The Albert Lea City Council approved a $52,500 contract on Monday with a Rushford-based company to demolish structures and surface where the Albert Lea fire station will be built east of the Freeborn County Government Center.

The contract with Generation X includes the demolition of buildings at 517 S. Broadway Ave.; 411, 415 and 417 S. Newton Ave.; 213 and 217 E. Pearl St.; 406, 408, 410 and 412 Elizabeth Ave. 

Generation X, a company since 2005, is expected to conduct the work in March and April.

Councilors also approved purchasing 406 Elizabeth Ave. for $20,000 from Lourdes Rosado Ortiz and Jose Luis Cofresi Pacheco for the fire station.

“This is the last property that we’re acquiring,” said Albert Lea City Manager Chad Adams.

The city plans to assist in recording transaction fees and provide a mortgage for the property owners to relocate to 209 Charlotte Ave.

Adams noted most homes with a size similar to the Elizabeth Avenue house are valued between $40,000 and $60,000.

“We have assisted some property owners who are being moved as kind of part of our relocation negotiation to providing mortgage against that house, considering the low value of this house, to assist with their down payment and financing of those homes,” he said.

Councilors then approved selling Albert Lea Housing and Redevelopment Authority property at 209 Charlotte Ave. to Ortiz and Pacheco and then approved the HRA purchase of property from the city at 220 E. College St.

“The sale and acquisition of these properties provides the HRA with a unit that more efficiently and effectively provides for the needs of low-income housing,” Adams said in a report. “Only 8 percent of current HRA housing are four-bedroom units. The 220 E. College St. — four-bedroom — residence, near downtown, meets the needs of larger families and provides access to public transportation, employment opportunities and public services.”

The nine other project bids include:

• $196,900 by Wells-based Dulas Excavating

• $186,000 by Albert Lea-based Jensen Excavating

• $177,235 by Rogers-based Veit and Co. Inc.

• $148,709 by Elgin-based Edge Contracting Inc.

• $142,701 by St.Paul Park-based JM Hauling LLC

• $137,700 by Richmond-based Linnco Inc.

• $130,943 by Lake Mills-based Larson Contracting

• $104,500 by Goodhue-based Fitzgerald Contracting

In other action, councilors:

• Amended tree service license requirements and created another ordinance outlining new requirements. General licensing requirements with the Minnesota Commission of Agriculture now include all people and businesses. They must provide a certificate of registration issued by the commissioner of agriculture and a certificate of public liability insurance for coverage concurrent with the license term. Councilors also established an ordinance addressing requirements and regulations for trees in the boulevard or on public property.

“It addresses shade tree pests and disease, damage and trimming trees in the boulevard as well as other violations,” Adams said.

• Recognized Robert Hoffman for his service on the Heritage Preservation Commission from 2013 to 2018.