The request from American Legion Leo Carey Post 56 to install an electronic message board on its building will come before the Albert Lea City Council for a second time on Monday.

The sign, which is part of a commander’s project for Cmdr. Rex Stotts, would help promote The American Legion, service organizations and city and county events, according to Legion Manager Todd Utpadel at a previous council meeting. It would also tie into Amber Alerts.

The request initially came before the council in October, after the Heritage Preservation Commission reviewed the request. The commission reviewed the request because the Legion Hall, 142 N. Broadway Ave., is in the city’s historic district.

At the council’s October meeting, Utpadel said the sign would not be a flashing, letter-changing sign but would be static. Information would rotate every nine seconds, and every 30 seconds the time and temperature would come up.

Councilors indicated they would feel more comfortable voting on the issue after they allowed the Board of Appeals to review and interpret the downtown’s sign and zoning ordinances.

On Oct. 20, the Board of Appeals voted to allow the sign as an electronic message center, which should not change more than once every 10 seconds.

Now it will be up to the council to decide if the sign will be allowed.

Albert Lea City Attorney Lee Bjorndal said the issue at hand is a lack of clarity in the downtown’s sign ordinance. It does not give a clear definition of what is a public information sign versus what is an electronic message center.

During the Monday meeting, the City Council will also:

Hear a request from businessmen Amar Singh and Mike Nevins to consider waiving the city portion of unpaid property taxes, penalties and interest from 2007, 2008 and 2009 tax rolls for their new Midwestern Hotel, formerly the Albert Lea Inn.

The outstanding balance is roughly $170,000, with the city’s portion totaling about $33,000 plus penalties and interest for the two parcels the hotel and parking lots occupy.

Councilor Vern Rasmussen questioned whether property taxes have to be cleared up at the time someone purchases a property.

Bjorndal said it is his understanding that the Freeborn County Recorder won’t transfer the deed if the property taxes aren’t paid.

Bjorndal noted he would not recommend the council waive the taxes.

Vote whether call a public hearing on Nov. 23 for Jobs Opportunity Building Zones tax exemptions for Alamco Wood Products LLC.

The owners are proposing a new operation in the facility that will result in an expansion and additional workers.

Vote whether to authorize membership in the Southeast Service Cooperative for cities, counties and other agencies.

Simonsen said the membership would allow the city to go through this cooperative for health insurance for city employees during the 2010 plan year.

She said all rates and plans for the insurance will be the same as in 2009 with the cooperative. If the city does not go with the cooperative and goes straight through Blue Cross Blue Shield, its insurance provider, there will been a 6 percent increase.

The Southeast Service Coop provides pooling opportunities with other groups in the region to leverage economies of scale, lower costs and achieve claim cost stability. It was established in 1976 by the Minnesota Legislature.

Vote whether to authorize an agreement with the Albert Lea School District for rental of ice time at City Arena for the 2009-10 hockey season. The agreement will include use of the ice, dressing rooms, team showers and equipment area.

The agreement is for $50,000 in two payments, due on Dec. 15 and March 15, 2010.

Vote whether to authorize the submittal of a grant application to the Office of the Secretary of State of Minnesota for federal funds available through the Help America Vote Act.

If awarded, the grant would fund six assessable polling booths and magnifiers.

Call a public hearing for Nov. 23 to amend the sidewalk assessment policy.

Vote whether to approve an administrative survey of lots of record for the Carrington Companies, owners of Northbridge Mall.

The owners have submitted a change to the administrative survey.

Follow up on the order for removal at 316 Railroad Ave.

Have a closed session to discuss union negotiations and property inquiries of the Albert Lea Public Warehouse No. 1 and “the Damman property.”