A man running for Albert Lea City Council supports the city collaborating with other local entities to grow the community.

Paul Shea, 30, of 1003 Frank Hall Drive is running for 5th Ward councilor against Robert Rasmussen.

“The best thing the city of Albert Lea can do to attract businesses would be to sit down with Albert Lea Economic Development Agency, current business owners and Department of Employment and Economic Development,” Shea said.

He said hard questions should be asked at the meeting, such as asking businesses what the benefits are and the difficulties they face in being in Albert Lea, and the steps the city could take to make business expansion easier.

“By having ALEDA at the meeting, the overall approach of how Albert Lea is marketed towards potential business would be looked at, and having DEED at the meeting would be a good opportunity to look at trends in companies, revenue and hiring in southeast Minnesota,” Shea said.

He said Albert Lea should also address the water issues that plague one of its main corridors.

“Whether that is going to the Capitol and seeking flood mitigation dollars to raise East Main Street or other solutions,” he said. “By investing those dollars to keep East Main Street open during the flooding events, we are sending a message to current and prospective businesses that the city of Albert Lea cares about the community.”

Shea said the city could also focus on workforce housing to attract business.

“The creation of new housing would create construction jobs and additional hires at area retailers to assist in the potential population influx of those moving to a community with affordable new workforce housing,” he said.

Encourage entrepreneurship

Shea said current partnerships between the city and ALEDA on the Albert Lea Entrepreneur Advancement Program is a good start to encourage entrepreneurship.

“By encouraging and having incubator grants for small startups, it shows those entrepreneurs that the city of Albert Lea wants you to do well and succeed,” he said.

Making downtown Albert Lea vital

Shea said downtown Albert Lea has never looked better.

“It seems like just about every month there is a new business moving in, another completed Broadway Ridge Grant project, or a project about to begin on the outsides of the buildings,” he said.

The addition of more grant dollars to assist businesses in improving the interior of their downtown buildings shows the community treasures its assets, Shea said.

He said events such as the Autumn Blaze Festival, Wind Down Wednesday, the potential addition of a splash pad and the Music in the Park series should be encouraged to grow to highlight the downtown district.

Dealing with criticism

Shea said criticism is part of the job of an elected official.

“I would hope to listen to the citizen and see if there is something that could be done to fix the issue,” he said.

Being elected as councilor means being transparent, honest, respectful and a good listener, Shea said, and he hopes to hear from residents about large decisions.

“I would hope to hear from residents of the 5th Ward and seeing what direction they would want to take when it comes to time to vote on those issues,” he said. “It’s all about putting the community first. Some decisions are going to have to be made not with tomorrow in mind, but the next 30, 40 or even 50 years in mind.”

City Council meetings

Shea said City Council meetings are well run, and he encouraged more residents to attend and participate at workshops on Thursdays before City Council meetings.

“Workshops are a great way for residents to see and hear more information on an agenda item before the City Council meeting,” he said. “I appreciate that the larger bills that the city of Albert Lea pays are now highlighted at the end of City Council meetings before being voted on for approval.”

Business relations with the city

Shea said more awareness of ALEDA’s purpose is needed to assist new and existing businesses.

“Not many residents or business owners are aware of some of the services, or how ALEDA can help them,” he said. “ALEDA helps to be that buffer zone between the city of Albert Lea and business owners, from the standpoint of knowing who the owner should talk to, permits that will be needed, available rental space and microloans.”

Reversing population decline

Shea said it would be great if the city retained its youth through internship opportunities in high school with existing businesses, expanding the College in the Schools program and giving the community’s youth a voice.

“By retaining or making the allure of coming back to Albert Lea to work, we could stem the loss and start to make gains,” he said. “Available and affordable workforce housing may also help to bring people into Albert Lea.”

Improving quality of life

Shea said the quality of life in Albert Lea is high.

He said he has spoken with 5th Ward residents who have speak highly of walking paths, bicycle lanes, nature at Myre-Big Island State Park and watching shows at the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center.

“Not to mention the dearth of activities that are offered through community education every season,” he said. “I think I would go about trying to inform residents of the options currently available to them and see what other items might be wanted before adding items.”

Lakes restoration

Shea said the money from the Watershed District’s half-percent sales tax should be used to help mitigate flooding issues the city experiences after large rainfalls and to dredge Fountain Lake.

“While dredging, the Shell Rock River Watershed should encourage residents to work with the DNR on sustainable and environmentally-friendly shore vegetation that discourages the use of nitrates, or would help to capture and mitigate the amount reaching out area lakes.”

Other issues

Shea said his main job is to listen to residents and community members.

“We are not a community of one — just because I live on the south end of town doesn’t mean that I don’t consider people on the north or west side of town not neighbors — we are all neighbors regardless of physical address,” he said.

Shea said though the city can do a lot of positive things by working together and having an open mind to decisions that will be made over the next four years.

“It all starts when we look in the mirror in the morning,” he said. “I’m running to put the 5th Ward first.”

Ward 5 city council

Candidates: Paul Shea and Robert Rasmussen