Albert Lea officials said Monday that Minnesota Pollution Control Agency limits on phosphorus, nitrates and chloride in wastewater treatment plants could cost the city more than $60 million in upgrades.

Officials discussed their concerns with the limits in a meeting with MPCA officials — including Commissioner John Linc Stine — at City Hall.

Mayor Vern Rasmussen Jr. expressed concern about the possible effects the project will have on businesses and residents. He mentioned the important role the food production industry plays in the community.

“If our rates triple from our providers in this community, they’re not going to be here,” Rasmussen said. “That means that $62 million plant is going to drive us into bankruptcy.”

“It’s very frustrating for me to sit here and try to grow a community, and then have this kind of stuff.”

Rasmussen said any changes to the standards needed to be based on sound scientific information.

Stine and other MPCA officials discussed possible ways the price could be reduced.

Albert Lea City Engineer Steven Jahnke said the city plans to request a variance to the requirements.

City officials requested MPCA employees clearly communicate what the standards will be.

Rasmussen said he did not appreciate the column Stine wrote in the Tribune in 2015 that stated discharge limits in the range of those proposed for Austin and Albert Lea are designed to protect rivers like the Cedar and Shell Rock, the fish and other aquatic life that call them home.

“I’m fearful of what could happen if we push back,” Rasmussen said.

Stine apologized to officials about the column and said he understood how it could have made the community defensive. He promised officials could meet with MPCA staff during the process.

The history of the current wastewater treatment plant near the Shell Rock River and water quality regulations in other states were discussed.

“Our plant is built where it is for two things: so that we can use our lakes and keep them clean, and to be on that river,” Jahnke said. He described the water-quality work city officials have completed with the Shell Rock River Watershed District.

“We feel we have been putting a lot of effort into getting water quality,” he said.

Stine said the visit was made so MPCA officials could listen to the community’s needs and listen to possible funding solutions for the standards.

“We want to respect sort of the things that were said before, and then you still gotta keep learning as you go and try to make sure you don’t fail to do something wise when you have to do something,” he said. “That’s why we wanted to come down, is to make sure that as you’re thinking about your plant, as you’re thinking about your future, we wanted you to make a wise investment, something that is going to be durable, meet all kinds of requirements for the city as well as for the water quality.”

The city of Albert Lea has expressed support for a federal lawsuit filed by the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities against the Environmental Protection Agency.

In its lawsuit filed in 2015, the coalition argued that the MPCA’s limits on phosphorus levels in wastewater treatment plants aren’t based on sound scientific information.

Stine noted the backlash the MPCA has faced from environmental groups and from other agencies over their standards.

Adams said he was concerned that the city would have to fund water quality standards on local lakes long before upstream work would affect the lakes.

Stine said after the meeting that he appreciated the event, noting the $62 million figure included any possible future implemented measures. He said a greater idea of the needs for the wastewater treatment plant and a timeframe will be formed.

“It was a good meeting,” he said. “I appreciate the face-to-face communication. You always hear people differently, but also get more information when you can kind of ask each other questions and follow up. I thought the meeting went well, and I was really glad the mayor was able to be with us and staff from the city to answer questions.”