Albert Lea council considers Covid response

Council holds work session ahead of regular meeting

Leading to shots fired.

Albert lea city council members held a work session before tonight's regular council meeting.

Covid?

"*19 was a key topic of discussion.

Kimt news 3's nick kruszalnicki joins us live with what happened.

Nick?

George and katie ?

"* two big topics were discussed in the work session.

First ?

"* how the city would use its cares act money.

And second ?

"* how city owned facilities will be rented out and still keep people safe.

"it's not very often that we get one point four million dollars."

It is a big sum of money ?

"* and now the city council has to figure out where to spend it.

Some of the money could be going to the economic development loan fund.

The rest could be used to deal with city expenses related to covid?

"*19.

"the cleaning of these places is going to be a lot more intense than it was so you know the expense on that will be a lot greater than in the past."

City leaders also debated the rental of city facilities including park pavillions.

The question of handling liability was discussed.

"anyone that would rent would have to sign an agreement that would indemnify the city from liability and they would have to submit that covid preparedness plan that is now required to do pretty much anything these days."

Councilman reid olson thinks the city should go back to renting out those spaces ?

"* saying it's up to residents to keep themseves safe.

"i say rent them out and if people are going to have parties in their back yard with 40 to 60 people, what's the difference if we let them rent out one of our facilities?

Hopefully they do the right thing and keep themselves spaced out."

That sentiment was shared by councilman jason howland ?

"* wo thinks albert lea residents will do the right thing.

Lots of discussion about liability in tonight's meeting ?

"* the mayor would also like o see waivers used if people are renting city facilities.

Live in mason city, nick kruszalnicki, kimt news 3.

Thanks nick.

And as albert lea considers its ongoing coronavirus response ?

"* governor walz is prepared to take action on a state level if needed.

Today he extended the peacetime emergency through august 12th.

It gives the governor power to issue executive orders and regulate businesses