The debate over the ownership of the Albert Lea Lake dam along with fixing and/or replacement of the dam has been going on for far too long.

The time has come for the Shell Rock River Watershed District and the Freeborn County Board of Commissioners to put this issue to rest. The old Albert Lea Lake dam is again leaking and is in need of repair. The facts are that even with aerators in Albert Lea Lake this winter, if nothing is done to keep the water in the lake by fixing the dam, there will be a major fish kill in Albert Lea Lake and millions of walleyes will be lost. Make no mistake about it, if this is allowed, there will be an economical impact felt on our community.

The time is now for the Freeborn County Board of Commissioners and the Shell Rock River Watershed District to sit down with the landowner of the property surrounding the Albert Lea Lake dam and settle this issue. No more games, no more obstructionist tactics. There needs to be straightforward and honest negotiations that lead to an agreement reached with the property owner giving Freeborn County outright ownership of the Albert Lea Lake dam and the right to Freeborn County and the Shell Rock River Watershed District employees or representatives to enter and leave the landowners property to be able to inspect and or fix the counties dam or other issues that may arise in regards to water quality, when needed.

The time to either fix or replace this dam is here. This issue has gone on for far too long, and, as I stated before, the water needs to be stopped from leaking out of the dam. There is $150,000 in matching funds from the Department of Natural Resources that can be used to fix the dam, and we need to take full advantage of these funds while we still can. I would like to ask our leaders who are making these decisions to please put any personal issues aside. There needs to be some give and take on this issue and you need to come up with a compromise soon.  

 Please don’t allow another winter kill to happen. That would result in the loss of millions of good-sized walleyes. Please tell your county commissioner and the members of the Shell Rock River Watershed District board that the time has come to settle this issue once and for all. Clear up the ownership issue, and fix or replace the dam now, so this issue is settled!

 Mike Lee

Albert Lea