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The Albert Lea City Council voted Monday to work with a consultant firm on designs and costs for a new concession stand, bathrooms and ADA improvements at Snyder Field after other improvements in recent years at the site. 

The city had a study conducted of the site in 2020, which found that it needed improvements in drainage, restrooms, concession areas, parking, walkways, spectator areas, coaching areas and general park spaces, according to background information provided by the city. 

The city in 2022 completed drainage improvements, and in 2023, improvements were made to the fence and dugouts. 

City Manager Ian Rigg said about $29,000 from the city’s capital fund would cover the costs for the firm for the design work. 

City Engineer Steven Jahnke said the city would pay for the bathrooms, while the Albert Lea baseball association would pay a large part of the concessions. 

Rigg said a few parking stalls would become paved to become ADA compliant, while the rest of the parking would remain gravel. 

The city received three proposals for consulting firms for the planning and design services, with the council ultimately selecting ISG of St. Louis Park for $29,500. Other proposals were submitted by Bolton and Menk Inc. and WSB Inc. 

Designs and costs are slated to be presented to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board in late spring with a final report expected in April. The goal is to have a plan and costs by the summer to allow for fundraising. Construction would be slated for 2026. 

In other action, the council:

• Witnessed the swearing-in of Keith Van Beek as the new 5th Ward councilor and Rachel Christensen for another term in the 1st Ward and Jason Howland in the 3rd Ward.                                                                                                                                                             
• Approved a series of actions that typically take place at the beginning of the year, including appointments and designations for 2025 and depositories and signatories.

The council approved the Albert Lea Tribune as the city’s official newspaper for 2025 for legal items that are required by law to be published. 

The council ordered the preparation of feasibility reports for the improvement projects slated for 2025. 

Projects include the following:

– Mill and overlay and various curb and gutter replacement on portions of Lake Chapeau Drive, Crossroads Boulevard, Ross Drive, Betha Larson Lane and Kram Avenue. The project also includes replacement of bituminous on Southeast Marshall from Prospect Avenue to Interstate 35. 

– Mill and overlay of Garfield Avenue from Fairlane Terrace to Richway Drive.

– Reconstruction of 11th Street, from Margaretha Avenue to the east end. 

– Paving the parking lot adjacent to the Freeborn National Bank building. 

– Constructing a stormwater retention basin in an undeveloped area near Front Street, Fourth Avenue, Maplehill Drive and Plainview Lane.

– Replacing about 150 lead service lines. 

– Constructing a new bike shelter building at the Blazing Star Trailhead at Frank Hall Park. The project is being fundraised for by a citizen group. 

• Voted to support an application by Freeborn County for $1 million in active transportation funding through the Minnesota Department of Transportation for the construction of a shared user trail from Albert Lea to Manchester along the former Union Pacific Railroad corridor.

The city of Manchester is also sending a letter of support. 

• Approved a Broadway Ridge grant for reimbursement of $16,150 out of a total cost of $32,300 for a roof replacement at 224 S. Broadway. 

Rigg said there will be a mortgage against the property until all remaining code violations have been corrected.

• Voted to sell city-owned property at 1211 S. Newton Ave. to the owner of 1213 S. Newton Ave. 
• Voted to sell city-owned  property at 1116 James Ave. The land will be split to adjacent property owners.                                                                
• Voted to issue a $1.03 million taxable grant anticipation revenue note to replace approximately 150 private and public lead water services in the city. 

The note will be repaid through an agreement with the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority as part of funds approved by the Minnesota Legislature in 2023 for lead service line replacements, as well as federal funds received for the effort. 

• Authorized the city to apply for a federal grant through the Minnesota Department of Transportation for resurfacing of Blake Avenue from East Main Street To Marshall Street. 

The city has previously been awarded funding for Blake Avenue from East Main Street to U.S. Highway 65. In addition to the street resurfacing, there will be new sidewalk added. 

The grant would provide an 80/20 match. 

• Designated two loading zone stalls on Bridge Avenue near where the new dock will be installed to allow for a place where people can unload or load kayaks. 

City staff said technically people can park there now, and it should not interfere with the turn lane onto Fountain Street. 

• Approved the preliminary and final plat for the Blazing Star Landing for compliance with city code. The plat lays out the lots and blocks largely based on areas of contamination and required cleanup, as well as grade of the overall property. 
• Accepted donations totaling about $4,092 from Waste Management for their contribution to the city’s fall clean-up event and $1,786 from Servpro for dehumidification and monitoring after water damage in the basement of the Vitality Center in December.