The public will get an opportunity to learn more about the Albert Lea Lake restoration plan, as well as a chance to voice their opinions at several meetings set in January.

Sunday, November 28, 1999

The public will get an opportunity to learn more about the Albert Lea Lake restoration plan, as well as a chance to voice their opinions at several meetings set in January.

The Lake Restoration Committee will present its vision for the Albert Lea Lake ecosystem at Riverland Community College’s lecture hall at 7 p.m. on Jan. 6, Jan. 13 and Jan. 20.

Cathy Rofshus, a member of the committee who has led a similar presentation for a joint city and county meeting, said the public presentations will follow the same format.

A 30-minute slide show will offer highlights of the committee’s vision. The public will then have an opportunity to ask questions and offer comments.

Response from the public is important, she added.

&uot;If there seems to be opposition to a certain part of the vision, or if people have ideas that have a lot of support, we can amend the vision,&uot; Rofshus said.

One thing she does want people to support is the petition for a watershed district.

The watershed district would be a board of three to nine people with terms of three years. The first board will be appointed by the Board of Water and Soil Restoration. Afterward, the Freeborn County Board will appoint members.

The watershed district is vital to both the vision and the future of the lake, particularly in securing replacement of the dam, she said. While the dam is scheduled to be replaced in 2002, it’s a tentative plan, she said. A watershed district can help to lobby and make sure the dam is replaced.

Rofshus said the watershed district will be like any other government body. It will have open meetings.

Though it will have the ability to raise money through taxation, any such action would be open to public opposition, Rofshus said.

Since the board will be appointed by the Freeborn County Board, the public &uot;will still have representation through their elected county officials,&uot; Rofshus said.

A petition is needed to start the process, and the Lake Restoration Committee plans to raise the $7,500 to $10,000 needed to cover the legal fees to complete the process, she said.

Other funding questions will be fielded at the public meetings.

&uot;There will be tons of information there for people as they walk in. There’ll be lots of displays,&uot; Rofshus said.

Copies of the vision will be available as well. The public can also get a copy of the vision before the meetings by checking out the committee’s Web site at www.desktopmedia.com/~allake or they may pick up a copy at the Chamber of Commerce.

The committee hopes that everyone concerned about the ecosystem of Albert Lea Lake will attend the meeting, Rofshus said. That includes lakeshore owners, fishing enthusiasts, farmers, boaters and bird-watchers.

&uot;We just ask that people come with an open mind,&uot; she said.

Rofshus hopes that members of other community groups concerned about the lake will take the opportunity to come to the meetings and learn more about the vision.

Also, she hopes that community groups that are concerned about the lake and its ecosystem will collaborate on projects such as the dam and the petition for a watershed district. There are aspects where all groups can agree, and she hopes they will be able to work together on those points, even if there are other points on which they don’t agree.