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To damage reported to the Pelican Breeze.

We were disappointed to hear a report of damage to the Pelican Breeze when looking at the police logs Friday morning from the day prior.

The Pelican Breeze is a great resource, not only for visitors to the community but residents as well as it allows people to see and learn more about Albert Lea Lake and to enjoy a relaxing time with friends and family.

We hope whoever vandalized the boat realizes that this is a loved part of the community.

To the idea of a marina on Fountain Lake.

We, like many others, were excited to hear the Albert Lea City Council discuss the idea for a possible marina on Fountain Lake. The marina would have food, gas and other amenities and would be a great attraction for people already in our community as well as people who come here for a day to visit and bring their boats out on the lake.

Albert Lea City Manager Ian Rigg suggested the idea of having the marina in the space presently occupied by the skate park and the grassy area next to it and discussed other possible locations where the skate park could be moved if this were to happen.

Though nothing is set in stone yet, we hope the city will continue to look at all possible locations for both the marina and the skate park, as we believe both are important to the community. We also hope the City Beach will not be impeded in any way as this is a popular location for people to visit that is free of charge and that is of particular historic significance to the community.

In the end, we think there is a way to keep everyone happy and draw in more people to the community as well.

We look forward to seeing more information come out in the coming weeks and months.

To progress being made with the Bridge Avenue construction.

Though it has been a long construction season, we are pleased to hear the progress being made on Bridge Avenue. According to the city’s weekly email newsletter, bituminous paving will be taking place from the fairgrounds entrance to Richway Drive next week, along with sidewalk grading in the same stretch. Crews have also been working on the new traffic signal at Richway Drive.

Though we still have a ways to go until the project is complete, there is light at the end of the tunnel in the final few months of the construction season.

We’re thankful, too, that some of the road will be completed in time for the Freeborn County Fair to alleviate some congestion.