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Wells gets update on EDA, HRA

Council members hear of progress being made by both groups

By Kevin Mertens - Staff Writer | Jan 29, 2023

Wells Community Development director Tiffany Schrader, seated left, gives a report on the EDA and HRA during the Wells City Council meeting on Jan. 23. Finance specialist Jennifer Lindholm and city administrator Connor LaPointe listen to the report.

“The Wells Economic Development Authority (EDA) and the Housing Redevelopment Authority (HRA) each had a good year in 2022,” according to Wells Community Development director Tiffany Schrader.

Schrader shared the news with Wells City Council members at their meeting on Jan. 23.

“The Wells EDA was established by the Wells City Council in 1989,” Schrader said. “Its purpose is to encourage, attract, promote, and develop economically sound industry, business and commerce within the city of Wells.”

Schrader explained the many ways the EDA was active in 2022.

“We finalized the sale of three lots in the Wells Business Park to Kahn Tile Supply Company. They are a business out of New Hampton, Iowa, and they sell and distribute field drainage, plumbing and septic supplies. We also finalized the sale of a lot to Hwy Storage, LLC. That lot is in the South Industrial Park and the company plans to build rentable storage units at the site. The sale to Hwy Storage, LLC also resulted in the EDA receiving and awarding their first Revolving Loan Fund application in many years.”

Schrader mentioned the EDA also approved Commercial Building Enhancement Grant applications in the amount of $16,280 during 2022.

“The Commercial Building Enhancement Grant program continues to be our most popular program every year,” she said.

Schrader highlighted two areas where the HRA was expecially active last year.

“We purchased a total of five tax forfeited properties from Faribault County. One of the things we had to determine was whether the properties should be restored or torn down,” she explained. “The HRA requested proposals from anyone who was interested in restoring the properties to a livable condition and received interest in all of the properties.”

The other main activity for the HRA was the completion of the City Center Addition twin homes.

“The HRA made the decision to hire Kim Huper with Super Realty in March of last year to assist in the sale of the homes,” Schrader said. “One sale was completed in June and the sale of the other one was completed in October. Completing and selling both homes was a huge accomplishment for the HRA and a great addition to the city of Wells.”

Moving on to other matters, the council took up the request made by Dan Schoneck at the previous council meeting, on Jan. 9, for an easement request so he can have a natural gas line run to two buildings he owns in the southeast corner of town, one block east of Fourth Avenue Southeast.

After a lengthy discussion, the council decided to approve the easement with the condition that the city will not pay any money toward the project and that it would be paid for entirely by Schoneck.

Schoneck explained at the last meeting he was unable to even get an estimate from the gas company until the easement was granted.

The council also acted on a couple of personnel matters.

“We received seven applications for the open position of liquor store coordinator,” city administrator Connor LaPointe informed council members. “The personnel committee selected three of the people to be interviewed as finalists. Christopher Whiteside was selected as the top choice and he accepted the job and will start tomorrow Jan. 24, pending the council’s approval.”

The council approved the hiring of Whiteside on a unanimous vote.

“Unfortunately, the hiring of Whiteside creates a vacancy at the Flame Theatre where he was the part-time manager,” LaPointe added. “With your approval, I would like to begin advertising for that position with a starting pay of $15 per hour.”

LaPointe’s request was unanimously approved.

The end of the year sales numbers for the Wells Depot Liquor Store were shared at the meeting. The total sales for 2022 were $1,147,846 which was down $21,865 from the previous year.

The net profit or loss for the store will not be known until an auditor’s report is concluded later this year.

LaPointe also told council members that Scott Linde of the Wells Fire Department was seeking permission to pursue FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) grants for an extrication device for the department and a new pumper truck.

“The extrication device would cost $43,000 and the pumper truck could cost somewhere in the vicinity of $800,000,” LaPointe reported. “The FEMA grants would cover 95 percent of the cost and the city would need to pick up the final five percent if the projects were funded.”

The council approved the request to seek funding from grants.

Action was also taken to:

• Approve a contract with the Beaver Guy to trap troublesome animals at the Wells Municipal Airport.

• Grant a funding request in the amount of $500 to the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF).

• Set Feb. 13, at 5 p.m., in the council chambers for a public hearing on PFA (Public Facilities Authority) funding for street reconstruction projects. Parts of Fifth Avenue, Sixth Avenue, Third Avenue and North Broadway are affected along with utilities along Highway 22 on the south end of town and along Highway 109 on the west end of the city.