Construction crews continue working in Wells on the Highway 22/109 project. This view looks east from the intersection of Highway 109 and Half Moon Road. Grading crews are busy reshaping the road west from this intersection after completion of the underground work earlier this month.

Updates on various construction projects occupied much of the time during the Wells City Council meeting on Monday, July 13. However, one member of the public spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting about the ongoing problem the city has with stray cats.

“What are you going to do about the cats in town?” Wells resident Lori Knutson asked. “I do not have pets. I choose not to have pets. Now I have eight baby kittens in my backyard and it is becoming a giant litter box.”

Knutson added that she has neighbors who feed the cats and council members agreed that only makes the problems worse.

City administrator Tiffany Schrader told Knutson she would reach out to the company they have been in contact with that would implement a trap-neuter-return program to see when they might be available to come to the city.

City engineer Ben Rosol provided the first construction update to the council.

“All of the underground items have been installed on the first phase of the Highway 22/109 project which is where Highway 109 enters the city from the west,” Rosol said. “Grading crews will now be busy restoring the road.”

According to Rosol, the entire first phase is scheduled to be completed by the end of July or the beginning of August.

“There will be a neighborhood open house from 5-7 p.m. on July 28,” he added.

Rosol also presented the council with seven bids for the 2026 Lead Service Line Replacement Project.

“The low bid came from Jensen Excavation and Trucking of Albert Lea,” Rosol said. “Their bid of $422,047 came in at over $70,000 less than the engineer’s estimate of $494,765.”

Rosol also reminded the council that a grant through the PFA (Public Facilities Authority) covers the cost of the lead line replacement. The council voted to accept the bid from Jensen Excavation and Trucking.

Public Works supervisor Adam Schroeder was up next and he reported the street to the east of Half Moon Park had been paved.

“We had to go a little thicker with the pavement than we had planned but it is a big improvement,” Schroeder commented. “We will be doing some patch work on Fifth Street Southwest and Fourth Avenue Southeast before the seal coat crew comes in to do their work.”

Schroeder also told the council members that his crew had performed some patch work on the shelter at Half Moon Park.

“It is not perfect,” Schoeder emphasized. “But it is much better and safer than it was before we did the work.”

CEDA (Community and Economic Development Associates) representative Annie Nichols was at the meeting with a revised Strategic Plan for the city.

“We updated the community facilities section to add in considerations for a new City Hall and Police Department,” Nichols said. “As part of that addition we also included the impact that would have on the Flame Theater and the existing City Hall and Police Station building.”

Members of the public will have a chance to see the results of the Strategic Plan when it is presented on July 27 at 5 p.m. at the Wells Community Center.

The City Council went into a closed session to develop offers for the purchase of real property located at 36 Third Street Southeast, the site of the former Mayo Clinic building.

When the council came back into open session, Schrader announced she had been instructed by the council to reach out to a Mayo Clinic representative concerning terms for a possible purchase agreement for the building.

The council also took time to pass a resolution setting the sewer rates for 2027 and 2028. The base rate will be $24.38 in 2027 and $25.60 in 2028. The usage charge (per 1,000 gallons) in 2027 is $3.42 for 0-2,999 gallons and $5.96 for 3,000-plus gallons. In 2028, the usage charge is $3.59 for 0-2,999 gallons and $6.26 for 3,000-plus gallons.

The council reviewed and had a short discussion on a draft ordinance for special vehicles (golf carts, ATVs, UTVs) but tabled any action until the full council was in attendance. (Council members John Herman and Brenda Weber were unable to be at Monday night’s meeting).

Police chief Tim Brenegan said he had three abatement letters for the council to consider.

“This is a process that began in March,” Brenegan explained. “These are properties that we have served search warrants on to come in compliance with city ordinances that have yet to correct the issues that have been identified.”

Brenegan said the people have until Aug. 1 to comply.

“If they don’t comply,” Brenegan continued. “We will have to get another order to clean it up.”

The council also:

• Approved advertising for a part-time office specialist for City Hall.

• Approved a gambling permit submitted by the Wells Lions Club to host bingo at Half Moon Park as part of Kernel Days on Aug. 7 and Aug. 8.