As usual, our “leaders” are making it difficult for new businesses to locate here.

Instead of an attitude of “Yes, let’s see if we can make that work,” it’s the usual, “No, we can’t do that.” What happened to the mission of the Albert Lea Economic Development Agency to help keep the businesses here that are already here. Kwik Trip is already here. They are rated as one of the best companies to work for in the United States. They run a clean, efficient operation.

And our “leaders” are only looking at ways to curtail their expansion. Freeborn County Engineer Sue Miller’s mission is life is to create a grandious four-lane freeway to replace Bridge Avenue.  Obviously Kwik Trip’s plan for a right-turn lane is going to interfere with her four-lane fiasco. This is one time when we can really say that it’s not going to cost the taxpayers anything. Kwik Trip has agreed to pay for the improvements.

Wake up, leaders! Kwik Trip has already spent over $2 million on acquisition and improvements on the property. It wants to spend several million dollars more on a new building and access roads. They plan to employ a bunch of people at good-paying jobs. The increase in tax base of the improvements is phenomenal.

Wake up, Albert Lea. Dan Dorman, get off you’re rear and step up to the plate and do your job.  Encourage growth and expansion of new and old business in Albert Lea. Kwik Tip has proven to be a good neighbor and a positive part of the community. Let’s not stifle their efforts to do more!

 

Hugh O’Byrne

Albert Lea