An Albert Lea man has formed a nonprofit organization in hopes of improving the housing stock in the community.

Bob Ackland presented his plans for the Uplift Housing Project to the Albert Lea City Council during its Monday meeting. He said the nonprofit hopes to repair homes that have foreclosed or that people have walked away from and then work to sell the homes to displaced families.

He said he has been planning the project for more than two years and in the last few weeks has gained support from Ann Austin, executive director of the United Way of Freeborn County. He hopes to partner with other agencies and seek grant funds to get the homes renovated.

Ackland said he is particularly interested in helping a group of about 150 people from Burma who live in the Twin Cities but commute to Albert Lea each day for work. If each one of these people plus their families lived in Albert Lea, this could bring an additional 600 people in the community, he estimated.

Annette Frank of Owatonna, who is also part of the project, talked of the impact that home ownership can have on people. She said families who own their own homes typically thrive and are able to give back to their communities.

She said she hopes many agencies will partner on the project.

“There is so much need that each of these organizations can’t do it by themselves,” she said.

In other action, the City Council:

• Accepted a proposal from Jones, Haugh & Smith for $13,420 for the surveying of land near the proposed St. John’s Lutheran Community complex and Stables area north of Edgewater Park in Albert Lea.

The city in November solicited proposals for engineering services for the design and oversight for the construction of a sanitary sewer lift station, watermain, sanitary sewer, storm sewer and street construction there.

The city received proposals from four firms, with the one from Jones, Haugh & Smith being the lowest.

• Approved a cost of living increase for the city’s police officers and detectives, who are a part of the Minnesota Public Employees Association.

The employees will receive a 2 percent wage increase in 2014, a 2.25 percent wage increase in 2015 and a 2.5 percent increase in 2016.

• Approved the building plans for the restoration of the Edgewater Cottage. The plans, submitted by the Cloverleaf Lions Club, had to be approved by the end of the year.

• Amended the contract with Bolton & Menk Inc. for the engineering oversight of the Broadway improvement project.

• Amended city code to allow for interim uses in zoning districts.

• Recognized outgoing board and commission members.

• Rescinded an order for removal of 705 Madison Ave. after the owner has started improving the property. It will be inspected in the spring or summer.

• Awarded the contract for fuel supplies to K&H Co-Op Oil Co. of Clear Lake.

• Awarded the contract for the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System upgrade to Quality Control & Integration of New Prague for $125,000.

The project calls for the installation, programming and commissioning of computer, radio and sensory equipment at the city’s sanitary sewer lift stations, storm sewer lift stations, water plants and water towers.

The engineer’s estimate was $250,000.