WELCOME – A citizen asked the Welcome City Council this week about the status of a house at Dugan and Fifth Street.

Officials explained there will be soon be a meeting with the owner and the city will decide which option to take — demolition or a sale to the city.

In other business, the council:

o Approved designations for the new year: newspaper – Martin County Star and Sentinel; depository – Welcome State Bank; and city attorney – Edman and Edman. City committees will be the same as last year, with the addition of John Borchardt as the burn site official. City fees will remain the same as in 2019.

o Approved a 3 percent salary increase for union and non-union city workers.

o Agreed to ask city employee Max Longley to look into the purchase price for new LED lamps downtown.

o Approved a two-year contract with Ziegler-CAT for grader maintenance. The council also approved transferring street equipment fund dollars to pay for the grader.

o Heard a report from engineer Travis Winter of Bolton & Menk, who said putting in a bypass on Hobb Street will require more information on how many gallons per minute will flow through.

o Praised the job Gina Jorgensen did as substitute police chief last year. The council also praised clerk Deb Hansen for working extra hours.

o Changed the March meeting date to March 2.

o Learned the next council meeting will be 6 p.m. Jan. 21 at City Hall.