The interior of a house in Wells that has been called a ‘garbage house’ nuisance property.

The City of Wells has a nuisance on their hands and it is located on First Avenue SW. During the Wells City Council meeting last Monday, this nuisance property was discussed in detail.

According to city administrator Robin Leslie, the city was made aware of the conditions of the nuisance property back in April. The Wells Police Department served a warrant to remove four animals from the property. That same day, the property was posted as uninhabitable by the Official Building Inspector.

Leslie says because the property owner continued to dwell in the building after the posting, the power was disconnected. The water service had not been connected for approximately eight years due to frozen pipe issues, and occupied dwellings must have basic utilities connected in the city of Wells.

On July 21, a search warrant was served on the property again, and the inspector, Bryan Stensland, conducted an official inspection of the foundation and other property conditions. What Stensland found was what was deemed a?”garbage house.”

Stensland said in his notes on his inspection report that the state health inspector would need to determine what is needed to be done with the contamination in the house from the garbage and animal feces to insure the structure is free of disease.

Leslie made a request to the council to have a public hearing scheduled for Sept. 14 for the proposed order of abatement, which the council approved without hesitation.

The City Council also heard from:

Police Chief Tim Brenegan to discuss the possibility of getting a new outdoor emergency siren for the city near the streets of Sixth and Ninth.

Brenegan’s concern was that most people beyond that intersecting area have a hard time hearing the outdoor emergency siren, including those at the United South Central School.

Also, during Brenegan’s discussion on the safety of Wells, he mentioned the city’s National Night Out dinner had more than 100 community members gather for food and fun.

Police officer Scott DiLorenzo was also appointed to full-time status. DiLorenzo has been with the Wells Police Department for three years already and accepted the position. His full-time position begins Sept. 7 with a six-month probationary period.

Street foreman Mike Pyzick presented to the council the estimated costs from both John Deere and CAT for a front wheel loader. The CAT?loader had a cost of $117,690 while the John Deere loader estimate came in at $123,641.

“The CAT?loader not only has many extensive cab features like a rear facing camera and more lighting, but they also have a fuel economy package included,” Pyzick shared with the City Council members.

Council then approved authorization for the purchase of a 2015 CAT926M wheel?loader.

Mayor Ron Gaines who mentioned the next City Council meeting will be held Aug. 24 at 5 p.m.