WELCOME– The Welcome City Council held a meeting on Tuesday evening. Travis Winter, engineer from Bolten and Menk, reported on the Economic Development Association land east of the storage buildings which may have storage buildings built on it. The council approved the company to start planning for needed issues to resolve such as culverts and later road access; right-of-way; water access; watershed issues; property lines; county concerns; storm sewer; and possible Department of Health concerns at an estimated cost of $170,000.

City Works employee, Max Longley, reported on estimates for a broom attachment that would sweep snow on sidewalks in the downtown area. The estimate from Yeager Implement in Blue Earth was $6900+. When the legion manager brought up the need for better sidewalk cleaning at a previous meeting, especially snow, he mentioned that the businesses and the legion had pledged to help with expenses of that attachment. The council had some questions about other estimates, what parts of downtown would be cleaned, how much time would the city employees need to clean that, and how liable would the City be. There are businesses that are empty so the sidewalk doesn’t get cleaned sometimes and some businesses do not clean their sidewalk. The council approved the purchase after the insurance company would be contacted and approved.

Moving to other matters, Fire Department Chief, Jay Mulso, reported that they had concerns about the cabins at Fox Lake and requested approval to send a letter to those affected to the effect that sometimes the fire department may not be able to reach those cabins since the road is not plowed and then the next part of the road is actually private drives. The council agreed.

Mulso also reported that he and another fire fighter were at the State Capitol and talked to some finance committee members to let them know there is a need for bonding for a new fire hall. There was a request for plans so he asked for $20,000 to start the architecture firm of Brunton Architects to begin evaluating and planning the building. The architects will need to do a walk through of the old fire hall and investigate the sites proposed and the old plans that had been started. There will be a work session with the city council, fire department and police department about any plans and proposed needs. The fire department currently either has equipment at other fire departments or parks some equipment outside because they have no room.

The Chief also invited the council to witness a burn down by Welcome and a controlled burn by Ceylon this spring or summer to which the council agreed. Township officials will also be invited to witness these.

In other news:

— The detachment of a parcel of land in the city limits that was rural or agricultural was discussed again and the vote to oppose the detachment passed. The council was concerned about water and sewer usage and also setting a precedent for the other residents near the land in question.

— Federated Rural Electric Association (REA) would like to build a new substation east of the old one and notified the city council. REA is investigating right now and will notify the city if they decide to build.

— The Township gave $100,000 to the new rescue truck for the fire department, but had pledged $50,000 and requested the extra $50,000 back to distribute this year. The council approved the payback.

— Mayor, Dan Schmidtke, reported that there was a large bump in the road by the railroad near K&H and that the county fixed it for now but the State said they would repair it completely next summer/spring.

— Police Chief, Trevor Yochim, reported that the new squad car was delivered and that the old car is going to get graphics removed and then be sold. There has been an application for a part-time employee and that will be worked on and perhaps added by April.

The council went into closed session.

The next meeting of the Welcome City Council will be 6 p.m. Feb. 21, at Welcome City Hall.