Latest news with #IanRigg
Yahoo
09-08-2025
- Yahoo
3 cannabis registrations up for consideration; city manager to recommend 2 license holders with plans to move to A.L. from other states
Aug. 8—After voting against approving the registration for the city's first cannabis dispensary at its last meeting, the council will reconsider whether to vote on that applicant's registration again on Monday, as well as what to do with two additional registrations. The council at its July 27 meeting voted 4-3 against signing off on the registration for Jacob Schlichter, owner of The Smoking Tree, who has already been approved at the state level for the license and plans to open his business at 2718 Bridge Ave. City Manager Ian Rigg said the vote at that time was not a denial of the registration but rather a pause to allow councilors more time to address unresolved concerns. In background information in the City Council packet distributed to media on Friday, the city manager states the city's license registration ordinance cited the city's role to "protect the public health, safety (and) welfare of the city residents" and that the first licensee has been in potential conflict with that aim. He noted prior criminal charges from Schlichter that were brought to the attention of elected officials three days before their vote on July 28 and that were brought to city staff two weeks before that. Schlichter was convicted in 2017 of contributing to need for child protection or services, a gross misdemeanor, which was a lesser charge from the felony count of deprivation of parental rights-cause child to be a runaway charge he was initially charged with. The court complaint stated Schlichter, who was 20 at the time, was concealing a 16-year-old runaway from Texas at his residence. Schlichter and the teenager were in a romantic relationship and had reportedly met online four years prior when the girl was 12. At that time, the city attorney reached out to the Office of Cannabis Management about the claim to make sure they were aware and to see if it would affect their decision. "Simply put, it did not impact their decision as they were not allowed to let it impact their decision," Rigg said. The city also had concerns about the number of applicants pre-approved by the OCM because of product availability and distribution and said it appeared the state approval process seemed disjointed from concerns about the welfare of communities and the practicality of operation. He said staff were told several times that the city's role is to set the limit on the number of locations if the council chose to and the zoning for those locations. After further discussion with the OCM and city staff and the city attorney, they now have a better understanding of the city's role and the state's expectations, he said. Rigg said the OCM cannot compel the city to approve one license over another, only that it eventually approves its mandatory minimum of two registrations if given the opportunity. Second, they found out that the city was in error on the level of review and standards that were part of the OCM's licensing process. "I truly believe that basing our decision-making on the OCMs outcomes would be to abandon our obligation to the public," Rigg said. He is recommending the council change the selection process to include a criminal background check, which would bring the cannabis retail licensing on equal footing as alcohol licenses. Second, he is asking the council consider expanding the number of licenses once the two stores are operating and supply issues are resolved. "Our end goal should be safe and successful businesses that follow state statute, local ordinances and other legal orders," he said. Third, he is suggesting the selection criteria should change to match the intent of the city's ordinance, including making misdemeanor offenses of similar felony convictions that would result in denial at the OCM an equal reason to deny registration at the local level. Rigg said in addition to the conviction, it is also concerning that Schlichter has shown "disdain or inability" to follow lawful orders and legal requirements. He referenced violations of probation as well as statements to the press about opening regardless of registration. There was also a new restraining order made against him in the last week. Rigg is recommending approval of registration for Chris Gracia of Matchbox Farms MN LLC to open on Hendrickson Road and Cristina Aranquiz dba Black Husky LLC to open on Ekko Avenue. Both volunteered a background check, and no issues were found. They were the second and third licenses to be approved by the state. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Council approves grant application for new apartments on Blazing Star Landing
May 13—The Albert Lea City Council on Monday voted to support a grant application for funding for a new 60-unit apartment complex on the Blazing Star Landing. City Manager Ian Rigg said the grant, for $180,000, would be through the Housing Infrastructure Program of Minnesota Housing and would go toward capital costs associated with eligible workforce housing development projects. The city intends to apply for the funding on behalf of Tapestry Companies, which has proposed constructing the complex. Rigg said the grant program requires a commitment of 50% of the capital costs be covered by sources other than grant proceeds and that the matching funds include non-state resources. Eligible projects include construction of public roadways, bike lanes, sidewalks and trails, construction of publicly owned utilities and geotechnical and environmental testing and site preparation. Background information provided by the city states qualified housing developments may be in any state of planning, pre-development or development. Minnesota Housing in December announced $191 million for housing projects across the state, including the one in Albert Lea, which would build 60 new low- to moderate-income workforce housing apartments on the Blazing Star Landing, the former site of Farmland Foods that has sat unused for over 20 years since the plant burned down in 2001. The apartments are slated to be built south of the Kwik Trip that has been approved for the northeast corner of the property. In December, Minnesota Housing