The Wells City Council held a special meeting at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 1, for the purpose of selecting a city attorney to begin serving in January of 2023.

“We have the original three bids. One was from Kennedy and Graven, another was from Smith, Tollefson, Rahrick and Cass and the final bid was from Kennedy and Kennedy,” city administrator Connor La Pointe informed the council members. “In addition, our current council, Frundt, Lundquist and Gustafson also submitted a bid. It came after the requested date, but I will let the council members decide what to do regarding that matter.”

La Pointe stated the main question for the council to address was what they were looking for in a city attorney.

“Our police chief (Tim Brenegan) was concerned that the bids, other than the one from our current attorney, did not include prosecution services,” mayor David Braun told the council.

La Pointe addressed that issue saying Frundt, Lundquist and Gustafson would still be willing to provide prosecutorial services even if they are not chosen as the city attorney.

He added, “Their hourly rate would probably be higher for prosecuting misdemeanors if they are not chosen as the official city attorney.”

Council member Nancy Kruger asked if the council was required to choose the lowest bid.

Fellow council member John Herman answered her saying, “No, not in this case.”

During discussion the name of Pam Whitmore, representing Kennedy and Graven, drew the most favorable comments with the idea of hiring her at an hourly rate instead of a monthly retainer fee.

The one concern the council had was the travel distance since Kennedy and Graven is based out of the metropolitan area.

“But, she is in Mankato, where she serves as the city attorney, on Mondays,” La Pointe reminded the group. “Mankato’s meetings are in the evenings at 7 p.m. Ours are at 5 p.m.”

The council then approved a motion to accept the proposal from Pam Whitmore of Kennedy and Graven to serve as the Wells city attorney at a cost of $180 per hour and to hire Frundt, Lundquist and Gustafson to prosecute any misdemeanor crimes as needed at an hourly rate to be determined.

The motion was approved unanimously.