Albert Lea sewer drains will be labeled with no-dumping signs in the near future after the city council Monday passed a resolution to match funding given by the county for the printing of 1,000 signs.

The sign project is the undertaking of the Lake Restoration Committee. According to member Paul Ehlers, the committee decided that more needed to be done to inform the citizens of Albert Lea that &uot;what goes in the sewers most likely will end up in our lakes.&uot;

The signs will read &uot;No Dumping, Drains to your Lakes.&uot; The sign also includes the logo for the city of Albert Lea. The signs are two-and-a-half by eight inches and will be stuck with an adhesive to the sewer drains. Ehlers said the company who will manufacture the signs assured the committee that they were weather proof.

The cost of producing the 1,000 stickers will be $4,500. That cost will be split evenly by the county, which has already agreed to fund the project, and the city, which agreed to fund as well. The bill to the city will be $2,250.

Other items discussed Monday:

– The city presented the proposed budget to the council and the council agreed to dates on public hearings for budget input. The budget input hearing has been set for Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. and the truth in taxation hearing was set for Dec. 2, 2002 at 7 p.m. and, if necessary, will be continued on Dec. 9. at 7 p.m.

These hearings are open to public input on the proposed budget.

– W.L.W. Processing Co. requested a $125,000 to $150,000 revolving fund loan from the city. The city passed a resolution to hire a professional consultant to look over the documentation provided by the company and check over the loan.

W.L.W. is a blending company which works mostly with honey-based food products, originally based in the Twin Cities area. They are hoping to move to Albert Lea within the next month, and according to the future plant manager, Mike Walker, could provide as many as 20 jobs in the area.