Council to vote on late taxes at Tiger Hills
Published 9:19 am Monday, May 23, 2011
The Albert Lea City Council tonight is slated to vote on whether to amend the contract with the developer of the Tiger Hills housing development because of delinquent taxes and special assessments.
According to background information provided by the city, the second phase of the development has 12 parcels with delinquencies.
The total of delinquent taxes, special assessments and interest on those taxes and assessments totals just more than $250,000.
Specifically, about $180,000 is owed to the city for assessments issued in 2005 for improvements. The assessment amount delinquent for each of the 12 lots is just shy of $16,000 as of April 1.
According to city background information, the lots have been bid in to the state in May of 2009 by Freeborn County because of delinquent tax.
The projected forfeiture if nonpayment continues will be in 2012.
The city gets first position on the sale of forfeited property when special assessments are owed.
Meanwhile, the city is covering its bonded indebtedness every six months to cover the improvements so as to not cause any default.
The City Council has voted prior to amend Tiger Hills agreements because of difficulty paying assessments.
In other action, the council is slated to:
• Vote whether to award the sale of $975,000 in general obligation permanent improvement revolving fund bonds.
The bonds will provide funds for improvement projects for the summer, including the downtown alley resurfacing, the 2011 neighborhood improvement project, the bituminous overlay of four state-aid streets and the paving of a portion of Lincoln Avenue.
• Vote whether to authorize bidding for the Myers Road project, after the city recently received $1.7 million in federal funding to support the project.
If approved, bidding will open June 21.
• Have the first reading of an ordinance that would amend the locations alcohol can be served with an on-sale liquor license.
The current list of places this is acceptable are the National Guard Armory, City Arena and the Freeborn County Fairgrounds.
The amendment adds Bancroft Bay Park, the cottage and new pavilion at Edgewater Park, and Fountain Lake Park and gazebo.
The groups serving the liquor must have insurance.
• Vote whether to approve a variance at 117 Bridge Ave. to allow for the construction of a garage.
• Vote whether to approve a request for an aerial truck to hang banners for the Red Power Roundup along the street and at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds.
• Vote whether to approve a request by the Eagles Club to block off 20 stalls at the city parking lot behind the Eagles for a fundraiser on the first and third Monday nights from 5 to 9 p.m. in June, July and August.
The fundraiser, called Hot Rods & Brats, will raise money for the Heart Fund.
No liquor will be served outside the building during the event.
• Vote to change the date for the downtown cleanup from May 21 to June 11 because of weather.
• Have a public hearing regarding numerous miscellaneous assessments, including mowing, snow removal, delinquent utilities and sewer inspections.