A former KAAL news anchor running for Albert Lea City Council wants to continue to invest in the city’s progress.

Jason Howland, 43, of 1133 Plainview Lane is running for the Ward 3 councilor seat against Roger Swanson.

“I’d like to continue to invest in progress so that we grow as a city, but also secure fiscal responsibility,” Howland said. “We don’t want to overtax our citizens and businesses. We need to encourage business development, affordable housing.”

Howland said he thinks Albert Lea is a great place to live, adding that though he has worked in several cities over the last two decades, he still lives in the city because of its quality of life and low cost of living. 

“Declining population is not just an Albert Lea problem, it is a rural America problem,” he said. “Let’s connect our local businesses with the younger community, so they have the opportunity to work and live here. We need to encourage growth in the local housing market and provide affordable housing.”

Howland said the development of Wedgewood Cove Townhomes has been a great success, and he cited realtor.com rating Albert Lea as one of the most affordable communities as something the community should be proud of.

The city must encourage business development, affordable housing and expanding its tax base to reverse its declining population, Howland said.

“We’re unique from so many other cities in this region, in that we have two lakes in town and 43 parks in the community,” he said. “I’d like to continue to invest in progress, so that we grow as a city, but also secure fiscal responsibility.”

Use of the Watershed District’s half-percent sales tax

Howland said he has been a big supporter of the work the Shell Rock River Watershed District has done to improve area lakes.

“As a fisherman who spends at least once a week on Fountain Lake, I can tell you from first-hand experience that the improvements are noticeable,” he said. “The water is cleaner, and fishing is dramatically better.”

Howland said a majority of Ward 3 residents have told him that dredging Albert Lea Lake is the next step after dredging Fountain Lake.

“I agree,” he said. “It’s the largest lake in southern Minnesota, and it’s severely underutilized, because it’s too shallow. Dredging the lake would provide tremendous opportunities for fish and wildlife habitat, leisure activities and economic development along its shores.”

Howland wants the city to make it clear to the Watershed District that it wants Albert Lea Lake to be dredged, as well.

“I’d also like to see improved two-way communication and cooperation between the city and the Watershed District,” he said.

Attracting business

The city of Albert Lea needs to continue to work and collaborate with the Albert Lea Economic Development Agency, and hold the organization accountable if its work is not being done, Howland said.

“We’re fortunate to have a self-funded organization completely dedicated to improving economic development,” he said, noting ALEDA helps new and existing businesses get started by providing direct assistance, gap-financing loans, multiple tax-increment financing and tax abatement.

Howland said ALEDA follows a model that other communities would like to emulate, adding that ALEDA does not levy an operating tax and pays more than $200,000 in property taxes every year.

“They are the city and county’s biggest champion in bringing and keeping businesses here, which adds jobs and tax revenue, and also provides their own tax revenue to both the city and county,” he said.

Howland thinks the city must make ALEDA’s work as simple as possible to see the community’s tax base grow.

“Let’s take a look at our zoning and planning process — are we creating too many obstacles by providing too much red tape?” he said. “Let’s use common sense. We don’t want to discourage new business from coming here or existing businesses from growing, because the process for getting a permit is too costly or complicated. Customer service is important.”

He supports the city continuing to support the work ALEDA and other business leaders are doing with the Albert Lea Entrepreneur Advancement Program in providing entrepreneurs with education training, mentoring and financing.

“There have been several new businesses created which started in this program,” he said, noting the city has oversight over the organization.

Howland thinks the city needs to continue to invest in progress, but not with a blank check.

“Keep our taxes affordable, and provide quality infrastructure, and keep it maintained,” he said.

The city’s downtown streetscape project is a great economic development project, Howland said.

“Since the project completed just a few years ago, there’s been more than $2 million in private investment to the downtown,” he said.

Howland also suggested the city market the community’s positives, such as its location at the crossroads of two interstates, low cost of living and high quality of life to prospective businesses.

Revitalizing downtown Albert Lea

Howland wants the city to continue building on downtown work.

“The downtown is the heart of our great city, and to see it where it is now — it makes me very proud,” he said “And I see a very bright future ahead.”

Howland said the city should continue to leverage local, state and federal dollars — such as a facade grant and Small Cities Development grant and loan program — and continue to partner with the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau on programs that highlight the downtown district, such as Wind Down Wednesdays and Eddie Cochran Weekend.

“The city’s management agreement with Albert Lea Community Theatre regarding the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center is something I have worked very closely on as president of ACT for the past three years, and it’s been a huge positive for not only the building, but the entire downtown,” he said.

Howland added that the Performing Arts Center has transformed from a rarely-used building to one of the premier venues in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa, drawing people to the downtown district.

“A great example of the city collaborating with another organization to make its downtown more vital,” he said. “The more of that, the better.”

Dealing with criticism and running meetings

Howland said he wants to be the voice of his ward and a leader for the city.

“Not everyone is going to agree with all of my opinions and decisions, but I will always be very open and honest with them,” he said. “If someone disagrees, I will listen. I am a very positive person, and I think that’s needed in a political climate where so much of the rhetoric is negative.”

Howland said he would be open to changing how council meetings are run, if he sees an issue with them.

Other issues

Howland said flooding has been a major issue in his ward and throughout the city.

“Let’s work together to come up with improvements to our infrastructure to prevent, or at least lessen, the effects and damage that flooding causes in this city to businesses, homeowners and our streets,” he said, noting his basement and street flooded from heavy rain in late September.

“Why should some of our main thoroughfares, such as East Main, be flooded and impassible for two weeks?” he said. “Some will say ‘your home shouldn’t have been built there,’ or ‘you should move your business,’ or ‘that road has always been that way.’ That’s not a solution, and it’s not what those homeowners or businesses need to hear. They want answers.”

Howland said if elected, he would create a flooding task force of city officials, engineers, street and utilities workers, community members and business owners affected by flooding.

“The status quo isn’t good enough, and as a community we can create solutions,” he said.