Jedd Dulas, commander of the Wells VFW stands in front of the VFW building on Broadway Street in downtown Wells. The VFW?is currently working out of the Wells American Legion but hopes to have more direction and progress for the veteran group come their February 15 meeting.

Asbestos, lead, and hazardous air quality has left the Wells Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) building in quite a pickle.

The VFW and its members have some big decisions to make during their next few meetings regarding their building, which has been empty for a little over three months.

What stemmed from a 2013 insurance claim ballooned into a project well over what Jedd Dulas, current commander of the Wells VFW, had ever imagined.

“The leadership at that time in 2013, which I was not a part of at that time, decided that the money offered for repairs was not enough to complete the project,” said Dulas.

He stated that after finding out they needed more funding, the VFW worked with an appraisal planner and insurance adjustor to get repairs started.

Signs on the doors to the Wells VFW warn of asbestos and other hazardous material and say that the VFW will be closed temporarily due to renovations.

According to Dulas, one issue turned into two issues, which turned into four, creating a snowball effect for the project.

Fast forward to 2015, where a city inspector came to the Wells VFW for testing of the newly repaired building.

The VFW did not pass inspection as asbestos and lead contaminants were found in the building.

Dulas stated the portion of the building that was deemed hazardous was sectioned off and the bar, located in the basement, still ran regularly.

Later in 2015 on Oct. 24, air quality tests showed the building was hazardous.

“We knew we had to close before the state shut us down. We made the immediate decision then to close the building for the health of not only our employees, but our patrons as well,” stated Dulas.

Now, Dulas has a gutted VFW building.

The front portion of the structure located at 25 S. Broadway was built in 1915 and the addition to the back of the building was completed in 1987. This creates a unique situation as one portion of the building may be more stable than the other part if large remodel projects were to be pursued.

But Dulas says no decisions have been made as those decisions lie with the members of the VFW.

“Things should be more solidified after Feb. 15, which is when we will need our members to vote as to where to go with this project,” says Dulas. He is depending on a good turn out from the 130 members for the Feb. 15 meeting.

Dulas also says things have not been made easy by the public, as many rumors have floated over the town.

“We have heard that there’s no longer a VFW, that we are disbanding and that Faribault County will be left without a VFW,” says Dulas.

The VFW is temporarily sharing office space with the Wells American Legion, which Dulas says is good for the community to see each group helping each other out.

Even though there is work space for the VFW, Dulas says he will exhaust all of his options before closing or disbanding the VFW.

“Right now, we need some direction which needs to come from our members. We are sitting idly by, but we are not closed, we are not disbanding, and we have no plans to do so,” he says. “We are the only VFW?in Faribault County now, and the building itself has been an icon in the community for a long time. We are all upset about what we are going through.”

The VFW, according to Dulas, serves two main functions: to support fellow military members and to support the community.

“A building doesn’t do that, we were established to support our veterans and we will continue to do that,” says Dulas. “I want to quash those rumors.”

Despite the rumors floating around, Dulas says the Wells community has been very supportive during this time of flux for the VFW.

Besides the Feb. 15 meeting, two more meetings will be held on Jan. 18 and Feb 1. Dulas says this will be the crucial time to set a path for the future of the VFW, wherever that path may lead.

“We could choose to remodel, we could choose to move, there are all sorts of options, and I am depending on our members to help with that decision,” says Dulas.