stated the total cost of the project was estimated at $24 million. Rigg said the developer was still interested in moving forward with the project regardless of the outcome of the grant. Construction would start in 2026, and he said the city would find out about the grant in late fall or as late as December. The grant application is due June 12. In other action, the council: —Approved support for the Shell Rock River Watershed District's application for funding from the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council for the restoration of the channel between Fountain and Albert Lea lakes. The project would help reduce erosion, improve accessibility and build upon past funding. —Authorized the Bayside Ski Club to rework the existing concrete pillows on the ski show site on Edgewater Bay and replace with sand to extend the landing area. The site has been the club's show site for 54 years. The club practices at the site multiple days a week and also regularly hosts the Midwest Regional Ski Show Tournament as well as an Ironwood Springs national wheelchair camp on the lake. The project as approved by the Department of Natural Resources, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Albert Lea Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and now the council. The ski club is funding the project, and Dulas Excavating is doing the work. —Accepted bids and awarded the contract for paving the gravel parking lot behind the Freeborn National Bank building. It would also include a landscaped space along the north and west sides of the parking lot, which could potentially be used for electric vehicle chargers in the future. The city received two bids for the project, with the low bid coming from Ulland Brothers for about $152,000. The number of projected parking stalls is slated to increase with the project to 32 stalls. —Accepted bids and awarded the contract for the cured in place pipe rehabilitation project. It involves installing a cured in place pipe liner inside the existing sanitary sewer mains on St. Peter from Sheridan Street to Johnson Street, Pillsbury Avenue from Main Street to Johnson Street, Garfield Avenue from Main Street to Johnson Street and Garfield Avenue from Johnson Street to Sheridan Street. The contract was awarded to Municipal Pipe Tools Company LLC of Hudson, Iowa, for about $144,000. The engineer's estimate was about $235,000. —Revised the city's municipal state aid street system to include Blake Avenue from East Main Street to Southeast Marshall Street. This will allow the city to use federal funding awarded through the 2029 State Transportation Improvement Program for a mill and overlay and construction of a shared user trail on the street. The vote also approved adding Southeast Marshall Street, from Prospect Avenue to Blake Avenue, to the system. The council approved removing Madison Avenue from Commercial Street to Third Street, Pearl Street from Front Street to Broadway, Third Street from Broadway to Newton Avenue and College Street from Washington Avenue to Broadway. —Accepted donations from the Friends of the Albert Lea Public Library for about $1,754 to go toward the library and Arcadian Bank $200 to go toward teen programming through the Recreation Department. —Approved a resolution to not waive the monetary limits on municipal tort liability as established in state statute. —Approved the first reading of a series of amendments to zoning ordinances.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Council approves contract for downtown bathrooms
Apr. 29—After a tornado warning led them to shelter on the lower level of City Hall for a time, the Albert Lea City Council on Monday approved awarding the contract for the new bathrooms that will be built this summer near the splash pad downtown. The project cost, with added 10 percent contingencies, was approved at about $178,000, down from the initial budget of $250,000. The structure will be built with a combination of city staff and contractors, according to City Manager Ian Rigg. It will be 32 feet by 14 feet and will also include a mechanical room and storage room. Second Ward Councilor Larry Baker, who abstained from the vote because of his employment through Arrow Building Center, said the project had been a long time coming and that for many years, people have wanted a public restroom downtown. "This will be a welcome addition," Baker said. He and 3rd Ward Councilor Jason Howland credited the work of Assistant Public Works Director Ryan Hajek and others in his department for their hard work in getting the project put together under budget. They considered three designs for the project — one a prefabricated, modular design that would come fully assembled; a second design for prefabricated materials that the city could put together and a third option through Arrow Building Center that the city could build. The restrooms were part of the almost $10 million referendum passed in April 2024 on a 3 to 1 vote. Other work included was at City Arena, Marion Ross Performing Arts Center and Aquatic Center. In other action, the council: —Approved the appointment of seven people to the Human Rights Commission. The commission had stopped meeting during the pandemic, but based on requests from several residents was revived. Rigg said the city received applications from 14 well-qualified residents. The seven chosen were the following, Cesar Victorino, one year; Peggy Olson, one year; Jeremy Corey-Gruenes, two years; Angie Hanson; two years; Irasema Hernandez, four years; Aruna Evenson, from years; Charles Alkula, four years. The commission will focus on local issues and operate as nonpartisan. —Awarded the contract to Flint Hills Resources of St. Paul for bituminous material for the city for 2025. —Accepted a donation to the Recreation Department for $500 from Cargill for weekly programming for students ages 12 to 18 this summer. Programs will include an escape room, archery tag, basketball and swimming. —Heard a presentation from Human Resources Director Mike Zelenak about the city's award as a 2025 Best Places to Work in Southeast Minnesota by Workforce Development Inc. —Heard proclamations from Albert Lea Mayor Rich Murray declaring May as Motorcycle Awareness Month, REACT Month and Building Safety Month.
