City will pay 5 percent of cost of the assessment

The building of a new arrival and departure building at the Albert Lea Municipal Airport came one step closer to reality Monday night.

The Albert Lea City Council approved a state agreement and resolution for the airport environmental assessment of the $1.5 million arrival and departure building and associated site development. Approval came during the meeting’s consent agenda.

Under the agreement, the Minnesota Department of Transportation will pay 5 percent of the cost of the assessment. The federal government has already agreed to pay 90 percent of the $98,781 cost of the assessment; the other 5 percent is planned to come from the city’s general fund reserve.

The city hopes the environmental assessment will be completed by November and then the design phase would begin. City Engineer Steven Jahnke said the city hopes the design phase will be completed by summer 2016 and the construction will either start in fall 2016 or spring 2017, depending on grant availability. The building would be approximately 4,500 square feet.

“It’s been a goal of the city to continue to update all of our facilities as we just went through our facilities master plan,” City Manager Chad Adams said. “This project wasn’t initially targeted as a priority, but it got there because of the federal funds that became available for this project that may not be there in the future. It made sense to do this now.”

Adams said the construction of a new arrival and departure building will allow the city to have more opportunities to attract major industries.

Taxpayers won’t see increased taxes with the project, Adams said.

The current building is planned for demolition if the proposed new building is built.

Adams said the city is taking the process one step at a time.

Once the environmental assessment is complete, Adams said the city is planning on the design phase of the process.

“We’re a regional center, and it’s good for our economic development and growth to upgrade our airport,”  he said.

The council approved a resolution amending a professional services agreement with engineering and architectural firm Mead & Hunt for the environmental assessment last month.

The flight school is planned to be in the new building, and the current hangar would be relocated elsewhere at the airport.

The current building is planned for demolition if the proposed new building is built.

Since 2005, airport improvements have included:

The runway length has increased to 5,000 feet from 4,500 feet.

Updated approach lighting has been installed.

The navigation and weather system was relocated.

The ramp area was redone.

In other news, the council:

Passed a resolution on a 4-2 vote affirming the purchasing of tax-forfeited parcels at 332 S. Broadway, 717 Madison Ave. and 815 Madison Ave for $73.68 a parcel. At the Aug. 24 meeting, the council adopted a resolution authorizing the acquisition of certain tax-forfeited parcels.

Councilors Al “Minnow” Brooks and George Marin voted no. Commissioners Reid Olson, Larry Baker, John Schulte and Mayor Vern Rasmussen Jr. voted yes.

“I’m against the philosophy of the city of Albert Lea becoming a landlord,” Marin said.

Rasmussen said the purchases were done to preserve the vitality of the downtown district.

Approved the closure of Fountain Street from Bridge Avenue to Newton Avenue from noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 10 for the Albert Lea Fire Department’s open house.