Three of Albert Lea’s dilapidated houses will soon be torn down following a vote Monday by the Albert Lea City Council.

The houses, at 722 Columbus Ave., 717 Madison Ave. and 815 Madison Ave., have been deemed uninhabitable and are “reasonably beyond repair,” according to City Manager Chad Adams.

Adams said the structure at 722 Columbus Ave. was posted as uninhabitable in February 2010. The owner of the property died and city staff are unable to find any other relatives.

The house at 717 Madison Ave. was declared uninhabitable on March 17, 2010. The owner cannot be found, he said.

The structure at 815 Madison Ave. was declared uninhabitable in January 2012. Its owner has also died.

Now that the council has voted on the removals, City Attorney Lee Bjorndal will ask for a motion in Freeborn County District Court for the enforcement of the order.

In other action, the council:

• Amended the zoning and land use map for 818 and 822 Madison Ave., which was a residential preservation district. The property is now being changed to an industrial district.

The request came from Lou-Rich Inc.

• Appointed election judges for the Aug. 14 primary election.

• Authorized an updated staff sharing agreement with Freeborn County for information systems staff.

The authorized agreement comes as the salaries have increased for this job.

• Accepted a $675 donation from the Shell Rock River Watershed District to purchase trees for the Main Street flood mitigation project.