The Albert Lea City Council tonight is expected to decide whether to pursue bringing 150 plaques from the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame to Albert Lea.

The Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame is looking to relocate the plaques. They had previously been at Heritage Hall in Owatonna but were moved to the Duluth Airport terminal after the closing of Heritage Hall.

Duluth is reportedly renovating its terminal in 2012, at which time the plaques will have to be moved.

The city’s Airport Advisory Board recommended the council approve sending a letter of interest to the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame regarding the plaques, as they would draw people to Albert Lea and increase the number of people flying in for day trips to look at them.

If the plaques are placed three high, they would require at least 75 feet of wall space, according to city staff.

If the letter of interest is approved, it could open dialogue for bringing the plaques after a new building is constructed.

During tonight’s meeting, the City Council will also:

• Vote whether to accept feasibility reports for two neighborhood improvement projects for 2011.

The first project involves the bituminous overlay of the following residential streets in the southeast part of the city:

— 11th Street from Margaretha Avenue to the east end

— 14th Street from Myers Road to the east end

— 16th Street from Myers Road to the east end

— 16th Street from Margaretha Avenue to Gene Avenue

— 17th Street from Margaretha Avenue to Gene Avenue

— 18th Street from Larson Avenue to Milo Avenue

— Larson Avenue from 19th Street to the north end

— Milo Avenue from 16th Street to 17th Street

— Gene Avenue from 16th Street to the south of 17th Street

— Botsford Avenue from Lakeview Boulevard to the end

This project also includes a series of smaller projects.

Estimated costs are $536,000 with $280,000 being assessed to adjacent property owners and about $256,000 being city costs.

The second project includes the bituminous overlay of four state-aid streets:

— Eighth Street from Broadway Avenue to Margaretha Avenue

— Margaretha Avenue from 14th Street to 19th Street

— Garfield Avenue from the railroad to Fairlane Terrace

— Greenwood Drive from Bridge Avenue to Hammer Road.

Estimated costs for this project are about $674,000 with about $254,000 being assessed to adjacent property owners, $380,000 paid for by state-aid funding and about $40,000 being city costs.

If the feasibility reports are approved, the public hearing for both projects would be Feb. 28.

• Consider a request to put a memorial at the Albert Lea Airport in honor of former resident Sherman Booen.

Booen was born in Glenville and was the first announcer on KATE radio in 1938, according to information from city staff.

He later moved to Minneapolis, where he did a weekly aviation show on WCCO on Sunday mornings. He also started Minnesota Flyer magazine.

Booen is now 97 and recently suffered from a stroke in September.

The memorial is estimated to cost between $500 and $1,000.

• Vote whether to authorize Interim City Manager Pat McGarvey to sign any grants or required documentation from the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management on behalf of the city.

• Vote whether to authorize the transfer of about $16,600 in matching funds from the general fund Fire Department budget, using interest earnings, for the purchase of new radios. This is related to the regional assistance firefighters grant received.

• Vote whether to approve submitting a pay equity report as required by state statute. This is the state’s method of eliminating discrimination against women paid less than men for jobs requiring similar expertise.

• Consider a request from the Albert Lea Figure Skating Club to place a large sign in the North Broadway Avenue parking lot for the week of March 12 through 19 to promote the club’s 50th annual show.

• Consider a request from the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce to hold the Big Freeze on Feb.19 and 20 on Albert Lea and Fountain lakes. A request has also been made to place a 30-foot by 60-foot tent on the property, to use power at the site and to use power and removal of snow for various areas.