Mayor cautions that city councilors could change their mind by 2nd reading

The Albert Lea City Council voted 4-3 Monday to move ahead with the first reading of an ordinance that would reorganize the city’s management structure, which includes getting rid of the Parks and Recreation Department.

Councilors voting in favor were John Schulte V, Reid Olson, Larry Anderson and Mayor Vern Rasmussen, while councilors Larry Baker, George Marin and Al “Minnow” Brooks voted against.

The issue will come before the council for a second reading on Oct. 27.

“I think we may be creating more problems and some animosity by making some changes according to this timeline,” Marin said.

Marin said he and many in the community still had concerns with the proposal and noted he is already concerned with the morale within the organization. He asked for more time to form a decision and to resolve other concerns.

The proposal recommends splitting up the services and responsibilities of the Parks and Recreation Department under other departments and eliminating Parks and Recreation Director Jay Hutchison’s position.

Other departments, including the library, human resources and finance departments, would report to the assistant city manager instead of the city manager. The directors of these departments would become managers, and a new assistant public works director would be added under Public Works Director and City Engineer Steven Jahnke to allow added responsibilities for that department. The city would partner with entities such as the Albert Lea School District or the Albert Lea Family Y to provide recreational activities.

City Manager Chad Adams said the proposal calls for more efficiency in providing services but does not call for a reduction in the level of maintenance for the parks, which has been a concern of some residents.

Brooks said he was concerned the city was cutting from recreation.

“I think recreational activities are important within the city of Albert Lea,” Brooks said.

Baker questioned whether city leaders had already begun discussions with Community Education and the school district to collaborate on providing services.

Adams said he has had some discussion with the leaders of this organization and has received initial support.

Marin, who noted he had five written pages of questions, said he wanted to see more details of the proposal, including actual cost savings and benchmarks for success.

He also said he wanted to fight for the park and rec director position and thinks it would be disrespectful to eliminate Hutchison after 21 years of service to the community. He thought if anything he could become a manager instead and fill out the last two years of his employment before retirement eligibility.

Marin said he does not like the idea of eliminating one position just to create a new one. He particularly pointed out his dislike for hiring back with contract employees from out of town.

He said he thought the proposal put too much of a load under the assistant city manager and the director of public works.

He also asked whether the city was trying to create the collaborations between the school district and the Family Y because there is a movement to build a community center on the Blazing Star Landing. Baker said from his discussions and involvement with this issue, a community center

idea is still in its infancy stage.

Marin said the council needs to be sensitive to all of the potential changes already taking place in the community with the proposed balanced calendar for Albert Lea Area Schools.

Brooks and Marin said they were also concerned with city employees being afraid to talk to council members about their opinions.

Rasmussen said at the end of the night, he recognized the concerns voiced and said he hoped the councilors’ questions were able to be answered in the next few weeks. He noted that just because the council approved the first reading of the ordinance that night doesn’t mean that the issue can’t be tabled at another time if there are still too many unanswered questions.