Annie Nichols of CEDA led the Wells City Council through a report with the purpose of helping the members of the council prioritize the order of importance for maintaining the city’s facilities.

Reviewing and setting strategic priorities for community facilities was the topic of a discussion led by CEDA (Community Economic and Development Associates) representative Annie Nichols at the Wells City Council meeting on Monday, March 23.

“Community facilities represent long-term public investments that support daily operations, service delivery and quality of life,” Nichols said. “Proactive maintenance and thoughtful reinvestment are essential to preserving these assets.”

Nichols laid out various strategic initiatives which may need attention in the upcoming years.

“Replacing or repairing the roof over City Hall, completing masonry and stone work on the exterior of the building to ensure it remains structurally sound and weather resistant, addressing interior maintenance needs and maintaining the mechanical systems are all things which will need attention in the future,” Nichols explained. “The point of looking at everything is prioritizing which things will need attention first.”

Council members agreed that taking care of the exterior of City Hall would have a priority over the interior needs.

“It doesn’t do any good to take care of the inside if you haven’t taken care of the outside first,” one of the council members commented.

Nichols did add that another part of the process may also involve evaluating whether continued investment in aging facilities remains the most effective approach or if alternative solutions should be considered.

“The Facilities Assessment Report showed there were long-term consequences of maintaining City Hall as is,” Nichols noted. “The basement is not usable due to mold and water intrusion and it is not ADA accessible. The mechanical systems are dated and leaks have caused water damage to City Hall. In addition, there is not adequate space for the Police Department which limits the security of the site.”

The report also looked at the Wells Public Library, the Flame Theater, the Wells Liquor Depot, the Wells Municipal Airport, Wells Community Center, the Wells Street Shop and the clubhouse at the golf course.

Nichols encouraged council members to communicate with the public about the condition of the facilities.

“We will wrap up the EDA’s goal setting in April,” Nichols concluded. “Then we will follow up with a final presentation in May.”

City administrator Tiffany Schrader reported the interviews for the position of Public Works operator have been completed.

“We had 12 applicants and conducted five interviews,” Schrader said. “We are working on making an offer to our top candidate.”

Schrader also shared that work was continuing on the DNR tree removal grant.

“We are close to finalizing the contract for the grant which would be done in April,” Schrader said. “The proposed timeline would be that the bid and award for ash tree removal and planting contracts would be done in May. Tree and stump removal and clean up would take place from October of this year through the end of March in 2027. The preparation of areas for new tree planting, the planting of the new trees with oversight by a certified tree inspector, who would also provide training for city staff, would take place in May of next year.”

Public Works director Adam Schroeder reported that crews were busy with winter clean-up projects including tree trimming and picking up sticks.

“We are scheduled to do crack filling from May 11 to June 11 because that is when we have the machine rented,” Schroeder commented. “I am also providing you with five-year plans for crack filling, seal coating and mill and overlay projects.”

The council reviewed two quotes for the 2026 seal coating projects. One quote was from Pearson Brothers, Inc., in the amount of $77,589 and the other was from M.R. Paving & Excavating, Inc., in the amount of $81,547.

Schrader mentioned that the city has previously worked with Pearson Brothers. Since they had the low quote, the council awarded the seal coating bid to them.

Schroeder requested, and received approval from the council, to hire some part-time summer help to assist with some painting and cleaning projects.

“I would anticipate them working from the middle of June to the middle of August,” Schroeder said. “I am thinking two people who would each work 20-30 hours per week.”

Nicole Rosberg, the executive director of the Wells Area Chamber of Commerce, was at the meeting and shared the chamber will be sponsoring a new event this year.

“It is called Sunset in the City and will be held on Thursday, June 4, from 7-11 p.m. right after our Summer in the City event which takes place from 4-7 p.m.,” Rosberg explained. “I would like to request a noise variance until 11 p.m. for that day. A DJ will be playing from 7-10 p.m. followed by clean up. Food trucks will also continue to run during the same time and they will be using generators.”

The council approved the request for the event which will be held in the municipal parking lot, north of the VFW. Since it is an age 21 and over event, the parking lot will need to be contained by a snow fence.

The council also approved a noise variance for another chamber-sponsored event, the Glow Ball Golf Tournament, which is scheduled to be held at the Wells Golf Course on June 26.

“It it rains we will plan on holding it the next day, June 27,” Rosberg commented.

In other business, the council:

• Approved a bid, in the amount of $30,000, from Ulland Brothers Inc. for sanitary work on Half Moon Drive.

• Approved applying to the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority for a loan and/or grant from the Drinking Water Revolving Fund for a lead service line replacement project.

• Passed a resolution appointing election judges for all 2026 elections. Sara Bushlach and Sarah Yokiel were named as head election judges with Tiffany Schrader, Jolette Linde, Julie Meyer, Brooklyn Yokiel and Sam Seipp also serving as election judges.

• After a satisfactory performance review for the previous six months, the council approved placement of Schroeder at Step 7 of Grade 12 of the approved pay scale effective March 23.

• Accepted the resignation of Ethan Anderson from the Wells Fire Department.

• Approved the hiring of Taylor Topinka and Kyle Kittleson as firefighters by the Wells Fire Department.