city of albert lea

What city of albert lea does

The City of Albert Lea is a municipal government entity operating in Freeborn County, Minnesota, USA, serving approximately 18,000 residents within its incorporated boundaries. Headquartered at 221 E. Clark Street, Albert Lea, MN, the city delivers a comprehensive suite of public services through multiple operating departments, including Fire Rescue, Police, Utilities, Parks, Recreation, Public Works, Community Development, Engineering, Library, Wastewater Treatment Plant, Waste Disposal and Recycling, Airport, and Administration. Core service offerings span public safety, water and sewer utilities, waste management, parks and recreational facilities (Aquatic Center, City Arena, Marion Ross Performing Arts Center, Splash Pad), building permitting and inspections, and GIS/property data via the Beacon platform.

The city runs a portfolio of digital citizen-service channels to complement in-person delivery: an online utility billing portal for water and sewer payments, an online building permit application system, a recreation registration platform at rec1.com, and a Report-A-Problem portal for infrastructure and code-enforcement complaints. Operational technology is described as standard municipal government infrastructure, with a website (cityofalbertlea.org) functioning as the primary information hub, supplemented by active social media presence across Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and LinkedIn, a weekly Friday email newsletter (Week-Lea), and an ALTV government channel for council meeting broadcasts.

The city's funding model is a mix of property taxes, usage-based utility fees, voter-approved referenda, bond financing, and intergovernmental grants. Capital deployment in recent years includes a $12.7 million voter-approved recreational facility referendum (2024) — net cost reduced to $10.2 million after federal energy incentives — and a $4.91 million 10-year bond for street reconstruction and watermain replacement (July 2024). Environmental and regulatory activity includes a $500,000 Chloride Reduction Grant from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (March 2026) supporting a reverse osmosis system at Mrs. Gerry's Kitchen. Governance rests with an elected mayor (Rich Murray) and city council, with economic development delivered through a Port Authority, Housing and Redevelopment Authority, and a newly created Economic Development Authority (June 2026).

Name

city of albert lea

Legal name

City of Albert Lea

Website

https://cityofalbertlea.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The City of Albert Lea is a municipal government serving approximately 18,000 residents in Minnesota, delivering public safety, water/sewer utilities, parks and recreation, public works, and community development services funded through property taxes, utility fees, grants, and voter-approved bonds.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Government Services

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131), Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Sanitary Services (4950), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities) (BPAIACAF)

Keywords

• Municipal government services
• Public utility services
• Public safety services
• Parks and recreation
• Wastewater treatment

Headquarters

HQ city

Albert Lea

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The City of Albert Lea is a municipal government entity providing public services to approximately 18,000 residents of Albert Lea, Minnesota. Its core offerings include water and sewer utilities, public safety (police and fire rescue), parks and recreation facilities (Aquatic Center, City Arena, Splash Pad), waste disposal and recycling, library services, building permits and inspections, infrastructure maintenance, and community development programs. Operations are funded through property taxes, utility fees, grants, and voter-approved bond financing.

Product overview

City of Albert Lea operates a municipal government website providing public services including utility billing (water and sewer), building permits, recreation programs, parks and facilities (Aquatic Center, City Arena, Splash Pad), police and fire rescue services, waste disposal and recycling, library services, and GIS/online mapping through the Beacon platform. The city also offers citizen services like special event permits, employment opportunities, and utility line protection programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Water and Sewer Utilities Municipal water and sewer service providing treated drinking water and wastewater collection/treatment to Albert Lea residents and businesses, including online bill payment and automatic payment enrollment.
• GIS/Online Mapping (Beacon) Online GIS/mapping service providing geographic information, property data, parcel, and zoning lookup for residents, businesses, and developers.
• Recreation Programs Online registration and access to parks and recreation programs, activities, and facilities including the Aquatic Center, City Arena, and Splash Pad.
• Online Building Permit Application Online system for residents and contractors to apply for building, sign, and construction permits required by the city's Building and Inspection department.
• Report A Problem Public portal enabling residents to report non-emergency infrastructure issues such as potholes, sewer backups, street flooding, streetlight outages, code violations, and animal control concerns.
• Public Safety Services Police protection, fire rescue, emergency response, animal control, and community policing services for Albert Lea residents, businesses, and visitors.
• Waste Disposal and Recycling Municipal solid waste disposal and recycling services including operation of the city transfer station and curbside collection programs.
• Library Services Public library services including book lending, digital resources, and community programs operated by the Albert Lea Public Library.
• Pavilion Rentals Rental of city-owned park pavilions for private events, gatherings, and community use.
• Special Event Permits Permit service allowing organizers to host special events, parades, and public gatherings within the city.

