In an effort not only to compensate for building repairs but enhance the appeal of its downtown, the Winnebago City Council voted Tuesday to offer $10,000 in aid to local resident Jens Hodges, owner of the building at 14 Main Street North in town.

City administrator Chris Ziegler said he had been in communication with Hodges since the demolition of Winnebago’s old outlet store in spring of 2015.

“Mr. Hodges’ building had a common wall with the Roerig Hardware warehouse building, which the city bought for ease of demolition and cost savings,” Ziegler said. “The warehouse building was removed, exposing Mr. Hodges’ building to the elements.”

Since then, Hodges repaired the building, including the shared wall, for a reported $16,761.79.

On Tuesday, he visited the council alongside his son, Lee, to outline the expenses and request reimbursement for some of the costs.

“I have it done,” Hodges said, of the building work. “I was just hoping the city would do what they did for the north wall and help me out a little.”

Referencing a previous demolition in Winnebago, one that was partially reimbursed by the council, Hodges left it up to the council members to decide how much, if any, money they should contribute.

“Do we cut it down the middle?” asked councilman Scott Robertson.

Fellow council member Dean Johnson thought that might be ideal for both Hodges and the city. “By splitting the cost, we’d basically be partners in this,” Johnson said. “And I like the sound of that.”

Hodges agreed, though further discussions prompted even more support from council member Jean Anderson, who suggested the city also compensate damages caused by the warehouse demolition.

“I’d recommend putting $10,000 toward helping,” she said. “And if we do this, would you be willing to improve the front side of the building to make it more appealing for Main Street?”

Hodges assured the council he would do just that, reminding Anderson he has already been trying to maintain the property through the discussed repairs.

Outlining a desire for Hodges to oversee additional painting of the building as well as continued improvements to its Main Street appearance, the council voted to approve Anderson’s recommendation.

A 3-1 decision approved it, with council member Rick Johnson providing the only opposition to the reimbursement.

In his report at the close of the meeting, Johnson thanked the Hodges for fixing up the wall and said he was “glad we could go forward” with the process, but at the time of the vote, he said he “had $8,000 written down” as an acceptable contribution.

“I don’t think it’s the taxpayers’ responsibility for the extra costs,” he said. “I don’t want to set any sort of precedents for this kind of thing.”

Anderson countered by highlighting the Hodges’ repairs and future improvements as an opportunity to keep Winnebago’s Main Street from looking “like a ghost town.”

Johnson said he did not disagree about the appeal of the repaired building and wall, but instead the amount of money the city, likely through its contingency fund, would give back to the Hodges.

Moving forward, Ziegler chimed in, the council could also eventually receive financial assistance from the Faribault County Board of Commissioners for the matter.

“I spoke with (county auditor) John Thompson, and we’ll see if they can help, too,” he said.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the Winnebago City Council also:

Approved passage of a critical water deficiency ordinance, which was recommended by Minnesota Rural Water and could eventually be mandated by the state.

By approving the ordinance, the council tentatively set Nov. 7 as the date for a public hearing, where the policy could officially be adopted.

The ordinance was drafted in collaboration with the Rural Water Association in compliance with a state statute that requires cities to enact water conservation restrictions when the governor declares a critical water deficiency.

Winnebago, like all other cities, can still enact restrictions under its own power but would be required to do so regardless of its own preference under the governor’s declaration.

The policy’s mandatory restrictions include the prohibition of outdoor irrigation of yards, gardens and golf courses; the washing or spraying of sidewalks, driveways, parking areas, tennis courts or other paved areas except to alleviate immediate safety concerns; the serving of water at restaurants unless it is specifically requested by customers; and the filling of swimming pools, fountains, spas or other exterior water features.

Revealed that the city’s impending Northwest Area Construction Project would not be funded by Minnesota’s Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) due to a lack of legislative action.

However, Ziegler said indications are that Winnebago would be eligible for a $1.4-million grant through the state’s Public Facilities Authority, though that has yet to be confirmed.

Planned to advertise for bids for demolition of a house and shed at 321 Second Ave. SE a property deemed the “snake house” by Ziegler.

In September, a resident who lives near the property brought jars of dead snakes to a council meeting to prove how infested the tax-forfeited house had become, and Rick Johnson said “nobody wants to go in there” even for cleanup purposes.

Now, Ziegler said the county plans to transfer ownership of the properties so that demolition can be scheduled.

“Staff and I believe the entire property is hazardous and will need to be demolished as ‘asbestos containing.,'” Ziegler said.