Wal-Mart has asked the city of Albert Lea to come up with a development agreement for building a new retail center and grocery store near East Main Street and Interstate 35 in Albert Lea, City Manager Paul Sparks confirmed Friday.

&uot;Wal-Mart told us they want us to take our assessment project and put it into a development agreement,&uot; said Sparks.

The step is large, according to Sparks. The company announced their intentions of building a Supercenter in Albert Lea last year, but has had difficulty in coming to terms with the city on who would pay for the infrastructure projects.

Sparks said the city will be putting $600,000 from its general fund into deferred assessments for roads and infrastructure on the project.

The improvements include extending Blake Road across East Main into the site area, adding traffic lights at Blake and Main and at Blake and County Road 46, laying new roads, and sewer and water main projects.