WELCOME — The Welcome City Council met on Tuesday evening. The Park Committee mentioned several things they have discussed that may be done later, such as: benches at the parks for parents to use; mini golf; frisbee golf; pickle ball court; dog park; and replacing springy animals. These will be done only if there is money to purchase them. The Park fund has some funds, one is a fund that can be used (approximately $9,000), and one is a fund that needs to be designated ($110,000) before use.

The Tree Grant Update was given by Clerk Jodi Hemann and Public Works employee Max Longley. The grant will not pay for any trees planted on private property, only on city-owned property. If a tree is planted on private land, the city can not deal with it for thirty years. The city has ordered enough to plant, and if any die, they can dig up one and replant it to replace the dead tree.

They ordered 92 trees. The grant has extended the time for planting. A question about native landscaping was explained. There would be no mowing, and the police would have to monitor the grass concerning the ordinance.

In other business at the meeting, there were several public comments.

The first was a member of the MCW School Board, Jeff Scholl, who wanted to update the council on the Welcome School building sale.

The council had sent a letter to the school district asking about a timeline for the sale or demolition of the building. Scholl reminded the council that it takes time to properly do a sale or demolition. There was a miscommunication somewhere about the security bond that the person bidding on the property must have to protect the school district and the city in case something untoward should happen to the person extending a bid. The offer has been made, he said, and the signs from the realtor have been asked to be removed since it is a good offer and the only one so far.

He mentioned that selling the property will save the school district and the city the money to demolish the buildings. The school board only meets once a month, which may prolong the negotiations. The council asked that they be kept informed more than they have been; the school district has had four years to do something. The question of rezoning from residential to commercial and the need for grass mowing on the property were discussed. Scholl said he would take the concerns and information back to the school board, which had just had a meeting on the subject the night before.

In another public comment, the EDA would like a plan to make an access road to the storage units by Bidwell Street, and then to the properties they would sell for homes north of that. If sewer and water, and other utilities are planned for that area, the access must be made first and built up so culverts, etc., could be put in.

This comment led to a comment on the access road being made by the excess dirt that would be available when road construction is done. The council wondered if there were some legal aspects they would need to answer about the road made by them or the owner of the storage lot. Bolton and Menk Engineer Travis Winter will ask if the construction company would be willing to deposit the dirt there and level it, and pack it.

In other business:

— The Planning and Zoning Committee authorized a new member, Brandon Becker, who was announced by Elroy Glidden and Dan Schmidtke.

— A resignation of the ball field maintenance employee was discussed with a suggestion to hire someone for next year, possibly now, so that person could be trained by the current ball field maintenance person, who had done a good job. Council Stauter explained the Park Committee’s concerns and requests coming from their May meeting. They will meet again at 6 p.m. on June 10 at the City Shop.

— The council approved the replacement of the railroad ties with a border for about $6,000 at Keck Park. They saw a design for the sign to be placed at the park across the street from the city Hall. They approved the design. Lee Hanson will make the sign and donate it to the city. A former council member reported that it is called Welcome 553 Legion Park, but no sign has ever been set up. The council approved opening the shelter house by the Public Works employee, and the police would lock it around sunset.

— Winter updated the council on the road project and reported that the construction company may begin in June. He agreed that they would not be working during the summer festival days in July.

— Two things to be tabled for the next meeting were mentioned (raise water rates and part-time assistant clerk).

— A representative from Northern Natural Gas, Matthew Ellis, discussed some plans they have already made for the building they plan to build on the corner of 130th Street and County Road 27, north of the fertilizer plant. The building is planned to be similar in size but smaller than the REA building. The property is purchased, and all the State and City permits are done. An architectural firm is ready. He said they were excited to start building in Welcome.

The Welcome City Council’s next meeting will be at 6 p.m. on June 3 at the City Hall.