Out of a public safety concern, the Albert Lea City Council voted Monday to move forward with the Minnesota Highway 13 sidewalk project, which includes the construction of a sidewalk alongside the highway from Elmira Street to Fountain Street, going through Shoff Park, and on the west side of North Avenue from Fountain Street to Clark Street.

The project came about after a community policing meeting last fall at St. John’s Lutheran Home, when the residents at the facility requested the sidewalk for safer and easier access down the street and to the Skyline Plaza. It would also assist children on their way to the areas near Southwest Middle School and Sibley Elementary School.

Second Ward Councilor Larry Baker, who helped bring the project forward, said he drives on that road everyday and sees people all the time who are riding electric carts, carrying groceries from the Skyline Plaza, running or jogging — all on the actual road.

A new sidewalk would keep people from having to be near any oncoming traffic.

Baker said though he knows the project would impose a hardship on some of the residents who are being assessed for it, he has thought “long and hard” about the project and thinks this is the right time to complete it.

“We need to start addressing some of these sidewalk issues,” he said.

He noted he was willing to work with the residents who showed concerns over their assessments to see if he could help work out an arrangement.

Diane Posthumus, who was speaking out for her mother, one of the residents who is going to be assessed, said she and her mother do not think that Ninth Avenue, where she lives, is busy enough to warrant a sidewalk.

Posthumus said she sat at her mother’s house for four hours this weekend and saw less than a handful of people walking by.

“It’s not busy,” she said.

It would also be a hardship for her mother to have to keep the sidewalk maintained, she said.

Councilor Al Brooks questioned whether any of the public safety money in the police and fire pension could go toward this project.

City Manager Victoria Simonsen said it could — with the amount being up to the council.

The new sidewalk would cover about 2,600 feet.

Costs are estimated at about $121,000, with about 5 percent of the project being assessable to adjacent property owners.

“I support this based on it being a public safety issue,” Councilor George Marin said. “One hundred twenty-one thousand dollars — lives are worth that.”

In other action, the council:

– Voted to accept a feasibility report and call a public hearing for the total street reconstruction and water main replacement on sections of Ridge Road.

The reconstruction would include about 1,120 feet of roadway on Ridge Road from The Fairway to Garden Road.

The street has many large trees growing on the curb line, which have caused the curb and pavement to heave. As a result, storm water ponds in places as well, and the roadway has become rough.

To prevent future damage to the road, all of the large trees growing alongside the road would have to be removed during the project.

Cost is estimated at about $230,000 with 44 percent being assessable to abutting property owners and 56 percent being a city cost.

– Approved a request to have a countywide disaster drill at the Blazing Star Landing site on Sept. 4.

The drill would include a staged large ethanol fire, including staged injured people in vehicles and possibly a train.

It would involve several city departments as well as other agencies throughout the county.

– Voted to accept a portion of West Ninth Street and Wedgewood Road from the Albert Lea Township.

Under the annexation, the city will assume full maintenance responsibilities of the land once the annexation is approved by the state.

– Approved the annexation of 2.87 acres of land south of Pro Manufacturing on Freeborn County Road 38, also known as State Park Road.

The new ITC Midwest facility is being developed on the land.

– Approved a request from the youth ShineFest group to use Morin Park and part of William Street on July 26 for a ShineFest activity.

The activity includes a free day of food and music for families in need of assistance. It is being put on by the youth of several churches in the community.