Both Albert Lea and Freeborn County continue to see a boost in building permits, due to damages sustained from the tornadoes and hail storms in June.

The Freeborn County Planning and Zoning Office issued 69 permits in September with an estimated valuation of $2,416,537. Nine of these permits were for new homes and house remodeling.

Forty-six permits were issued for roofing and siding projects.

On Sept. 23, the county issued a permit to LKQ Minnesota for construction of a commercial building at 21647 785th Avenue, Albert Lea, with a listed valuation of $900,000.

The year-to-date total estimated valuation of building permits issued in the county, as of Sept. 31, is $10,632,421.

Albert Lea’s Inspection Department issued 143 building permits in September with an estimated valuation of $1,779,151.

Two of those were for new homes: a single-family dwelling at 1628 Seath Drive in Albert Lea estimated at $200,000, the other at 1525 Ashley Ct., Albert Lea, estimated at $275,000.

The city issued a permit to Fountain Industries located at 922 14th St. East for a roof with a listed valuation of $72,459. City Arena at 701 Lake Chapeau Dr., was also issued a permit for a new roof, valued at an estimated $162,049.

Curt’s Pharmacy, located inside Nelson’s Food Market at 1619 Main St. in Albert Lea, was issued a permit to add a 7-foot by 8-foot drive up window addition and interior remodel, estimated at $51,521.

The city has issued a total of 559 permits, 17 of these for living units, as of Sept. 31, 2010, with a total year-to-date listed valuation of $10,350,947.

In a year-to-date comparison for Sept. 31, 2009, the city had issued 304 building permits with 10 of those for living units, totalling an estimated $11,326,641.