Quantifiable outcome

• Recreational facility projects came within less than 1% of budget ($12.7 million total)
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• CIT Sewer SolutionsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 28 August 2026Third-party contractor engaged by the City of Albert Lea to conduct smoke testing of sanitary sewer systems. Testing performed to identify stormwater intrusion that can cause sewer backups in the West Richway Drive area.
• Fisher SculptureminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 July 2026Sculptor Chad Fisher of Fisher Sculpture (Pennsylvania) contracted to create a bronze Eddie Cochran statue. Same sculptor who created the existing Marion Ross statue.
• Eddie Cochran Rod and Custom FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 July 2026Annual festival organization that will host the dedication ceremony for the new Eddie Cochran statue in 2027.
• Mrs. Gerry's KitchencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2026Local industry partner in chloride reduction initiative. Mrs. Gerry's Kitchen contributed $192,900 alongside a $500,000 state grant and $192,900 city contribution to install a reverse osmosis water-softening system, reducing chloride pollution discharged to Shell Rock River.
• Minnesota Pollution Control AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2026State agency providing $500,000 Chloride Reduction Grant to help local industry (Mrs. Gerry's Kitchen) and the City of Albert Lea reduce chloride pollution in wastewater discharged to Shell Rock River.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• City of Faribault, Minnesota: Rice County city of approximately 24,000 residents with municipal water/wastewater utilities, public works, and parks/recreation departments. Comparable small-city service mix and infrastructure investment profile.
• City of Austin, Minnesota: Neighboring Mower County seat of similar size (~26,000 residents) operating water/wastewater utilities, public works, parks and recreation, and public safety departments. Most directly comparable by geography, scale, and service mix.
• City of Winona, Minnesota: Mississippi River city of approximately 27,000 residents operating municipal utilities, public works, parks and recreation, and a Port Authority. Comparable scale, river-town infrastructure profile, and mix of capital projects.
• City of Northfield, Minnesota: Rice County city of approximately 20,000 residents (comparable to Albert Lea's 18,000) operating utilities, public works, parks and recreation, and an HRA. Closest in scale and service portfolio among Minnesota peer cities.
• City of Marshall, Minnesota: Lyon County seat of approximately 14,000 residents operating municipal utilities, public works, parks, and recreation. Comparable small-city operational scale in greater Minnesota.
• City of Owatonna, Minnesota: Steele County seat of approximately 26,000 residents with comparable municipal service portfolio including utilities, public works, recreation, and economic development authority. Similar small-city operational profile in southern Minnesota.
• City of Red Wing, Minnesota: Goodhue County seat of approximately 16,500 residents operating municipal utilities (water, wastewater), public works, and parks. Comparable river-city infrastructure profile and small-city municipal service portfolio.
• City of Fairmont, Minnesota: Martin County seat of approximately 10,000 residents with municipal utilities, public works, and parks/recreation. Comparable small-city service mix in greater Minnesota with similar infrastructure renewal challenges.

Broad incumbents

• City of Mankato, Minnesota: Regional hub of approximately 45,000 residents in the same region of southern Minnesota. Larger scale but comparable municipal service portfolio (utilities, public works, parks/recreation, EDA), serving as an aspirational peer for growth and infrastructure investment.
• Freeborn County, Minnesota: County government encompassing Albert Lea with overlapping jurisdiction over roads, environmental programs, and public services. Provides a layer of regional public administration directly relevant to Albert Lea's operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cityofalbertlea
• YouTubeyoutube.com/cityofalbertlea
• Facebookfacebook.com/cityofalbertlea
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cityofalbertlea
• Instagraminstagram.com/cityofalbertlea
• TikToktiktok.com/@cityofalbertlea

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about city of albert lea