Council to receive public input before deciding

 

Local organizers asked the Albert Lea City Council on Monday to increase the minimum age to buy tobacco in Albert Lea from 18 to 21.

The request was made by Freeborn County Statewide Health Improvement Partnership Coordinator Lana Howe, Freeborn County Truancy Officer Amy Geyer, Freeborn County Partners in Prevention Coordinator Jenny Hendrickson, Blue Zones Project of Albert Lea Organization Lead Ellen Kehr and Liz Heimer of the American Lung Association during a study session and briefly repeated during the council’s main meeting.

They called e-cigarette use among youth an epidemic.

Councilors did not take action on the request and plan to gather public feedback before possibly voting on the proposal in March.

According to statistics the group presented to the council, research shows raising the tobacco age to 21 results in a 25 percent reduction in smoking among 15- to 17-year-olds.

Organizers hope raising the tobacco age cuts down on overall tobacco use. They noted nearly 95 percent of addicted adult smokers start before 21.

They spoke of the need to counter tobacco company marketing efforts centered around candy flavoring, magazine advertisements, product design and packaging and other efforts.

Howe said 39 percent of students say they use because friends or family do, and 31 percent say they do because of flavors.

She said there are 7,700 flavors of e-juices and 460 brands.

Geyer said tobacco use at Albert Lea High School is an issue with “every student at that high school.”

“It’s jocks, it’s intelligent kids, it’s low-income kids, it’s everywhere,” she said.

Geyer noted one Jull-brand device looks like a USB drive, and vaping pens can be the size of a writing pen. She said students sometimes use similar products in the high school bathroom.

“The stuff is odorless; you can use it in the bathroom” she said.

“It’s a huge epidemic.”

To Geyer, more education is needed to reduce e-cigarette use by students. She mentioned the case of one grandmother purchasing a vaping device for her 13-year-old grandchild because she did not think it was a big deal.

Geyer noted raising the minimum tobacco age to 21 would eliminate 18-year-old students buying tobacco products for younger classmates and friends.

Hendrickson said a survey of sixth-, eighth-, 10th- and 12th-graders in Freeborn County found 13 was the average age children started using nicotine in Freeborn County.

“I’m a firm believer that this is a major epidemic that we’re seeing,” she said.

Hendrickson spoke of outreach the organization has conducted, including in schools and at the Freeborn County Fair.

Kehr compared raising the minimum tobacco age to increasing the minimum drinking age to 21, legislation she said lowered the number of drunk driving deaths for people under 21.

“Legislation works,” she said.

Before the main council meeting, Ward 3 Councilor Jason Howland did not say how he sided on the issue and said the proposal was “something that I am going to have to mull over.” He questioned how effective the policy would be if it is only implemented by individual cities.

Albert Lea Mayor Vern Rasmussen Jr. also did not say whether he supported the idea and said he plans to listen to public thoughts. He said it is an important topic, adding raising the minimum purchasing age to 21 has been known to help people live healthier lives.

In other action, councilors:

• Approved a $22,000 purchase of real estate for property owned by Bruce Manwarren at 410 Elizabeth Ave. in association with the planned development of the Albert Lea fire station. Councilors still need to approve one purchase agreement in association with future development.

• Heard the presentation by Albert Lea Assistant City Manager Jerry Gabrielatos about the results of a recent housing study that found housing stock is not adequately being replaced in Albert Lea and the city needs more quality rental housing.

• Declared January National Mentoring Month.

• Named the Albert Lea Tribune the official newspaper this year to serve as the city’s designated legal newspaper for matters required by law to be published.

• Designated U.S. Bank of Albert Lea, RBC, Stifel and Minnesota Municipal Money Market Fund as depositories for city funds.

• Approved the purchase of a utility department backhoe replacement. The new equipment costs $146,710, and the replaced unit was traded in for $27,000, leaving the total price $119,710. The backhoe was budgeted at $120,000.

• Waived $7,716 in assessments at 220 E. College St. to facilitate the building of the fire station.

• Accepted a $6,046 Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office grant for the purchase of a gear dryer. The city is expected to match $2,015 to help pay for the $8,062 dryer.

• Approved a grant application to the Leadership in Community Resilience Program

“A climate vulnerability assessment has identified a great need for climate adaptation,” said Albert Lea City Manager Chad Adams in a report. “The city anticipates using the support of the National League of Cities and this grant to put into place the final component needed to achieve its resilience goals: community engagement.

“The grant would enable the city to design and execute two community engagement campaigns in conjunction with the climate adaptation planning.”

• Abated property taxes at 2313 W. Ninth St. as part of the city’s program allowing people constructing a single-family home, duplex or multi-family complex complete tax abatement if an application is filed and approval secured before Dec. 31.

• Ordered feasibility reports for the Clausen Avenue, High Street, Sheridan Street and Giles Place reconstruction project and Newton Avenue reconstruction project from Pearl Street to Fourth Street. Clausen Avenue is expected to be reconstructed from Johnson Street to Hawthorne Street, High Street from North Shore Avenue to Valley Avenue, Sheridan Street from North Shore Avenue to Valley Avenue and the alley west of Clausen Avenue from Johnson Street to High Street. Newton Avenue is expected to be reconstructed from Pearl Street to Fourth Street.