

The agreement would be for 20 years.

In discussion about the issue, Rasmussen said he was in favor of the building, but he is concerned with the city taking on the responsibility for it.

Rasmussen said the building was not in the city’s long-term plan for that area.

Councilor Minnow Brooks echoed Rasmussen’s comments.

He said at this point the city is worrying about the structures it already has.

While he thinks the concept is a good idea, he said, he would have been happier to have some kind of mutual agreement on the maintenance.

Kehr said she thinks the project is a good partnership between Community Ed and the city. Neither one of the two entities would have probably done the project on their own.

“It’s an extra thing we didn’t have before, and I hope that the community really gets out there and uses it,” she said.

The structure will be 20 feet by 24 feet.

Approved two task orders with Mead & Hunt regarding projects at the Albert Lea Municipal Airport.

The first is for the mill and overlay of the cross runway and adjacent area.

This work will be completed contingent on receiving economic stimulus funds. If it is completed, it would be done at the same time the runway is lengthened.

If stimulus funds are available, 95 percent of the cost would be federal funds and 5 percent would be local funds.

The second task order is for an amendment regarding the runway design and taxiway design. The amendment modifies the contract to include bidding for both a concrete and bituminous runway.

Like the previous order, if stimulus funds are available, 95 percent of the cost would be federal funds and 5 percent would be local funds.

If stimulus funds are not available, the project would just get slowed down some, Simonsen said.

Voted to amend the rate charges for electronic disposal at the Albert Lea Transfer Station.

Simonsen said the city has been notified that the charges to take away electronics from the Transfer Station are increasing from 2 cents to 18 cents per pound. Thus, there need to be some changes to the city’s cost for leaving electronics.

Voted to reallocate the assessments in Port Authority Plat No. 3.

Approved a request from Kehr to have no parking on the east side of Wedgewood Road from the Albert Lea Family Y entrance south to the property line.

Kehr raised the concern at the last council meeting.

Approved a request from the Twin Valley Council Chapter of Boy Scouts of America to reserve portions of Edgewater Park on June 25 and 26th for a day camp and overnight event.

Denied a request from Gwen Reiss, owner of the Turtle Dove Teahouse, for a refund of her wine license issued Sept. 1. Because the business is closing, Reiss requested a refund for the period of Jan. 1 through June 30, valuing $100.

Councilors indicated they denied the request because Reiss did not meet the conditions outlined in the city code to receive a refund.

Recognized Albert Lea Police Department school resource officer Ted Herman for receiving the Outstanding Juvenile Officer Award through the Minnesota Juvenile Officer’s Association.