With the strong possibility of a watershed board being developed, a local option sales tax through which the city would raise money for lake restoration projects, may bring to mind the old adage &uot;too many cooks spoil the broth.&uot;

If a watershed board were developed, it would be able to levy taxes for watershed projects on its own. If the sales tax passed, it would also be a funding source for the city on the lake.

The possibility for these two overlapping on projects is clearly significant.

But for City Councilor Randy Erdman, who introduced a resolution to ask the state for a local option sale tax, those possibilities are only a small part of the bigger picture.

&uot;I think the one thing we have to keep our eye on is the goal, and the goal is to get those things cleaned up and move the toward future,&uot; Erdman said. &uot;The funding is the most important thing right now.&uot;

Both those supporting the watershed board and those with the county don’t see any problems with the sales tax.

Randy Tuchtenhagen, County Environmental Services Director, said that the lake improvement plan includes the half percent sales tax as a possible funding source.

&uot;It would be a very important piece in the puzzle,&uot; he said.

Tuchtenhagen said that lake improvement projects, including recreational improvements, are

included in the county’s plan.

&uot;I am sure the county board of commissioners would look at ways other than using property taxes as a positive tool for watershed improvements,&uot; he said.

Tony Trow, a supporter of the development of a watershed board, says that he thinks there will be more cooperation than disagreement between a possible board and the city.

&uot;I think they would want to work in tandem with the watershed board,&uot; he said. &uot;Maybe I am being a little naive. But if we could work together, both county and city could get a lot more done.&uot;

But there are different ideas for what is to be done with the lake, and that may be the snag.

Erdman said he felt the money raised by a sales tax could go to projects such as expanding channel tunnels, putting up retaining walls, expanding efforts against water bounce effects, and possibly dredging.

&uot;There are a lot of things that can be done,&uot; he said . &uot;Albert Lea can also contract to do things outside in the watershed.&uot;

Whether Erdman can convince the council that spending that money outside of Albert Lea is worth it is still unknown.