WELCOME — The Welcome City Council met on Tuesday evening and one of the items on the agenda was a public hearing about the Street Improvement Project for 2025, presented by Travis Winter, an engineer from Bolton and Menk. This was the first of two hearings about the project. There were several residents at the meeting despite the snowy weather.

Winter presented a handout to the residents with maps and a detailed scope, impact and schedule proposed. He explained the handout information and held a question-and-answer session. Proposed improvements listed were: street reconstruction, driveways and curb and gutter and sidewalks, storm sewer mains and catch basins and manholes, sanitary sewer manholes and castings, sanitary sewer lines to property lines, replace water main and hydrants and valves and water service lines to the property. Some streets affected were First and Second Streets, Mill Street, part of Quarterline, Dugan, Cleveland, and Kruse Streets. This area has had water problems due to poor sealing, small tiles, and catch basins. The water mains are old (some over 50 years old) and are near the end of their service life, or passed it, and some may not be operational.

The streets are cracking and have been patched and sidewalk conditions are fair or nonexistent. Most members agreed that it was past time to make improvements to Welcome streets and utility lines but asked that the payment be stretched out to 20 or 25 years due to the school building referendum raising taxes also. The city council agreed that it is a bad time but it can not be put off any longer and should have been done long ago. The council said, “Let’s do it right this time”.

There are some “unique” properties in this area and the city may change the policy. Questions about the streets being torn up prompted Winter to reply that there are plans to not have everything torn up simultaneously. Some impacts listed on the handout were: driveways may be cut off, parking may have to be on side streets, water may have periodic shutoff times, utility interruptions periodically, some trees may have to be removed and any special needs residents should contact the city or Winter. The mail and garbage will be coordinated with the construction company. Residents will have an opportunity to make arrangements with the construction company to go further than the property line for driveways and new pipe connections for water and sewer. The streets are planned to be 36 feet wide and curb and gutter for all even if the sidewalk looks good. The slope of the street may change if needed.

The assessment hearing is planned for possibly June 2026 and a second assessment hearing in the fall of 2026. The estimated assessment was $60 to $100 per foot of frontage for streets. Water service typically is $2,600 each and Sanitary sewer service is $1,800 each. It has been past practice for Welcome to cap the assessments at 10 percent of market value. City council can apply policy. The plans are not completed as yet but the preliminary cost estimates are: $586,235 for water main construction; $717,685 for sanitary sewer construction; $613,230 for storm sewer construction and $1,641,520 for street construction. The funding for the project is proposed from general obligation bonds, special assessments, tax levies, and possible rate increases. A chart explained the preliminary project funding was $491,310 from assessments and $3,067,360 from the city. The original map had many more streets to fix but the city council had to whittle the wants from the needs and the list of streets came down to the proposed project presented. All agreed it is going to be very expensive but has to be done and in the future, some others may be done.

The city council meeting had several other things on its agenda. One was a question and answer session with MCW superintendent Cori Reynolds and two school board members. The council asked about the plan to demolish the school building in Welcome and sale of the school.

The superintendent reminded all that the election passed the referendum which had as part of it the possible sale of part of the school. The superintendent and school board member explained that if the school gym was sold it would lower the amount needed by the school district for demolition thus saving money for the residents. The ballot had a term that the sale would be for the “betterment of the property”. The school will need to go to the zoning and planning committee if the property would be used for storage for a business.

The superintendent also reminded the residents that the sale must be by March 31, 2025, and the buyer must have a surety bond for $200,000 in case the buyer backs down. The council reminded the school board that the realtor said the rezoning would be a condition of sale. Overdue taxes and assessments on the school were mentioned and the school district will take over those assessments. The sale amount less assessments would give the school district some extra money for the school building project. None of that would go to the general fund, only to the building fund. If there is no sale by March 31 the school district would begin demolition procedures. Some residents at the meeting remarked that it should have been demolished long ago. The school district explained that things move slowly when legal steps and many considerations had to be fulfilled.

In other business:

— The council approved the tax resolution to be collected in 2025.

— The council discussed the defective meter matter and approved the resolution proposed that the amount paid be shown as a credit for the resident until the meter readings caught up in about two months.

— Council reports discussed the water tower situation with the Internet company not using it and not paying and the Council approved turning off the power to that antenna since they have not returned communication with the city.

— Police Chief Trevor Yochim reported that 16 children (10 households) participated in the Shop with a Cop on Dec. 13 and that $4,400 was raised, $3,000 was used with the children for lunch, and the rest will be given as gift cards from Fareway to the families for food.

Santa Day at the Welcome Legion was also successful. He mentioned that November arrests were the most in some years. Supervisors must stay on top of snow removal and sidewalk cleaning. The business should salt the sidewalk by their business after the city sweeps it free of snow. A reminder that snow piled in the middle of the street means no parking until the snow is removed.

The next meeting of the Welcome City Council is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Jan. 7, 2025, at City Hall.