Building permits for two new homes each issued during July were the highlights for both the city and county reports. Also, the valuations listed on both reports represented a difference of just under $10,000.

The Freeborn County Planning and Zoning office report shows 22 building permits were issued during July with a listed valuation of $929,231. This increases the estimated valuation of county-issued permits to $3,021,605 for the first seven months of the year.

One of the new home permits issued by the county was for a residence on 680th Avenue in Pickerel Lake Township. The second county permit was for a new residence on 330th Street in Newry Township near Blooming Prairie.

There were also four county permits issued for home additions during July.

The city of Albert Lea Inspection Department issued 49 building permits with a valuation of $919, 498 during July. This increases the total valuation for city permits issued during the first seven months of the year to $10,078,114.

At the end of July 2008 the valuation for city-issued permits was $7,806,974.

Both city permits for new homes were for residences on Eastgate Road. This increases the total of city permits for new homes to five for the year, and one of those prior permits was for a duplex.