The Wells City Council opened their latest meeting with some good news from city engineer Ben Rosol.

“Broadway is open and the project is essentially done” Rosol declared. “It is good to have that out of the way.”

That was one piece of good news the council received when they met on Nov. 24. There was some other good news when the discussion turned to reviewing the 2026 budget and levy.

“We have made some progress on reducing the proposed levy,” city administrator Tiffany Schrader said. “After setting the preliminary levy, which showed an increase of more than 19 percent, we have now lowered the proposed increase in the levy to 9.65 percent.”

The 9.65 percent increase represents $174,027 and the council would like to see that number move even lower.

“I would feel better if the increase was less than 8.3 percent,” mayor David Braun stated.

“I would like to get it down to an eight percent increase or lower,” council member Brenda Weber offered.

Schrader reviewed some of the numbers which showed the General Fund increasing by $121,897 but the capital levy decreasing by $15,000.

“We have made a significant effort across all departments to bring the budget in line with actual expenditures,” Schrader explained.

Schrader said she will look for more ways to decrease the levy before the council’s scheduled Truth in Taxation meeting which is scheduled for Dec. 8.

Rosol also shared news that the bids were opened for the Highway 22/Highway 109 project on Nov. 19.

“There were five bidders,” Rosol remarked. “The engineer’s estimate was lower than the low bid, which was from Ulland Brothers and came in at $16.4 million. The next lowest bid was just under $18 million.”

Rosol explained the bid had not been awarded yet.

“Nothing is finalized at this time,” Rosol noted. “MnDOT (Minnesota Department of Transportation) is going through the bids and reviewing them before making any decisions.”

Rosol also revisited the possibility of applying for LRIP (Local Road Improvement Project) funds which would be used on Seventh Street Southeast from First Avenue Southeast to Fourth Avenue Southeast and on First Avenue Southeast from Fifth Street Southeast to Seventh Street Southeast.

“The grant, if we got it, would not cover sanitary sewer or water main improvements,” Rosol shared. “If you do not wish to apply this year, there will be other opportunities to go after this grant in other years.”

During discussion council members expressed their concerns about undertaking another street project at this time and declined to pursue the grant because of the amount of money the city will be spending on the Highway 22/Highway 109 project.

Schrader reported that a representative from Helping Hands, came and looked at the basement of City Hall so he could put together a bid on removing the necessary items from the basement.

“The Wells Gun Club still has some stuff in the basement,” Schrader reported. “There are also some wooden cabinets down there that I would like to get rid of.”

In other business:

• The council approved a request from Lyle Doerr-Rodriguez Jr. for a street closure on Franklin Street on Dec. 12 from 4-8 p.m. during the third annual Lights on Fifth Avenue Christmas Lights display. The event raises money for area food shelves, supplies for New Chances Humane Society, and is also supporting Two Sisters Eatery and the Faribault County Veteran Service Office this year.

• A motion declaring Nov. 17-21 as Crash Responder Safety Week was approved.

• The council voted to renew their contract with CEDA (Community and Economic Development Associates) for another year for $74,572 which is $2,572 more than the previous contract. The contract is for services totaling three days per week.