The Albert Lea City Council approved professional engineering service agreements for three street projects planned for next summer on Monday.

The council approved agreements for the reconstruction of Sunset Street, East College Street and Lake Avenue, and the realignment of Plaza Street.

The Plaza Street project will move the street’s location west of Bridge Avenue to line up with the portion of Plaza Street east of Bridge Avenue.

The professional engineering services contract was unanimously awarded to Jones, Haugh & Smith Inc. for a design fee not to exceed $17,205. Councilor John Schulte V, who works at the firm, abstained from voting.

Road embankment construction and installation of aggregate base is planned in the first phase of the project, which is expected to occur next summer. Bituminous surfacing, signage and striping is planned in the second phase, which is planned for 2018.

“Hy-Vee completed the construction of a new gas station, which created the opportunity to improve safety on Bridge Avenue and Plaza Street by shifting the intersection south, away from from the I-90 ramps and aligning the intersection with Plaza Street East,” Albert Lea City Manager Chad Adams said in a report.

He said project planning has been a process.

“The city has been working on this project for several years, including working with Hy-Vee to provide right of way, getting approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to allow for the roadway in the runway protection zone and wetland mitigation,” he said.

The council approved a variance from state standards for the project so the first curve of the roadway could have a speed limit of less than 40 mph.

The council approved professional engineering services for the Sunset Street project to Bolton & Menk for a design fee not to exceed $69,594. Work will include the reconstruction of concrete surface, curb and gutter, water main, sanitary sewer and storm sewer.

A concrete sidewalk is proposed to be installed on one side of the street, which will require the road to be narrowed and shifted within the existing street right of way, Adams said. Parking is planned for only one side of the street to accommodate the narrowing of the roadway.

“Because the project is so early in the preliminary phases, this construction fee will likely be renegotiated once the design is completed,” Adams said.

Albert Lea City Engineer Steven Jahnke said Sunset Street needs repair.

“The road’s old,” he said. “The structure is pushing almost 80 to 90 years old. The road is very rough.”

Jahnke said a sidewalk would provide walkers a safer way to access Fountain Lake.

The council awarded the professional services agreement for the Lake Avenue and East College Street reconstruction project to Zenk Read Trygstad & Associates Inc. for a design fee not to exceed $24,000.

The project includes complete reconstruction of bituminous surface, curb and gutter, sidewalk, water main and sanitary sewer and storm sewer of Lake Avenue from Clark Street to Elizabeth Avenue and East College Street from Newton Avenue to approximately 170 feet east of Elizabeth Avenue.

Cost estimates and project timetables have not been formed yet. Public meetings on the projects will be in February and March, Jahnke said. The projects are planned to be bid by March.

In other action, the council:

Received a feasibility report and called a public hearing for a project on 14th Street from South Broadway, also known as Freeborn County Road 18, to U.S. Highway 65. The project includes the bituminous overlay of South Broadway from Highway 65 to County Road 13. The project in city limits includes milling 1 1/2 inches of bituminous in the center of the street. Manholes and water valves are planned to be raised, and three inches of bituminous would be placed back on the roadway. Assessments for the project are planned to be over five years. The interest rate will be based on bonding in 2017, Adams said. A neighborhood meeting is scheduled for mid-December to to discuss the project with residents who will be impacted by the project.

Oversaw the swearing in of 15 paid, on-call firefighters  —  formally employed by Albert Lea Township Fire Department  — to the Albert Lea Fire Department. The two fire departments merged earlier this month.

Approved increasing nonunion employees salaries for 2017 by 2.5 percent and providing step increases for employees within a six-step progression.

Authorized a joint powers agreement with the South Central Drug Investigation Unit so the city of New Richland can join the unit.

Deferred special assessments for city project improvements from property owners at five addresses.