At the Welcome City Council meeting on Tuesday the interim superintendent for Martin County West School District, Chad Brusky, discussed some areas of cooperation between the City and the school district about the ball diamond in Welcome. Both the City and the school would like to have one person to contact for questions and scheduled repairs and financial responsibilities. The school suggested hiring a person for 18 weeks for 15 hours a week during the busy season and then two days a week for 6 hours a week. The school has a legal problem hiring with them not having ownership of the diamond so they suggested renting or leasing the diamond for a year at a time. The City pays water, insurance and electricity for the scoreboard and mows the outer part beyond the fences and puts

gravel on the parking lot. The school has replaced the remote for the scoreboard and keeps up the concession stand. They have lime there available for striping. There is painting and sod replacement and bleacher repair among things to do for the general improvement of the ball diamond.

Both the City and school district know that it is important to maintain the ball diamond and keep this good opportunity for school and City to showcase the area for parents and visitors. The school board members also expressed the uniqueness of the ball diamond in that it lets parents of softball and baseball players to watch at the same time and the same day at one location. This is a first step in cooperation from all concerned. Brusky will get a contract or rental agreement example from the district’s lawyer for further discussion with the council. Several ideas were discussed like hiring a

full-time person and using joint powers to hire and sharing the person with the MCW towns. Further information will be gathered and more discussion is planned.

The regular meeting continued with the first reading of Solar Power Ordinance #50 that is proposed to be added to the zoning part of the ordinances. The standards such as height and roof only mounting, insurance and set backs were read. Compliance with building codes and certification of installers and compliance with electric and plumbing codes was read. A building permit and agreement with Federated Rural Electric Association were also part

of the ordinance. A copy of the ordinance is available at the city hall.

The council approved the bereavement leave addition to the employee handbook for the day of a death and until two days after the funeral for employees experiencing a death of their immediate family.

The raise in pay for the second city employee, Broc Weber, was approved and the council would like to congratulate him for passing the wastewater Class D license.

The city clerk remarked that there is to be a commercial for UCare shot in Welcome on May 11. Welcome is among other southern MN cities to be used in a commercial for UCare.

Council asked that the city employee be available at city council meetings or arrange for the second city employee to be at the meeting. Water meters are being installed but not as fast as needed. The city employee will contact residents so they can be home and he can install the meter. Residents are asked to help with this important job.

The council approved rental of the John Deere 3039R tractor and Frontier 90 inch cut mower for $500 a year or $30/hour with a return policy if it is unsatisfactory. The City hopes to use it to mow the outside of the ball diamond and the old ball diamond. They rented it from C & B Operations in Truman.

The council asked the police chief if there was any word about the graffiti sprayed on some buildings in Welcome and he said he was working on it but no arrests have been made.Welcome talks ball diamond

At the Welcome City Council meeting on Tuesday the interim superintendent for Martin County West School District, Chad Brusky, discussed some areas of cooperation between the City and the school district about the ball diamond in Welcome. Both the City and the school would like to have one person to contact for questions and scheduled repairs and financial responsibilities. The school suggested hiring a person for 18 weeks for 15 hours a week during the busy season and then two days a week for 6 hours a week. The school has a legal problem hiring with them not having ownership of the diamond so they suggested renting or leasing the diamond for a year at a time. The City pays water, insurance and electricity for the scoreboard and mows the outer part beyond the fences and puts

gravel on the parking lot. The school has replaced the remote for the scoreboard and keeps up the concession stand. They have lime there available for striping. There is painting and sod replacement and bleacher repair among things to do for the general improvement of the ball diamond.

Both the City and school district know that it is important to maintain the ball diamond and keep this good opportunity for school and City to showcase the area for parents and visitors. The school board members also expressed the uniqueness of the ball diamond in that it lets parents of softball and baseball players to watch at the same time and the same day at one location. This is a first step in cooperation from all concerned. Brusky will get a contract or rental agreement example from the district’s lawyer for further discussion with the council. Several ideas were discussed like hiring a

full-time person and using joint powers to hire and sharing the person with the MCW towns. Further information will be gathered and more discussion is planned.

The regular meeting continued with the first reading of Solar Power Ordinance #50 that is proposed to be added to the zoning part of the ordinances. The standards such as height and roof only mounting, insurance and set backs were read. Compliance with building codes and certification of installers and compliance with electric and plumbing codes was read. A building permit and agreement with Federated Rural Electric Association were also part

of the ordinance. A copy of the ordinance is available at the city hall.

The council approved the bereavement leave addition to the employee handbook for the day of a death and until two days after the funeral for employees experiencing a death of their immediate family.

The raise in pay for the second city employee, Broc Weber, was approved and the council would like to congratulate him for passing the wastewater Class D license.

The city clerk remarked that there is to be a commercial for UCare shot in Welcome on May 11. Welcome is among other southern MN cities to be used in a commercial for UCare.

Council asked that the city employee be available at city council meetings or arrange for the second city employee to be at the meeting. Water meters are being installed but not as fast as needed. The city employee will contact residents so they can be home and he can install the meter. Residents are asked to help with this important job.

The council approved rental of the John Deere 3039R tractor and Frontier 90 inch cut mower for $500 a year or $30/hour with a return policy if it is unsatisfactory. The City hopes to use it to mow the outside of the ball diamond and the old ball diamond. They rented it from C & B Operations in Truman.

The council asked the police chief if there was any word about the graffiti sprayed on some buildings in Welcome and he said he was working on it but no arrests have been made.