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A familiar face is back on the Albert Lea City Council after a year and a half hiatus.

With the resignation of former Councilor Sherri Rasmussen in June, the council on Monday approved a resolution appointing Reid Olson to the open 4th Ward council seat.

Olson previously served in the seat from 2007 to 2022, prior to Rasmussen’s election.

The council voted at its last meeting to allow Mayor Rich Murray to appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy, and after communication with individuals interested in serving the 4th Ward, Murray selected Olson to fill the vacancy, City Manager Ian Rigg said.

Olson thanked the mayor and the council for giving him the opportunity to return to the council.

“I do not take lightly the responsibilities that these seats hold, and I’m very much looking forward to the prospects of moving everything forward in this community,” he said.

He noted when Rasmussen resigned, he received probably a dozen phone calls in the first week asking him to come back to the council.

At first he questioned if it was something he wanted to do, but then he sat down and talked to his wife and youngest daughter, and his daughter reminded him of how much he loved serving on the council.

“I didn’t think I’d miss it, but after a little bit, you really start to,” he said. “I’m very much glad to be back, and I’m willing to put in the work for the community.”

Olson has lived in Albert Lea his whole life, and he and his wife, Sarah, have three children.

He thanked everyone who contacted him and wished him the best in the position.

In other action, the council:

• Authorized the advertisement of RFPs for the sale and development of property at 821 Jefferson Ave.

The city acquired the property on March 25 and has invested about $30,000 into stabilization and repairs. It now seeks to return the property to the private market for possible redevelopment.

• Repealed part of an ordinance dealing with elections that referred to a ballot counting board. The city does not have this type of board, and the Freeborn County Auditor-Treasurer’s Office handles all absentee ballot processes.

• Accepted a donation for a tree in memory of Ayden Brackey