Sheriff Mark Harig accepted a contribution of $10,000 from the Eagles Club for the purchase of defibrillators used during cardiovascular emergencies. The contribution will aid the purchase of 8-10 defibrillators for city vehicles and 4-6 for county vehicles.

-The Downtown Association was given approval to use the downtown flagholders to continuously fly flags. The association is raising funds to pay for the flags, which could include seasonal flags and Albert Lea city flags.

-An Oct. 27 hearing will be held for the city’s application for a grant from the Department of Trade and Economic Development. The grant will be used for the Lea Center redevelopment project, which will turn the building into an apartment-commercial complex.

-A contract between Alliant Technology and the city was approved. Alliant will provide the city with $185,000

at a 1.5 percent interest rate for 60 months. The funds will pay to make city traffic signals more energy efficient and to install a rotary drum thickener at the waste treatment plant. City Manager Paul Sparks said that the money lost from interest will be regained from money saved on energy costs.

-Due to a chemical called molybdenum in the city’s sewage sludge, the sludge, which is normally applied to farmland, has to be transported to a waste site. Although bidding and negotiating is still in progress, the council approved the transport of the sludge to a waste site, with the option of continuing to look for the best bidder.

-The council approved the purchase of the Hanson Building and its adjacent parking lot for $220,000. The city will redevelop the area, which is adjacent to the city-owned Freeborn Bank or &uot;Vault&uot; building at Broadway Avenue and William Street.

-The council transferred Philly’s Restaurant liquor license to a company called Felcar Inc. According to Wayne Thompson, co-owner of Philly’s, a deal to sell the restaurant is still under negotiation. &uot;Hopefully, it will be done soon,&uot; Thompson said.