ALBERT LEA, Minn. — The City of Albert Lea is inviting public input on transforming a contaminated industrial site at 620 Adams Avenue into a community park. The city acquired the site after Merrick's of Minnesota went bankrupt in 2018. The city says it aims to secure a federal grant to clean up the site, which currently poses safety risks due to hazardous materials and unstable buildings. “We need to protect public safety by removing the buildings that are hazardous. Before that, we need to remove asbestos, bird feces, improperly-stored cleaning supplies and chemicals in the buildings. Those materials may be seeping into soil under the buildings, which would require remediation,” said Wayne Sorensen, building official and zoning director for Albert Lea. “With the Songbird Trai

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