More than a handful of Albert Lea residents made their opinions known Monday during a series of public hearings set up to take feedback about recent road and sewer improvement projects.

While many voiced concerns about the price of their assessments, the residents also asked questions about the quality of work completed by various contractors and what oversight city leaders have over the contractors to make sure all work is completed well.

Projects included in the specific discussion were on Orchard Street, Hammer Road and County Road 45, among others.

In the end, the Albert Lea City Council approved the assessments for almost all of the projects, deferring only a few individual assessments — people who had come to the council before the meeting with special circumstances.

One deferred assessment for a couple who lives on County Road 45, whose money is reported lost as part of the Albert Lea Abstract criminal case. A second one was for a man who asked they be deferred until he sold his lots or developed them.

The following were approved:

Miscellaneous assessments for sanitary sewer and watermain costs because of annexation or requests of the homeowner.

Assessments for the installation of new street, storm sewer, water main, concrete sidewalk and shoreline along North Shore Drive. Total project cost was about $420,000, with 23 percent being assessed to adjacent property owners and 77 percent being city cost.

Assessments for the installation of the bituminous surface on the U.S. Highway 69 frontage road. The project also included installation of sanitary sewer and water main to five properties not currently served with city services. The total project cost was $151,000, with $96,000 being assessed to property owners and about $55,000 being city cost.

One property owner’s assessment, which exceeds $10,000, will be deferred because of hardship. The assessment meets the city’s policy regarding deferrals.

Assessments for the construction of sidewalk along the east side of State Highway 13 from Elmira Street to Fountain Street and on the west side of Ninth Avenue from Fountain Street to Clark Street.

Total project cost was about $115,000, with about 5 percent being assessed to adjacent property owners and 95 percent being city cost.

Assessments for the installation of sanitary sewer and water service to one property on Orchard Street not currently served with city services. Total project cost was about $24,000, with 98 percent being assessed to the adjacent property owner and about 2 percent being city cost.

Assessments for the installation of curb, gutter and bituminous surface, along with sliplining on the sanitary sewer on Willamor Road from Lakeview Boulevard to Crescent Drive.

Total project cost was about $170,000, with 28 percent assessed to adjacent property owners and 72 percent being city cost.

Assessments for bituminous mill and overlay, as well as miscellaneous curb, gutter and sidewalk replacement on several streets in the south-central area of town. It also included removal and replacement of bituminous surface on the South Shore Drive frontage road south of the Interstate 35 overpass.

Total project cost was about $649,000, with 50 percent assessed to adjacent property owners and 50 percent being city cost.

Assessments for bituminous mill and overlay, as well as miscellaneous curb, gutter and sidewalk replacement on Front Street from Highway 69 to Highway 65 and on Hammer Road from Greenwood Drive to Bridge Avenue. New sidewalk was also placed along the north side of Hammer Road from Bridge Avenue to west of Highland Avenue.

Total project cost was about $473,000, with 36 percent assessed to adjacent property owners and 64 percent being city cost.

State aid funding of about $275,000 was received for this project.

Assessments for the extension of sanitary sewer, watermain and services to properties on County Road 45.

Total project cost was about $238,000, with 90 percent being assessed to adjacent property owners and 10 percent being city cost.

Of the assessable portion, about $22,000 will be held for future assessment for abutting properly not currently in city limits.

The council also adopted assessments for a handful of properties that were recently annexed and had otherwise been held for future assessment.

Unrelated council items

In other action, the council:

Authorized the purchase of Allied Radio Matrix for Emergency Response system radios for area firefighters.

The radios will be paid for with a $1 million grant recently awarded to the Albert Lea Fire Department for the 16 fire departments in Freeborn County. A 10 percent match is required for the grant, which will be divided among the 16 departments.

The new radios will allow the area to meet a Federal Communications Commission mandate that all private land mobile radio systems be changed to narrowband voice channels by Jan. 1, 2013. They will also allow the area fire departments to communicate on the new county-wide radio system and will give them better radio coverage with minimal dead spots, especially during times of increased call volume.

Voted to repeal the local ordinance regarding tattoos and body scarification on Jan. 1, 2011. The ordinance was repealed because a new state law has been passed to regulate the businesses.

Approved a professional services agreement with Bolton & Menk Inc. for work on the city’s central water tower.

The project is broken down into three phases: Inspecting the tank and preparing a report about repair options and costs, preparing plans and specifications, and providing construction oversight. Cost is not to exceed $60,500.

Authorized an agreement with the Albert Lea School District for rental of ice time at City Arena for the 2009-10 hockey season.

The district agrees to pay $50,000 for all ice time, in two payments, due Dec. 15 and March 15, 2011.

The fees will be reviewed in 2011.

Amended the city’s assessment policy regarding sidewalk replacements to clarify the assessment changes made in 2009.

The amendment adds a life expectancy for commercial and industrial sidewalk and specifies that residence owners will be assessed 50 percent for sidewalk replacement, while commercial and industrial owners will be assessed 100 percent.

Accepted quotes and authorized repair of the two elevators at City Hall. The lowest bid was from Otis Elevator Co. for $14,100 for both elevators.

The repairs are required by the state’s elevator safety code.

Voted to defer assessments for 1504 Fountain St.