MnDOT representative Forrest Hasty was present at the Wells City Council meeting to answer any questions either the council or the public had for the new project coming to Wells in 2017.

There was discord between the citizens of Wells and their City Council during the first meeting of the year.

Last Monday night the City Council had to move their meeting from its regular chambers to a larger meeting room in the Wells Community Center to accommodate its 30 citizens who showed up.

What most of the citizens came to do was to continue to air their concerns about the final layout design for the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT)’s 2017 Highway 109 Preservation Project.

Though there were many opinions made, there was no new input from the public from the last time the council discussed the preservation project at the end of 2015.

Business owners were still very much concerned with the loss of street accessibility to their businesses as well as losing parking spaces, and residents were concerned with the upkeep of their lawns and sidewalks during the seasons.

Bruce Mandler owner of Marketplace Foods shares his concerns while addressing the Wells City Council last Monday evening.

There were also concerns that the sidewalk that would be placed along Highway 109 was a “sidewalk to nowhere.”

The only portion of the project the council had input to decide on was whether or not a sidewalk would go in during the mill and overlay preservation project along Highway 109.

Bruce Mandler, owner of Wells Marketplace Foods, was not only concerned about his business, but concerned by the way the council was handling the decision.

“You have to listen to your citizens’ opinions of this project. That is what you were elected to do. You know what our issues are, and yet you refuse to listen to them,” Mandler said as he addressed the council.

He also shared that councilwoman Whitney Harig visited his business to talk with Mandler about his concerns.

“I was very appreciative that you did that, Whitney, but what left me disappointed that after everything I told you, you said you were still going to vote yes to this project. Without even giving more time to my concerns, or trying to figure out a new way around it,” said Mandler.

Within the council’s agenda packets were written statements to the council from citizens who were for the new project but were unable to attend. Council members also stated that they had talked to many other citizens who were for the project.

Jerri Warmka was one of the few people in attendance who was for the mill and overlay project.

“Just as a resident of Wells, I’m for a sidewalk,” she stated. “It’s easier for me to get around in my wheelchair and more safe for people who are walking.”

“I’ve gone down Highways in Wells in my wheelchair and its not very safe. The thought of a sidewalk from the grocery store to Dairy Queen is a good idea from my perspective. I don’t know why the businesses think this is a bad idea, MnDOT is going to take that portion of land whether there is a sidewalk or not, so why not make good use of the land for the community members?” said Warmka.

Though there were many strong and vocal opinions made, it did not sway the City Council’s final vote.

The resolution for the final layout design of the Highway 109 preservation project and cost-sharing authorization passed in a 4-1 roll call vote, with John Herman voting against the project.