The Wells City Council continues to deal with the status of a house in the city which is in need of repairs.

“Under the terms of an agreement with the city, the owner of the house delivered a structural engineer’s report,” city attorney Pam Whitmore told the council. “However, he was also supposed to have fixed the roof and that has not been done.”

Whitmore told the council they have a couple of options.

“First, we can remind the property owner of the agreement and give him the opportunity to get the roof fixed,” Whitmore explained. “The second option is to get an administrative warrant from the judge and then the city could arrange for the repairs.”

Whitmore added that the agreement between the owner and the city would allow for the city to make the repairs. She also cautioned that any time you go on someone else’s property, things can get messy.

“That is why I am suggesting the administrative warrant,” she clarified. “It protects the city.”

The council decided to give the owner 20 days to get the work on the roof completed.

City engineer Ben Rosol was at the meeting and reminded council members about the open house this Thursday.

“It will be held from 6-7 p.m. and is an opportunity for members of the public to ask questions about the proposed street improvements for the Fifth and Sixth Avenue Projects,” Rosol commented.

Rosol also led a discussion on the Fifth Street alley and what work may have to be done to it as part of the 2024 Street and Utility Improvement Project.

Police chief Tim Brenegan shared he had some news on the vehicle that was ordered for the department.

“The Dodge Durango is supposed to be here soon,” Brenegan reported. “Whether that means March or April remains to be seen.”

City administrator Tiffany Schrader reported she had met with the Public Works Committee to discuss several budget items.

“I have a number of recommendations for the council to consider,” Schrader shared. “These include bids for work on the Boy Scout House, a new air conditioner for the Wells Golf Clubhouse and some equipment requests for the Street Department.”

The council handled the requests separately and voted to approve a bid of $5,860 from Schroeder Electric for electrical work at the Boy Scout House. They also voted to accept a bid, in the amount of $4,744, from Ron’s Plumbing HVAC and Electric to install a new air conditioner at the Wells Golf Club.

Both of these bids came in over the budgeted amount. The work at the Boy Scout House came in at $1,660 over budget and the air conditioner was $744 over the budgeted amount.

A request by the Street Department to use $36,000 which was budgeted for a one-ton truck replacement and instead use the money to buy a 2021 John Deere Gator and a new air compressor was denied. The Gator had a purchase price of $24,000 while the air compressor had not been selected yet.

The council did pass a motion to approve the purchase of an air compressor for up to $3,300.

Schrader also reported the Facility Assessment Committee met on Feb. 22.

“We viewed a presentation by ISG which reviewed the current state of our facilities,” Schrader said. “They then presented several different scenarios to the committee to consider including some that involved remodeling current facilities and others which involved starting over and building new facilities.”

Following feedback from committee members, the ISG representatives decided to prepare more options for the committee to review.

A lengthy discussion was held on an easement request from Minnesota Energy Resources Corporation to install a natural gas line through a portion of city-owned property.

Because there is some concern and confusion over who owns certain properties, the council declined to take action until the ownership questions have been answered.

In other matters, the council:

• Voted to accept the resignations of employees Paige Gast, Deanna Marsh and Rachel Drescher from the Flame Theatre. Schrader told the council that replacements have already been hired.

• Voted to appoint Crystal Dulas to the Park and Recreation Board.