WELCOME — The Welcome City Council met Tuesday evening and there was a discussion of the trees to be planted in Welcome to replace the ash trees that were removed this spring. According to the grant given Welcome, a tree should be planted for every tree removed on city property. Welcome residents have a choice of kinds of trees as long as they are not ash or maple. There are many maple trees in Welcome and the ash is vulnerable to the ash borer.

The residents will have a flyer soon about the trees and where to plant them or if they chose to not plant a tree. There are flags in some yards that show where a tree was removed and that would be a yard that could chose a tree. Utility lines, sewer lines and power lines among other things may influence where the tree would be planted. The exact spot where a tree was removed is not the ideal place to plant. The grant is half done and the other half will be next year. The trees for residents cannot be planted on the City right-of-way. The residents that had trees removed will get first choice in replacing trees. Watch for more information to residents soon.

The comments and questions time also asked about spraying for bugs especially for the festival weekend. City employees will spray both parks.

In other business:

• The meeting continued with discussion on the conditional use permit requested by Ean Sinn for a funeral home in a residential zone. St. Paul’s Church building on Dugan Street would be used as a visitation-only part of his funeral company. The council approved the permit.

• The council discussed the payment of the contractor that repaired the shelter house at Keck Park and reminded the park board that any payment over $500 had to be approved by the entire council. The park board thought they had permission from a previous meeting. Workmanship on the shelter house was questioned also. The council did approve replacing the inner door with a steel

door that could be locked while the shelter house is open.

• The council discussed the Community Garden’s steel bins that were removed and mistakenly given to a resident. The park board planned to repurpose the bins. The resident did not return the bins in the condition that they were given to him when told of the miscommunication. They discussed charges of destroying City property with the Chief of Police.

• The First Street gravel situation by the FREA building was discussed. The matter was tabled after the council discussed the problem.

• The City has received $30,000+ in public safety aid and approved splitting that evenly between the fire department and the police department.

• The ball field water situation was discussed and the map brought up was an old map. The south tile is used. This will be revisited again when the street improvement project is done next year. There are water meters that are not responding since they were installed incorrectly or are not the right water meters. Some have no owners of the property residing there. The owners have been notified and have some time to comply. Water shut off will happen if there is no compliance.

• The council approved the attendance at a Clerk’s Academy for the new city clerk, Catherine Arens.

• A resident has replaced her driveway and found a water problem at the city curb while digging for the driveway. This matter was tabled until the next meeting so that the charges could be determined. The council discussed paying half and the resident was agreeable with that.

• Police Chief, Trevor Yochim, introduced the part-time officer, Shaylnn Anderson. He also mentioned the county system is being worked on so citations can be done with the computers.

• The council thanked Max and Dave for working so well when the many inches of rainwater came in June.

• The park board asked that the pickle ball court be worked on soon.

• The dump has been monitored but large tree trunks and garbage has been dropped there. Only wood about six inches in diameter is to be brought to the dump by Welcome residents only. The dump hours are posted and the key is available with the dump monitor employee and city hall.

• The council was reminded that there will be a Township and City Fire Department’s meeting at 6 p.m. on July 23 at the Fox Lake Township Hall.

The next meeting of the Welcome City Council is scheduled for Aug. 6, at the city hall in Welcome.