Read letter

Albert Lea City Manager Victoria Simonsen announced Monday she has accepted the position as town administrator in Lyons, Colo.

Her last day as city manager will be Feb. 12.

The announcement came at the end of the Albert Lea City Council meeting Monday during time allotted for the mayor’s items on the agenda.

Albert Lea Mayor Mike Murtaugh said he met with Simonsen earlier in the day, during which the city manager tendered her resignation.

He read aloud the letter she submitted to him and the City Council about the resignation. Afterward, Simonsen gave a few remarks.

Simonsen wrote in the letter that it was with mixed emotions that she resigned as Albert Lea city manager.

“The past five and a half years have proven to be some of my proudest,” she wrote. “It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the people of this wonderful community. I will no doubt miss the beautiful environment, the people who were supportive and the great quality of life that it has to offer.”

She said she hopes in her new endeavor she will be able to live her life with those she loves “in a simpler, less demanding lifestyle that will assist me to find more balance between my home life and my career.”

She thanked everyone for their support over the years and noted she will be watching and contributing as she can to better Albert Lea.

“I leave with only good feelings,” Simonsen said. “I wish you the best.”

The Lyons Town Board approved Simonsen’s employee contract a week ago. She was one of 44 applicants and four finalists for the Lyons position.

The first day of her new job has not been determined, she said.

She has been city manager in Albert Lea since 2004 and was an administrator for Fort Morgan, Colo., from 2000 to 2004.

In discussion with city councilors last week, Simonsen said applying for the job in Lyons had nothing to do with the satisfaction of her job in Albert Lea. She noted it was more of a personal issue.

She, her daughters and her longtime boyfriend, of Colorado, have been talking about it since November, she said.

She thanked the councilors for the opportunities she’s been able to be a part of in Albert Lea.

The Lyons Town Council approved, on a 6-1 vote, her salary at $82,000, in addition to $6,000 in relocation expenses. According to the Longmont Times-Call, she sent the signed contract to Lyons on Monday afternoon. She starts in Lyons on March 1.

In Albert Lea’s proposed budget for 2010, the city manager was to receive just over $100,000.

Murtaugh thanked Simonsen for her service to the city.

The City Council will reconvene at 4:30 p.m. Friday to discuss the next steps to take regarding the city manager opening.