A group composed of representatives from Greater Jobs, the Albert Lea City Council, the county commissioners and members of the community is conducting meetings to recommend changes for the port authority, beginning with the consideration of a full-time executive director.

Currently, Paul Sparks serves as city manager and port authority director.

&uot;Asking the city manager to be a regulator and an economic-development official places that person in an awkward position,&uot; said Brad Arends, President of Greater Jobs and a member of the group. He said from a business point of view, it could be difficult for that person to represent the taxpayers while trying to bring business to the city.

Mayor Jean Eaton described the city manager as a law enforcer who must not give away city money, raise taxes or hurt the city. She described the leader of the port authority as a developer who tries to get the best deal.

&uot;They are conflicting roles,&uot; she said.

The port authority, an economic-development authority that is currently run by the city council, can buy land or buildings for development purposes. As executive director, Sparks manages the properties, interacts with prospective buyers of the land or buildings and deals with tenants.

Albert Lea has the sixth-largest port authority in the state, with assets totaling around $8 million. According to Arends, the other major port authorities have one full-time employee &uot;who does nothing but work on that port authority.&uot;

When asked about the possibility of a new full-time port authority director, Sparks said, &uot;It’s easier for me to do it because I was here when (the port authority) was started and am very familiar with it. For someone coming in new, it would be a great deal of work.&uot;

Eaton said that members of the community &uot;bash&uot; the city manager because of his dual roles. She thinks that fewer people would do this if there were a full-time port authority leader and a full-time city manager.

She compared the restructuring to the separation of the Albert Lea Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) from the city council, which took place last year.

Arends said that another issue that the group is tackling is the time committment of a port authority director and the city council. &uot;The city council is asking too much to run the city and oversee the port authority,&uot; he said. &uot;They like the fact that they control it.&uot;

Regarding the amount of work he has to do, Sparks said, &uot;There’s more that needs to be done because there is not enough time to do it. There’s a need for an expediter, someone who resolves problems between industry and the community.&uot;

Although one local group has threatened a petition asking for Sparks to be removed, Arends said, &uot;This is not about people. You can replace people and still have an economic structure that is impaired. This is about creating the proper structure, then hiring the right people.&uot;

Arends said the port authority position could pay about $100,000 per year.

Included in the restructuring group are Arends; Rachel Christiensen, a Greater Jobs board member; city council members Warren Amundson and Jeff Fjelstad; County Commissioner Mark Behrends; and private attorney Henry Savelkoul. Still in the early stages, the group has met twice. Eaton and Sparks attended one meeting to which they were invited.

Both Fjelstad and Christiensen declined to comment on the group’s activities. Behrends, who attended one meeting for a short period, stated only that he is there to offer support.

The group is meeting today at an undisclosed time and location. According to Arends, they will be sketching the organization of the new system, discussing the roles and responsibilities of its members and considering a budget.

The city council would have to approve any changes to the port authority structure or the addition of a new employee.

(Contact Benjamin Dipman at ben.dipman@albertleatribune.com or 379-3439.)