They also contrast on issue of Port authority control

Differing opinions about a proposed city reorganization and other issues took center stage Wednesday in a debate for Albert Lea mayoral candidates.

The public forum for Mayor Vern Rasmussen and challenger John Severtson was hosted by the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce and was in the City Council Chambers at Albert Lea City Hall.

Originally from Albert Lea, Rasmussen, 50, graduated from high school in 1982, went to college in Duluth and has been working as a physical therapist for 26 years.

He was first elected to the City Council in 2004 as the 1st Ward councilor and was first elected as mayor in 2010.

He said his goal as mayor has always been to live the mission of the city: to bring “exceptional service to the current and future citizens of Albert Lea.” Rasmussen also wants to build relationships and help make the city a better place to live.

Severtson, 65, also grew up in Albert Lea and graduated high school in 1967. After high school, he joined the Marine Corps and spent 13 months in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Retired from Enderes Tools, he joined the City Council in 1984 and has since served on the Human Rights Commission, Port Authority, Airport Advisory Board and now the Planning Commission.

He said he is proud of his role in getting Albert Lea designated as a Beyond the Yellow Ribbon community.

The following is a summary of some of the topics discussed in the forum:

 

City reorganization

Rasmussen said he thinks the city needs to move ahead with a reorganization plan presented by the city manager last month.

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, among other changes.

Though he knows reorganization can be difficult, he said it is important to look to the health of the community for now and in the future.

Severtson said he is in favor of streamlining city government, but he doesn’t think the Parks and Recreation Department should be broken up. He called the parks the key to the city.

 

Mayoral terms

One question asked the candidates whether they supported four-year mayoral terms.

Severtson said when the idea of changing the mayoral terms from two to four years first came up, he was not in favor of it. He said he thought if something came up and residents wanted to vote out a mayor, it would be better for them to do so after the first two years rather than have to wait another two years. He supports the change now.

Rasmussen said he supports the four-year terms because he thinks it’s important for the growth of the community. He said it takes at least two years for people to learn the position and it takes time to develop relationships. He also noted that the cost of running for office can be extensive every two years.

 

Blue Zones and bike lanes

Rasmussen said the city could have never afforded to be on “Good Morning America” in an advertisement when the Blue Zones project first took off in 2009. He said the project teaches characteristics of volunteering, exercise and eating right and gives residents the tools to be successful. It looks at the habits of the world’s longest-lived people.

Severtson said though he has not seen as much involvement in Blue Zones since it has returned to Albert Lea in the last few months, but he described it as a “good thing” for the community.

“It’s important, but it’s not important to everybody in the city of Albert Lea,” he said.

He said he has always favored shared user trails over bike lanes, but acknowledged that he thinks the Front Street bike lanes have slowed down traffic there.

Rasmussen pointed out that the bike lanes give something else to offer the community. He noted the higher cost for shared user trails compared to bike lanes.

 

Downtown reconstruction

Rasmussen said he “wholeheartedly” supported the $4.6 million downtown Broadway reconstruction and noted that adjustments were made to help businesses that had to pay assessments. He thinks the renovated downtown gives Albert Lea another opportunity for the community to succeed.

Severtson said though he recognized that the sewer and water infrastructure needed to be replaced underground downtown, he did not support other parts of the project such as the wide sidewalks, bumpouts and pavers.

As the commander of American Legion Leo Carey Post 56, which is on Broadway, he also knows the challenges the businesses are facing paying their assessments. He said he did not support the cost of the renovations to Fountain Lake Park, especially when he thought the park was in good shape to begin with.

Both men said they were not opposed to plans of the Albert Lea Art Center moving into the former Freeborn National Bank Building.

 

Port Authority

Rasmussen and Severtson differed in their views on the Albert Lea Port Authority.

Rasmussen said he thinks it should stay on its own, Severtson said he thinks it should be brought back under city control.

Rasmussen pointed out that the Port Authority funds itself through rents, and noted that there are economic development agencies from all over the state who call and ask about how the entity operates.

 

Economic development

Severtson said he thinks the best things to offer new people moving to the community are the new downtown streetscape, parks and the lakes.

“There’s a lot, it’s just about promoting it,” Severtson said.

Rasmussen talked about the need for strong infrastructure and being out-of-the-box thinkers. He said the city needs to build strong relationships with the state and make sure state officials know the challenges a city on the border has.

When talking about oppositions, Rasmussen pointed to taxes, workers compensation and regulatory rules as things that add costs to businesses looking in to come to the area. All these things add costs to businesses.

Severtson said there is too much competition. Wherever businesses will get the best deal they will go.