The Albert Lea City Council took a step forward in the Albert Lea MunIcipal Airport project Monday night.

The council approved a $198,134 task order with consulting firm Mead & Hunt for the redesigning, rebidding and construction services of the proposed new arrival and departure building at the airport.

The measure passed on a 6-1 vote. Councilors Reid Olson, Larry Anderson, Al “Minnow” Brooks, John Schulte, Larry Baker and Mayor Vern Rasmussen Jr. voted yes. Councilor George Marin was the lone no vote.

The city will look to secure state and federal grants to help reimburse costs, Albert Lea City Engineer Steven Jahnke said.

Once federal funds are secured, the city plans to bid the project.

Jahnke hopes the project starts in summer 2017.

Bids for the project were rejected in July after they came in significantly higher than the about $1.1 million engineer’s estimate formed by Mead & Hunt.

“Since that time, city staff and the Airport Advisory Board have worked with Mead & Hunt to develop a project that lowers the overall price of the project, yet still maintains the look and feel of the project that was originally bid,” said Albert Lea City Manager Chad Adams.

Marin said he thought the council should have maybe looked at a different firm for the services.

“I just think we could maybe do a little bit better in sharpening our pencil if we are going to use the same company,” he said. “I always like to try to save the taxpayer a little bit more money, because they are the ones paying for it.”

Marin also took issue with the $41,000 cost to rebid the project.

Jahnke said the project will benefit Albert Lea.

“It’s the first impression of Albert Lea, when you come into the airport,” he said. “A lot of people when they fly in, that’s your first image of what Albert Lea is. I think a lot of good things will come out of it.”

In other action, the council:

Oversaw recognition from the Albert Lea Police Department to resident Jacqueline Carstens for her life-saving efforts to Kris Springborg in October after his sailboat capsized on Fountain Lake.

Approved a premises permit for the Albert Lea Amatuer Hockey Association to conduct gamblng at City Arena.

Approved an agreement with the Albert Lea Lakers baseball team for Hayek Field in 2017. The Lakers will compete against teams from Omaha; Sioux Falls, Iowa; Carroll, Iowa; Storm Lake, Iowa; and Bancroft, Iowa. The Lakers will begin play in June and will play about 20 home games. College players from around the country and possibly abroad could move to Albert Lea and live with host parents, Adams said.