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The Albert Lea City Council vacated two easements on the Blazing Star Landing Monday that had been in place with Wilson & Co. before the plant burned down in 2001.

The action comes as the city prepares to plat the land in hopes of selling it to potential buyers.

The council has already shown support for a new proposal that would bring 60 new low- to moderate-income apartments on a portion of the site. It would include a combination of one- to four-bedroom units. Retail and commercial development is still preferred for the northernmost part of the property.

The city has owned the property since the plant, known at that time as Farmland Foods, burned down in 2001.

City Manager Ian Rigg said the easements should not interfere with the purchase agreements for the housing.

One was a 10-foot sanitary sewer and watermain easement that primarily served the company. Since the fire and demolition, the easement has not been used. The second was for a 40-foot public roadway easement that was also originally included for the plant that has served no public purpose since the fire and demolition.

In other action, the council:

• Approved a tax abatement for about $300,000 for the replacement of bleachers at City Arena.

State statute allows the city the option to pledge tax revenue from existing parcels to pay debt service for that type of project.

Rigg said the parcels identified for this will not notice a change in taxes.

• Approved abatement of a house at 819 Bridge Ave.

Rigg said the city had made every attempt to save the house, which is owner-occupied, but found the conditions were too far gone to save the property.

Albert Lea Building and Zoning Official Wayne Sorensen said the city previously abated the garage and had previously recommended the owner remove what is left of the south wall.

He said the slate siding, which contains asbestos, is also starting to break off, and there are numerous window frames in states of failures. The concrete blocks in the foundation are beginning to dissolve, and there are several areas in the foundation where the outside is visible from inside through cracks or other holes.

He said the costs to repair or rehabilitate the house would far exceed 50% of the value.

Sorensen said because the house is occupied, the city is passing on resources available through the Albert Lea Housing and Redevelopment Authority and the Department of Human Services as the residents will have to leave the property.

Rigg said the owners have stated they would give up the property voluntarily, but will move forward with the official process in the event that does not happen.

The cost to abate the property is unknown and could depend on how property is left inside of the house that would need to be disposed of, or things like how much asbestos would need to be removed, Sorensen said.

He estimated it could cost up to $25,000 and would be assessed back to the property.

• Approved a Small Cities Development Program local income plan forgivable loan for renovation of a cistern structure on property at 822 S. Newton Ave. The agreement will be for a 50/50 grant for $4,300.
• Approved a Small Cities Development Program local income plan forgivable loan for renovation of a property at 2010 Marshall St. S.E. The owners specifically plan to use the funds to remove and install new rain gutters and downspouts to prevent foundation damage. The agreement will be for a 50/50 grant for $4,742.
• Approved a development agreement for 728 Newton Ave.

The property was previously one that the city had attempted to save from demolition, but later found out that would not be feasible.

The person interested in the property, Keith Johnson has the ability to demolish the property and install a new foundation for a house to be moved or built upon.

The sale price will be $1.

• Approved tax abatement for a new single-family home at 1703 Crystal Drive for a three-year period of time.
• Approved installing a new separate sewer service for property at 129 E. Clark St. during the overlay project this summer. The property previously had a shared service with an adjacent property. The costs of about $12,830 will be assessed on the property.
• Extended agreements indefinitely with the cities of Alden, Clarks Grove and Conger for Albert Lea police enforcement of certain city ordinances as requested.
• Approved a maintenance agreement with the Minnesota Department of Transportation regarding city maintenance on Minnesota Highway 13 from U.S. Highway 69 to Broadway and on U.S. Highway 65 from Margaretha Avenue to Morningside Avenue. The terms are the same as previous agreements. The new agreement runs through June 30, 2025, and includes payment of about $77,000.
• Heard an overview from a representative from Bergen KDV, the city’s auditor, about the 2022 financial statements. The firm issued a clean opinion and had no compliance findings. He said it was a successful year for the city’s general fund but advised the city to continue to keep an eye on the water fund and the solid waste fund.