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To smaller levy increases than originally planned.

Though everyone would have loved to have seen no increases in the tax levies for the city of Albert Lea, Freeborn County and the Albert Lea school district, each entity whittled away at their budgets and at least came up with some decreases from what they approved at the preliminary level.

The Freeborn County Board of Commissioners this week approved a 2.8% levy increase, and the school board approved a 6.42% levy increase. The Albert Lea City Council earlier this month approved a 4.77% increase, down slightly from the 5.5% proposed increase that passed in September.

From what we’ve heard, these increases are much lower than what was approved in many other cities and counties in the state.

We hope the entities continue to look for ways to save when possible, as residents are feeling the effects of inflation.

To Dave Syverson and the Albert Lea school district teaming up to donate holiday meals to families in need.

Thank you to Dave Syverson, who for the fourth year partnered with the Albert Lea school district this week to deliver meals to families in need.

Dave Syverson employees assembled the take-and-make meals on Wednesday and distributed them on Thursday with the district’s social workers.

The meals included a variety of items such as canned goods, pasta and other nonperishable items.

It’s good to see local businesses make it a priority to give back to the community, and we’re sure it was very much appreciated by the recipients.

To the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ announcement that work will begin in 2024 to connect Albert Lea and Hayward on the Blazing Star State Trail.

It has been a long time coming, but the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced this week that work on Albert Lea’s Blazing Star Trail is slated to begin in 2024 to connect Albert Lea and Hayward.

The popular biking and hiking trail will have a new segment substantially completed and open for public use in 2025, when a trail, bridge and fishing access areas are constructed over the eastern part of Albert Lea Lake.

The project will have three phases, with initial work beginning in early 2024 to build a temporary road for worksite access.

Construction of the trail grade and trail bridge over Albert Lea Lake will begin soon; however, it will require six months or more to achieve proper settling of the bridge foundation in the lake bottom before the surface can be paved.

The final phase will include a reconstruction of 1.75 miles of trail within Myre-Big Island State Park leading up to the new trail segment. The existing trail is more than 20 years old and has reached the end of its service life.

We’re glad that after many delays, this project will finally be completed. We know it will become a destination for many.