The Albert Lea City Council on Monday adopted assessments for property owners impacted by two major street projects this summer.

The first project included the reconstruction of Clausen Avenue, High Street, Sheridan Street and Giles Place. Work included complete removal and replacement of pavement, curb, gutter, sidewalk, sanitary sewer, storm sewer and watermain. A rain garden was also installed on Giles Place and Sheridan Street.

According to Albert Lea City Manager David Todd, because the storm sewer and surface improvements were higher than the original estimate, the assessment rates will stay the same as the preliminary assessments. Assessments will be paid back over 10 years at 3.81% interest.

The second project was for the reconstruction of Newton Avenue from Pearl Street to Second Street and concrete pavement rehabilitation from Second Street to Fourth Street.

It also included repairing existing utility infrastructure, storm drainage improvement, waterman replacement and sanitary sewer sliplining from Pearl Street to Second Street. Work from Pearl Street to the railroad crossing south of the Freeborn County courthouse was ultimately removed from the project to include a stormwater pond in the future.

The rehabilitation from Second Street to Fourth Street included replacing panels of damaged or settled concrete pavement and curb and gutter, Todd said.

Damaged or settled sidewalk were also replaced.

Todd said bid prices were higher than what were used in the feasibility report, but final assessments will remain the same as preliminary assessments. Assessments will be paid back over 10 years at 3.81% interest.

In other action, the council:

• Approved a two-year deferment of principle payments for loans through the city’s Economic Development Fund Program and Minnesota Investment Fund Program with Sobro Properties LLC, which has funded the purchase and renovations of the Freeborn National Bank building under Mortarr. The loans totaled $740,000, and under the agreement, if 10 jobs were created in five years, $100,000 of the funds loaned from the economic development fund would be forgiven.

The company is expected to pay the remainder of the loans back at 2% interest over 10 years.

Mortarr co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Steve Pulley said things are going well with the company, but it has taken longer than initially thought to get to the point for the company to be profitable.

Pulley said the staff currently has 22 employees.

• Called a public hearing for Nov. 25 on proposed assessments for the sewer and water extension to the Stables area.

The city and Freeborn County have each contributed $300,000 to the project, and the Public Facilities Authority has provided grants estimated at about $747,000 for the water and $943,000 for the sewer.

Final assessments are about $19,000 per lot, including both sewer and water development fees. Assessments will be over 20 years at 2% interest.

• Called a public hearing for Nov. 25 on proposed assessments for the service hookups for properties in the Stables area.

According to background provided by the city, the city installed the sewer and watermain to the right-of-way line for homeowners, and homeowners are responsible for work from the right-of-way line into the property, including private sewer service, private water service and crushing of the existing septic system.

Residents that choose to go with the contractor hired by the city for this work can have the costs fo the hookups assessed to the property over 20 years at 2% interest.

• Approved an ordinance that states recreational vehicles, such as boats or campers, parked in the side or rear yard are not required to be on paved parking.

• Approved an ordinance that allows the city zoning official to use his discretion when determining the front yard for corner lots. Once the front yard is determined and recorded, it will apply to all future permits and applications.

• Approved an ordinance removing the 60-foot setback for accessory structures. Accessory structures will not be allowed closer to the front lot line than the principal structure and cannot be any closer to the front lot line than 25 feet.

• Approved an amendment to an ordinance involving the width of driveways and flares.

• Approved special assessments for miscellaneous delinquent water/sewer accounts and other delinquent accounts receivable.

• Accepted a grant for $750 from the Census 2020 Complete Counts Committee Fund of the Minneapolis Foundation that is to be used for digital organizing to target historically undercounted communities.

• Approved combining two lots on Hale Drive for a single-family dwelling.

• Approved tax abatement for a new house at 1703 Hale Drive.

• Witnessed the swearing in of new Albert Lea Police Department Officer Joshua Knudtson.