Mayor David Braun, right, presents Carmen Meyer and Betsy Hermanson of the Wells Historical Society with a donation from the city.

The Wells City Council held their first meeting of the month on Tuesday, Oct. 10. Their regular meeting day would have been Oct. 9, but that was Indigenous People’s Day so the meeting was delayed by one day.

City engineer Ben Rosol was at the meeting and told the board that work on the water main between Wells and the city of Easton was continuing.

“I also want to let you know that MnDOT, (Minnesota Department of Transportation) will be in town and doing some borings near Half-Moon Road,” Rosol said. “They will just be checking for leaks as part of the work they will be doing on the Highway 109/Highway 22 project.”

Later in the meeting Rosol presented the 2024 Street and Utility Improvement Feasibility Report to the council.

Street segments being considered for work include Sixth Avenue NW from Highway 109 to its north dead end, Fifth Avenue SW to West Franklin Street, Fifth Avenue NW from West Franklin Street to Third Street NW and Third Avenue NW from West Franklin Street to Highway 109.

“The utilities are aging and failing,” Rosol said. “We would be installing new PVC pipe and reinforced concrete pipe.”

Rosol commented the width of the current streets is 40 feet and the proposal would maintain the same width.

“We should also consider applying for a PFA (Public Facilities Authority) loan,” Rosol added.

The council voted to accept Rosol’s report and set Nov. 13 for a public hearing on the proposed improvements.

During his report, city administrator Connor La Pointe informed the council the Wells Fire Department had received $2,500 from the state of Minnesota for turnout gear.

“We also found out a couple of the light fixtures needed to be replaced on the light poles for the baseball stadium lighting project,” La Pointe said. “The cost of the repairs is $1,200 and we still have leftover funds from the donations we received to cover the cost so we will go ahead and get that taken care of.”

La Pointe reported the Facilities Study is ongoing and the group conducting the study has been making visits and looking at different sites for the city offices.

“Finally, I would like to schedule a budget work session for Monday, Oct. 30, at 5 p.m.,” La Pointe commented. “We will meet here at the Wells Community Center.”

Finally, mayor David Braun presented Carmen Meyer and Betsy Hermanson of the Wells Historical Society with a donation of $2,500 from the city to the Wells Historical Society.

In other business the City Council:

• Approved the hiring of Julie Martinez as a part-time library clerk.

• Passed Ordinance No. 23-04 which prohibits the smoking or vaping of cannabis products, hemp products and tobacco products in public recreational areas in the city of Wells and amending Chapter 112 relating to consuming intoxicating beverages in public.

• Approved Ordinance No. 23-05 with changes to Section 92.35 which deals with weeds, length of grass and managed natural landscapes.