Befitting the name of Albert Lea’s central lake, a group of citizens has raised money to put a fountain in Fountain Lake.

&uot;We’re just a bunch of people that like fountains,&uot; said John Petersen, who asked the city council for help on the project at Monday’s meeting.

Petersen said the money was being raised to buy a fountain to put in 100 feet from either shore near Katherine Island.

The idea, like many, was spawned at a coffee shop.

The fountain has three different nozzles that can be changed to affect the way it sprays. One would shoot up straight in the air like a rocket; another would spray up in a ring. The fountain would be lighted.

Petersen said, with a slight smile, that the salesman said the fountain would make the bay clearer and also would please the fish in the lake.

The council granted permission for the group to use city electricity and also said they would install the protection to run an electical line to the working fountain.

Petersen said he hoped to get the fountain up and running as soon as possible.

(Contact Peter Cox at peter.cox@ albertleatribune.com or 379-3439.)