A possible restaurant deal involving a location on East Main in Albert Lea has already gained one important element: the guarantee of an on-sale liquor license.

But the parties involved will need to act quickly, because the reservation is only good for six months.

The council agreed to reserve the liquor license at the request of Rachel Christensen, who is a member of a group of local businesspeople working on securing a restaurant for the empty lot between the Country Inn and Suites and Ole’s Texaco on East Main Street, on a lot formerly occupied by Trail’s truck stop. Christensen would not comment on the restaurant’s identity.

According to Paul Sparks, city manager, the group needs the guarantee of a liquor license as part of the package they are putting together to convince the prospective business to build here. Setting a liquor license aside still leaves the city with two other unassigned licenses.

The request had no trouble gaining unanimous approval from the council.

In other business, the council:

– Approved a street overlay project in the New Hills Condominium neighborhood. The costs for the project, which will involve leveling streets and repaving them with a 1.5-inch blacktop surface, will be assessed to the condominium association. They will then need to redistribute the costs to the owners of individual units. Representatives of condominium residents were present and indicated that residents are supportive of the project.

– Agreed to allow the Sportsmen’s Club to reserve Katherine Island and Lincoln Park for their annual &uot;Take a Kid Fishing Day&uot; on June 8, 2002. That is the day set aside when adults can fish without a license so long as they fish with children 15 or younger.

– Agreed to waive the rental fee for the Fountain Lake gazebo for a concert by the Army Reserve Band following the Festival of Bands Parade on June 16. The Army Band is serving as the honor band for the festival.

– Accepted, as a concept, a request from the Albert Lea Lake Cleanup Committee to paint a symbol on all storm sewers that would warn residents of where the sewer leads. The purpose, according to Sparks, is to stop people from indirectly dumping oil, gas, grass clippings or other substances into the lake. The council asked Dave Olson, the city engineer, to work with the committee to come up with an acceptable and understandable symbol.

– Amended city codes governing fireworks to bring them into compliance with state laws that were recently passed and signed by Gov. Jesse Ventura. The law allows the sale of sparklers and other non-exploding forms of fireworks.

– Confirmed existing ward boundaries for the next election. Population shifts fall within acceptable levels, according to state law, and redistricting is not required.