The Albert Lea City Council approved assessments for two street projects Monday, but not without contention.

The council adopted assessments for the Lake Chapeau Drive improvement project and Virginia Place reconstruction project.

The Lake Chapeau Drive assessment passed on a 6-1 vote. Councilors Larry Anderson, Al “Minnow” Brooks, Reid Olson, Larry Baker, John Schulte V and Mayor Vern Rasmussen Jr. voted yes. Councilor George Marin voted no.

Assessments for the Lake Chapeau Drive project are set at 10 years at 3.42 percent interest. The project includes bituminous reclamation, new bituminous pavement, shouldering, installing a centerline culvert for the main entrance road to City Arena and Lake Chapeau residential subdivisions, and drainage work, which included the replacement of a centerline culver near a stormwater pond. 

Nine of the 11 residents assessed for the project submitted a challenge to the assessments.

Marin said though Lake Chapeau Drive needed improvement, he believed the assessments were penalizing the property owners, and he suggested the city share a greater portion of the project cost to lessen the burden on the property owners.

Marin said he has heard from property owners who claimed they were tricked into annexing the property into the city to pay for the project.

Albert Lea City Engineer Steven Jahnke said a majority of landowners along West Main Street wanted to be annexed into the city.

Albert Lea City Manager Chad Adams said the project was a part of the city’s capital improvement plan and was assessed the same way as other city street projects are.

“I am comfortable with where we are at,” he said.

Hill’s Gardens owner Judy Hill said she knew when her property was annexed into the city that she would be paying assessments for the road project. Hill expects to pay a significantly higher assessment for the project on business property she owns and on her home property.

“We don’t use that road; we don’t need that road,” she said.

The city capped Lake Chapeau Drive assessments at 300 feet.

Assessments for the Virginia Place reconstruction project were set at 15 years at 4.52 percent interest.

Virginia Place reconstruction assessments passed on a 6-1 vote. Brooks, Marin, Olson, Anderson, Baker and Rasmussen voted yes. Schulte voted no.

The project includes the total reconstruction of Fifth Street from Broadway to St. John Avenue, including removing and replacing concrete curb and gutter, subgrade correction, water main, sanitary and storm sewers, sidewalk replacement and the installation of drain tile of Virginia Place from Fourth Street to Seventh Street.

Brooks said though residents will pay a little more interest on the assessments than the original 10-year assessment, he added the change will save taxpayers $200 to $265 a year on their property tax levy.

“If it is just one, two or three it might be a small number, but it’s at least a half  dozen to a dozen that I have the ability to help somebody lessen the burden of not paying another burden somewhere,” he said.

The council set assessments for other city street projects Oct. 10.

Assessments for the neighborhood street improvement project are set at 10 years at 3.42 percent interest. The project includes bituminous overlaying, reconstruction, miscellaneous and total curb replacement and miscellaneous sidewalk replacement on James Avenue from Second Street to Frank Avenue, Second Street from Broadway Avenue to Frank Hall Drive, Third Street from Newton Avenue to Frank Hall Drive, Fourth Street from Frank Avenue to Frank Hall Drive, Frank Hall Drive from Second Second to Third Street and from Fifth Street to Seventh Street, Newton Avenue from Fourth Street to Seventh Street, St. John Avenue from Fourth Street to Seventh Street and Sixth Street from James Avenue to Frank Hall Drive.

Assessments for the Edgewater Drive are set at 10 years at 3.42 percent interest. The project includes the reconstruction of bituminous surfaces on Edgewater Drive from Lakeview Boulevard through Edgewater Park and from the Edgewater Park bandshell and the shared user trail to the lower Edgewater Drive parking lot.

Assessments for the Park Avenue, Mariners Lane and Harriet Lane reconstruction are over 10 years at 3.42 percent interest. The project includes the complete reconstruction of Park Avenue, Mariners Lane, Harriet Lane and Grace Street.

Assessments for the St. John’s Lutheran Community extension project are over 10 years at 3.52 percent interest.