Members of the Minnesota Senate bonding committee are slated to come to Albert Lea Thursday to meet with community leaders about two local projects.

The first project covers a $7.5 million bonding request for cleaning up Fountain Lake.

The bonding money would go toward studies, permits, land acquisition, construction and sediment removal on the lake.

According to Shell Rock River Watershed District officials, there is as much as five feet of sediment accumulation in the northern part of the lake.

Because of increased sediment over the years, the water quality of the lake has also become impaired and there are large algae blooms nearly every year. Sediment and phosphorous reduce water clarity and reduce people’s desire to use the lake.

The request would cover half of the estimated $15 million cost.

The second project covers a $3.08 million request from Riverland Community College for various projects at the college.

In this project are plans to renovate about 21,000 square feet of existing instructional and student service space, to demolish about 7,700 square feet of obsolete and underused classroom space and to reconfigure one large classroom into two multi-use spaces.

There are also plans to replace a portion of the HVAC system and improve energy efficiency. The HVAC system on the west side of the campus has already been completed.

Judy Enright, physical plant manager at the college, said the project would eliminate about $2 million of deferred maintenance backlog.

“It’s a very good project because it is renovating, it is demolition, helping make the campus much more efficient and effective,” she said.

She noted the bonding committee will first listen to the college’s request and will then hear a presentation about the lake project. The senators are slated to arrive at 1 p.m.

Brett Behnke, administrator of the Shell Rock River Watershed District, thanked District 27 Sen. Dan Sparks for his work to bring the committee to the community.

The visit comes about two months after the House Capital Investment Committee came to town on a similar tour to find out about bonding requests.

The committees tour the state every two years to hear requests; traditionally, most bonding allocations are made during the even year of a legislative biennium.