The First Impressions Committee of Greater Jobs, Inc. should move a step closer to erecting three new welcome signs at major entry points into Albert Lea, as the city council will consider asking the state for use of land to place the signs.

The landscaped signs, designed to increase visibility for the city, will be funded with private donations.

The council tonight will consider asking the Minnesota Department of Transportation for use of the land for all three of the signs.

In other business at tonight’s meeting, the council will:

– Consider approving a contact with the convention and visitor’s bureau, an agency that promotes Albert Lea using funding from a local lodging tax. The contract will iron out concerns from the city and the CVB about excess revenue that may be generated above the 5 percent the city is entitled to take for administrative expenses.

– Consider an ordinance accepting annexation orders for portions of Southeast Marshall Street, an area that is now served by city utilities.

– Declare a loan to Carlson Companies non-performing. The $92,548.42 loan is not being paid back in a satisfactory manner, the city says. The designation does not mean the city will end its collection efforts, but will allow the city to reduce the equity in its revolving loan fund to reflect the non-performing loan.

– Approve the creation of three new liquor licenses, for which the city gained approval from the state legislature.