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The Albert Lea City Council on Tuesday voted in a special meeting to extend the city’s emergency disaster declaration through May 26 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The city first made the declaration at its March 17 meeting in response to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s declaration that the COVID-19 outbreak constituted a state emergency, City Manager David Todd said. Walz subsequently enacted a stay-at-home order, which has been extended twice and is now in place through May 18.

The declaration allows the city to continue with its emergency management plan. The plan has incorporated the closure of several public buildings to the public, including Albert Lea City Arena, Albert Lea City Hall, Albert Lea Public Library and Albert Lea Senior Center, and many employees are working at home where possible.

The council also approved the city’s COVID-19 preparedness plan, which is required under the governor’s order prior to letting any noncritical sector employees come back to work, Todd said.

He said the plan implements Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards and guidelines from the Minnesota Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and requires employees to continue to work from home if able. It also ensures sick workers stay home, allows for social distancing, establishes employee hygiene and source control, and establishes cleaning and disinfection protocols.

The plan was made with input from department heads and includes employees through various departments, including at the wastewater treatment plant and the city garage.

A copy of the plan was not available as of press time.

At the end of the meeting, 1st Ward Councilor Rich Murray asked if the council could start having its meetings again in the Council Chambers and hold the city preagenda workshop ahead of the next meeting.

He said he thought it was critical the council begin having those meetings again to start looking at the city’s budget and expenses for the future. He referenced the projected $2.42 billion budget deficit announced for Minnesota on Tuesday, stating that he knows some of this deficit will be felt on the city level.

Second Ward Councilor Larry Baker also asked if it was too late to put off some of the street projects planned for this summer.

Todd said he thought it would be “very difficult, if not impossible” to back out of those projects at this time.