Jobs, flooding and other local issues were discussed Wednesday at the 1st Ward Albert Lea City Council candidate forum.

Craig Havener and Rich Murray participated in the forum, which was sponsored by the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce.

Havener said the city needs more jobs, and he suggested the city foster job growth by reaching out to potential businesses, talking to existing businesses and leveraging partnerships.

“It takes a plan, and you need to follow that plan,” he said.

Havener said the city, Albert Lea Economic Development Agency and Albert Lea Port Authority need to synchronize their effort to attract business.

The city of Albert Lea needs to make the business climate more customer-friendly by reducing hurdles businesses face, Havener said.

Murray said the city needs to partner with the Albert Lea Economic Development Agency, and work with industry and Riverland Community College so college students can enter the local workforce.

“We not only need jobs, we need good-paying jobs,” he said.

Murray suggested city officials speak with business owners to find impediments businesses face at the city, county and state level to foster a job-creating environment.

“It is just going to take a lot of discussion and a lot of work,” he said.

Murray suggested shopping locally to keep business in the community, and he believes small businesses will create a ripple effect in the local economy.

He said job growth will likely be a long-term process.

“It does not happen overnight,” he said.

Havener said bureaucracy in city government needs to decrease for small business owners to become more confident in locating in Albert Lea.

“A lot of people just give up, and that is a shame,” he said. 

Issues specific to the 1st Ward

Murray said he has heard from residents who want their children and grandchildren to move back to Albert Lea, noting jobs must improve in the community to entice young people to move back.

Havener said to keep its residents, the city must change its mindset so that they look at its residents as customers.

The city must live within its budget, he said.

Flooding

Murray said the city must continue to fund its infrastructure to prevent flooding events, such as last month after heavy rain fell throughout the region.

“We cannot stop an 8-inch rain or a 10-inch rain, but we can be prepared for a 1-inch rain or a 2-inch rain,” he said.

Murray suggested the city work together and with state and other agencies to prevent extensive flooding.

He said infrastructure funding has lapsed across the state.

“It’s going to take a lot of hard decisions and hard work to get the infrastructure back,” he said.

Havener said fixing the city’s flooding problem should be a higher priority than funding building projects, such as the Freeborn National Bank building.

Blazing Star Landing

Murray and Havener said the city needs to find a private partner to develop Blazing Star Landing before development of the site begins.

City officials have proposed moving Front Street to make way for lakefront development and preliminary preparation work north of the railroad.

The project is not expected to begin until private development is secured for the site.

Development could include the construction of a new city hall, ice arena and a community center, which would include space for a number of purposes.

Murray said the city must be open-minded in potential development of the site.

Albert Lea’s greatest asset

Murray said people are the city’s greatest asset, and he cited the work of local educators as proof of the commitment community members have to each other.

“These people care about their kids,” he said.

Murray spoke highly of the city’s downtown district, and he believes that local business owners are excited to operate in the community.

“Everything about this community is about its people,” he said.

Havener said the city’s lakes and its location are its greatest asset.

The city needs to find ways to be more customer-oriented, reduce business costs and organize a plan to make people feel comfortable in the community, Havener said.

Parks and recreation possible merger

Murray said the city should try a couple of options, but not lock into something to see if a potential merger of the Albert Lea Parks and Recreation Department and Albert Lea Community Education would work.

He said the city has great parks and recreation opportunities.

“We want to make sure those continue on,” he said.

Havener said the city needs to evaluate the costs and benefits of the merger before making the decision, and he believes the merger should be made if it can improve city services and save the city money.

Communication

Havener said city government needs to be open to criticism and make their work session and CIty Council meetings more open to the public.

“In business that is an opportunity, so in government it has to be an opportunity also,” he said.

Havener said he does not like closed sessions.

Murray said city councilors and administration are approachable, and he spoke highly of recently-implemented city efforts to communicate with the public, such as at public picnics.

He said going door-to-door is important to address constituent concerns.

City spending

Murray said spending decisions must be made with a cost-benefit analysis.

“That has to be a constant process,” he said.

Murray and Havener, who both have extensive private-sector financial experience, discussed the similarities and differences between government and the private sector.

Murray, owner of ISC Financial Advisors in downtown Albert Lea, said though there are similarities between the two sectors, businesses invest their excess money, while governments operate with a finite amount of money.

Havener, a retired corporate executive, said the city needs to seek efficiencies in each department to reduce the cost of government to make the area more tax-friendly.

He said while businesses can fail quickly, it can take years for governments to fail as the tax base decreases.

Murray and Havener also discussed attracting immigrants to the community and their qualifications for councilor.