The Wells City Council did not meet on Monday, Oct. 14, but conducted their business on Tuesday, Oct. 15, with a short list of items on their agenda.

A majority of the time was spent discussing items related to Public Works projects.

City engineer Ben Rosol presented the council members with the latest Street Project Tree Replacement Reimbursement Program.

“Wells residents impacted by a street reconstruction project would be able to be reimbursed 100 percent of the cost of the tree and/or installation, up to $400 per tree, with a limit of the same number of trees removed per property per street project if conditions are met,” Rosol explained. “Applications would need to be submitted and approved by June 15 of the year following construction.”

He emphasized that no trees could be planted and reimbursed without prior approval.

“The tree replacement also must be a type from an approved list,” Rosol added.

Council member Brenda Weber questioned the list of trees approved for boulevards.

“I am not sure that oak trees should be on the list,” Weber said. “And maybe it should be defined which maple trees are acceptable.”

Questions were also raised about some of the setback distances so the matter was tabled and Rosol said he would work on refining the proposal.

Next, Rosol brought a proposal from Bolton & Menk before the council to assist with the Runway 17/35 Clear Zone Acquisition Plan (CZAP) at the Wells Municipal Airport.

“For the protection of pilots, people and property near airports, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has established a policy on clear zones,” Rosol told the council members. “Clear zones are a trapezoidal shape which begin 200 feet beyond the end of each runway which should be free of all obstructions. The MnDOT policy desires all airport sponsors own the land under the clear zone in fee. For those airport sponsors which do not, State funding is limited.”

Rosol noted that MnDOT understands that fee acquisition of all land under the clear zone may not be feasible for every airport sponsor.

“In those cases, the sponsor can request an exemption to the MnDOT clear zone policy by completing a Clear Zone Acquisition Plan,” Rosol said. “The CZAP must provide justification why the airport sponsor is unable to fully comply with the MnDOT policy.”

Rosol shared that MnDOT will provide 95 percent of the funding for the plan with the city contributing the other five percent.”

“By getting this exemption, the Wells Airport will be in a better position to secure future funding,” Rosol commented. “We are basically applying for a variance.”

The council approved the proposal from Bolton & Menk. The anticipated total cost is $10,000 with the state paying $9,500 and the city paying $500.

In other business, the council also:

• Approved pay request No. 3, in the amount of $667,208, to Holtmeier Construction Inc. for work done on the 2024 Street and Utility Improvement Project.

• Approved the gambling permit application for the Church of St. Casimir to hold a raffle from Dec. 1-25.

• Accepted the resignation of Flame Theatre clerk Cera Barwiler and approved the hiring of Ransom Anderson as the new clerk for the theatre.

• Approved Resolution 2024-41 scheduling a public hearing for Nov. 4, regarding the zoning code related to cannabis businesses, lower-potency hemp edible retailers and lower-potency hemp manufacturers.