Latest news with #LarryBaker
CBS News
22-06-2025
- CBS News
Body found at northern Colorado lake believed to be local missing person
Deputies said they believe a body found in northern Colorado is that of a local missing person. According to the Larimer County Sheriff's Office, the body was located at Watson Lake on Sunday. Authorities temporarily closed the lake while they investigated, but the lake has since reopened. Search crews worked into the night on Tuesday and Wednesday searching for missing Fort Collins resident Larry Baker after his car was found at the Watson Lake State Wildlife Area. Baker, an avid fisherman, went missing after he left his home the morning of June 16. Larimer County Sheriff's Office Officials said more than 60 personnel searched the lake and the surrounding area on Tuesday and Wednesday with tracking dogs, drones, ground crews, scuba divers and underwater search technology. The sheriff's department has not confirmed if Baker's body was the one they discovered, and said they will release the identity of the person and the cause and manner of their death at a later time.
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.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Council votes to move forward with downtown restrooms, other recreational facilities improvements
Feb. 11—More of the improvements to Albert Lea's recreational facilities are moving forward after action by the Albert Lea City Council on Monday. First, the council voted 5-1 to approve plans and move forward with competitive quotes for the restrooms that are slated to be built downtown near the city's splash pad. Second Ward Councilor Larry Baker abstained from the vote because of his involvement with the bid through his employment at Arrow Building Center, and 1st Ward Councilor Rachel Christensen was absent. Assistant Public Works Director Ryan Hajek said staff considered three designs for the project — one a prefabricated, modular design that would come fully assembled through a company called Green Flush; a second design through RCP Structures for prefabricated materials that the city could put together and a third option through Arrow Building Center that the city could build. The option through Arrow Building Center was the lowest, for $196,295, with the fully assembled design through Green Flush estimated at $420,500. Some funds could be saved through city staff building the structure for the second and third options, Hajek said. The council ultimately went with the cheapest option through Arrow Building Center. The building would include a women's restroom with a sink and two stalls with toilets and a men's restroom with one toilet, one urinal and a sink. It would also include a storage and possible concessions area on one side with a mechanical room between the men's and women's restrooms. Hajek said the doors would open toward the parking lot in the North Broadway parking lot with the storage room on the east side with a potential roll-up window. He noted the Albert Lea Farmers Market would be able to utilize the storage area, and the building would be constructed in the same area as the existing red shed, in which the farmer's market stores items currently. Hajek said the budget for the project was $250,000. It would also include upgrading electricity at the site to a 400 amp service and the cost for cameras, lights and other security measures. "This has been a long time in the making," Baker said in the work session, noting people have wanted restrooms in the downtown area for many years. City Manager Ian Rigg said while porta potties would still have to be brought in for large events such as the Fourth of July, the facility would cover a lot of everyday use otherwise. The restrooms would be open year-round. Other projects The council also accepted a bid of $1.325 million from Brennan Construction of MN Inc. for remodeling at the city's arena and aquatic center. Seven companies submitted bids with the low bid from Brennan and the high bid from Dean Snyder Construction for $1.58 million. Of the cost, $296,500 is for the aquatic center, while $1,028,500 is for the arena. City staff recommended adding a contingency of $132,500 — or 10% of the project bid — and contracting with Apex to manage the projects for almost $286,000, bringing the total cost for the remodeling to about $1.743 million. This portion of the improvements is about $3,650 under budget. Cathy Malakowsky, enrichment and engagement director for the city, said projects already in the works include installing a new water heating system and electrical system in the arena and installing new LED lighting. In the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center, the furnace in the lower level has been replaced, the air conditioning has been installed in the main dressing room, water conservation measures have been installed and the building has been sealed for energy efficiency. Work still needs to be done in the theater to install accessible front doors and front windows, to upgrade lighting to LEDs and to update HVAC controls. At the arena, frost testing has already been done and shower heads replaced. Water conservation measures are underway, and the building is being sealed. Work still needs to be done at the arena on the e-ceiling, to install the new Colstrup rink floor and on the structural reinforcements, dehumidification changes, refrigeration and drainage. A new sound system also needs to be added. Malakowsky said all of the recreational projects total about $9.795 million, which is about $177,000 over budget, even after a $250,000 donation from the Albert Lea Hockey Association. The hockey association presented its donation at the start of the meeting.
