CITY ADMINISTRATION

Paul T. Sparks, City Manager

The City Manager's Office, the Finance Division, the Legal Division, the Albert Lea Port Authority management, the Housing & Redevelopment Authority management and the City Clerk's Office all are contained within the Administrative Department of the City of Albert Lea. It is the Administrative Department’s role to provide the City Council with information and recommendations to assist them in decision making and to provide policy alternatives for the governing body. The City Manager is charged with the responsibility to carry out actions taken by the City Council and to enforce the laws of the City government. The Administrative Department is responsible for the financial health of the City and the Finance Division provides financial controls as well as budgeting for the various city departments. The City Charter, the City Code, the Articles and Bylaws of the Albert Lea Port Authority and the Articles and Bylaws of the Housing & Redevelopment Authority establish the authority of the City Manager and the Administrative Department and sets guidelines under which the City Administration operates.

During 2001 the City saw a great deal of progress and a major setback. It was a year of extraordinary reinvestment in infrastructure, setting a pattern for the next few years. The Department of Administration worked on many of the projects that affected the City during 2001.

The City’s Finance Division and staff have developed an excellent financial reporting system which continues to receive national recognition. As the City’s operations become more complicated, the financial transactions require greater skill which is reflected in the excellent job done by the City staff.

During the year the City Manager’s Office and Legal Division worked on a major lawsuit involving the Habben Business Park. Through this project the City purchased 32 acres of land from Darv Habben and cooperated with Mr. Habben in the development of streets and utilities for an 85 acre business park on I-35. During the year the legal questions were brought to a conclusion and a settlement agreement was reached which opened the way to completing the land sale transaction.

The Albert Lea Port Authority began the process of converting North Building #3 to a Small Business Development Center. Approximately 22,000 sf of the building will be used as a small business incubator with services to be provided to the small business tenants to aid them in developing and starting new businesses.

Home Depot built a new store in Albert Lea during 2001. This required an extensive expansion of the utility systems with major road construction. All of this was accomplished during the year and several additional sites were developed by adjoining property owners. This area should become a major commercial area off near I-35 in the future because of the investment by the City government.

Extensive construction occurred in the City in the way of infrastructure replacement. Major street projects were carried out as well as utility improvements. Much of the street and utility system within the City is reaching the point where it requires reinvestment in order to maintain its continued life. This has dominated the financial planning activities for the City as well as the Council agenda for the year.

During 2001 a major fire occurred which destroyed the Farmland Foods plant, a long-time fixture for the community and the major source of employment over the past 100 years. The fire occurred in July and work toward assisting Farmland to build a new plant in the community dominated the second half of the year. The future of the existing damaged site was a serious concern. By yearend no decision had been made by Farmland as to whether or not to rebuild in Albert Lea.

The following is a summary of activities of the other divisions of the Department of City Administration, including the Finance Division, the Legal Division and the City Clerk's Office: