Renovations are in the works for another downtown building after the Albert Lea City Council on Tuesday approved a grant request through the city’s downtown grant fund.

The request, for 112 S. Broadway Ave. — the former home of Great Grains Market & Cafe — comes as work is under way to turn the building into Greg & Steve’s Pub.

City Manager Chad Adams said the size of the building facade is less than 900 square feet and the business would be eligible for up to $25,000 in matching funds through the Broadway Ridge Renewal Grant Fund.

The fund was set up in February 2011 to encourage downtown redevelopment.

Adams said the project may include interior work up to five feet back from the existing facade to install transom windows and allow light into the building at the ceiling level.

The business owners have been working with Minneapolis architect Pat Waddick on the project, and the Heritage Preservation Commission also met in April and approved the application.

Other businesses and organizations approved for the funding are AZ-1 Inc. and the Goldman, Sturtz & Halvorsen Law Firm.

Community Development Director Bob Graham said Youth For Christ’s The Rock was also approved for funding but has since withdrawn its application and will be completing the project without grant assistance. The law firm has not yet signed its agreement.

In other action, the City Council:

• Approved the ballot question for the November election regarding whether the city’s mayoral terms should be changed from two years to four years.

The question approved is as follows: “Shall the Albert Lea City Charter be amended to provide that mayors elected after Nov. 1, 2014, serve terms of four years?”

To pass, the change must be approved by at least 51 percent of voters.

• Awarded the contract for the reconstruction of 12th and 13th streets to Ulland Bros Inc. for about $718,000.

Contractors will replace the watermain, the existing bituminous surface, the curbs and the gutters. They will also slipline the existing sanitary sewer.

The engineer’s estimate was about $853,000.

• Approved the mosquito-spraying contract for 2012 with Mosquito Control of Iowa for $27,600.

The company will spray both by truck and by plane.

• Accepted the feasibility report and called a public hearing for June 25 regarding the Katherine Street reconstruction and paving of West Hawthorne Street from Lakewood Avenue to Pioneer Park.

The project also calls for the replacement of existing bituminous on Betha Larson Lane from Kram Avenue to about 400 feet east.

Costs are estimated at $366,000.

• Designated Greater Jobs Inc. as a local development organization and authorized the transfer of $200,000 from the city’s revolving loan fund to the organization.

Mayor Vern Rasmussen said typically when the city receives a grant from the federal government for economic development there are several stipulations attached on how that money can be used. One stipulation is requiring a business to hire a certain number of employees with a low- to moderate- income. This is difficult to verify.

Adams said by creating the local development organization, there will be more flexibility in economic development deals because the organization does not have to comply with the federal guidelines and regulations.

“This is just one more tool the city of Albert Lea will have to its use,” Rasmussen said.

• Called public hearings for June 25 regarding whether to remove three homes.

The houses — at 722 Columbus Ave., 717 Madison Ave. and 815 Madison Ave. — have been placarded by the Albert Lea Inspection Department.

If a house is placarded it is considered unsafe for human habitation.

According to city documentation, the recorded owners at 722 Columbus Ave. and 815 Madison Ave. are deceased. The city is unable to locate the recorded owner of 717 Madison Ave.

• Waived a portion of the building permit fees for the expansion of the Freeborn County Historical Museum.

The fees were reduced from about $8,000 to $3,000.

• Approved a series of miscellaneous assessments for delinquent water and sewer, refuse and frozen water meters, among others.

• Authorized an agreement with I-35 Recycling for appliance recycling at the transfer station. The company is charging $75 as a pick-up charge.

The city had previously been in an agreement with Waste Management since 2001; however, this company’s rates have increased to $115 as a pick-up charge.

• Authorized a contract with Sixth Ward Councilor Al “Minnow” Brooks to maintain the city’s fire extinguishers from May 2012 through May 2014.

• Accepted donations from Innovance Inc. and the Noon Kiwanis Club for $100 each to offset costs of the general summer recreation programs.

The council also accepted a $1,680 donation from the Arc of Freeborn County’s Aktion Club. This money will go toward building two bocce courts in Frank Hall Park.