WELCOME — The Welcome City Council met on Tuesday, July 1. Bolton and Menk Engineer Derek Behrens proposed a project payment of $71,000 for the street project. The council approved the proposal. He left newsletters about the project which listed the website residents may go to for information. He said residents may sign up for email notices. The newsletter was sent to the residents affected by the project. The newsletter listed the timeline, questions about private utilities, a map of the streets affected, sewer and water disruptions, right of way private improvements, questions about garbage, construction work areas, parking, listing uncompleted tasks, lawn seeding and driveways.

Behrens stated that next week sewer and water may be affected on first street.

In other matters, public works asked about a company that would salvage trees and make them available to plant to replace the trees removed. The city has about 15 to 20 trees and the company would charge $100 a piece to salvage them. The grant Welcome received states that a tree must be planted where a tree had to be removed due to the Emerald Ash Borer disease that infested Welcome. The city public works employees water the trees planted already. This was approved.

Councilperson Linda Stauter reported on the park committee meeting and suggested several projects they would like started. The council discussed the possible projects and decided that they would approve the special child swing for $1,300 and the continuation of the improvements to the shelter house at Keck Park. The border has been replaced and it is very nice.

The price was less than they budgeted at $1,500. There will be a sign by the water trough and one listing the park across the street from the city hall as the Welcome American Legion Post 553 Park. Both signs will be made by Lee Hanson.

The engineering firm of Bolton and Menk donated $500 to the park fund. One of the suggestions for possible projects is to restore the building at that park. The park committee is looking into grants to help with that project. The springy animals at Keck Park have been a liability issue with the insurance company. Another possible suggestion was to replace those animals. They also suggested mini golf and a skating rink in the winter.

The Historical Society has finished the sale of the property near the museum. There was a back taxes of $50-plus issue paid and then the attorney approved the sale. A suggestion of a plexi glass display of Welcome history similar to the one in Truman was made. This will cost about $450 a piece.

In other news:

— The second reading of the ordinance for Cannabis Business regulations was read after discussion about the acceptablility of the location and if there were any regulations about residences nearby the Council approved the ordinance.

— There was a public comment about the weeds at the parks not being mowed. The Mayor and the park committee council person discussed the problem already with the public works and included the city hall and the storage area. They will be working on it.

— The Welcome Fire Department members requested an update on the retirement fund contribution from the city to allow the fire department to raise the retirement to $1,200. After discussion with the department representative, the council approved the upgrade to go into effect Jan. 1, 2026. The representative answered questions about how many would be eligible for retirement (3). One has filed the paperwork. The other two are potential. He said the department had 25 firefighters now.

— A bill was approved for $10,000-plus from Rosburg Construction for the improvements and fixing intakes near the ball park where water was standing. The intake was crushed by traffic the culvert should now be four feet deep.

— Police Chief Trevor Yochim reported that there were five to six children at the Welcome Bike Rodeo on June 28. He was pleased with the turnout. He has been watching mowing ordinance violations and tractor trailer parking in the city and said he has not had a problem with either of those.

The Council went into a closed session.

The next meeting of the Welcome City Council will be at 6 p.m. on July 15 at City Hall.