Pat Frank Field at Thompson Park does not look like it will be ready for baseball anytime soon. While waiting for nicer weather, money is being raised so lights can be installed so teams can play games at night.

The Wells City Council learned it could be a complicated process to deal with demolishing a hazardous building located at 203 First Avenue SE in the city.

Speaking at a City Council meeting on March 13, city attorney Pamela Whitmore addressed the situation.

“There is a very specific statutory process which must be followed,” Whitmore explained. “The city can save money if we can reach the owner (Tristan Grant) and get their consent. It is the most efficient and cost effective method. However, we have been unable to reach Mr. Grant, and we do not anticipate success in doing so.”

Whitmore then shared the next step with the council.

“A resolution would need to be approved by the council ordering the abatement of the building,” she said. “The resolution will have to detail the conditions of the building, the inspections that have previously been performed and the city’s efforts to abate the situation. This resolution will be served on all property owners, lien holders, agents and tenants.”

Other steps include posting an order on the front door of the property and publishing it in the municipal newspaper for four weeks. The resolution is filed with the court administrator and a notice of a pending lawsuit is recorded against the property.

“Owners and lien holders may respond to the resolution by serving an answer within 21 days,” Whitmore commented. “If any answers are filed, the matter proceeds to a court hearing and possibly a trial, where we will prove the property is hazardous. If answers are not filed, the city will file a motion with the court asking for an order to abate/raze the building.”

Whitmore was asked about the cost associated with demolishing the property.

“After the city has made the repairs or demolished the building, costs are assessed and become a lien against the property that is collected as a special assessment or as a judgement,” Whitmore answered. “State law provides for the selling and storage of materials salvaged during the abatement.”

“We already know it has been deemed uninhabitable,” council member Brenda Weber said. “What about the possibility of having the Housing Redevelopment Authority (HRA) take over the property?”

Whitmore replied getting the HRA involved may lead to some requirements in the way the property is used after demolition.

The council directed Whitmore to outline different options available for utilizing the property, including having the HRA take ownership, and report back at a later meeting.

City administrator Connor LaPointe was on hand to give his report and told the council the Storm Sewer Fund currently had a $710,000 cash balance.

“The minimum target cash balance for this fund is $58,000,” LaPointe said. “We are planning to deposit $500,000 from the fund into a Certificate of Deposit with Peoples State Bank at 5.05 percent interest for 18 months. The money will be available again in 2024, and can be used for a large repair, expansion of the storm sewer system, or to cash flow the storm sewer portion of a street project.”

LaPointe then proceeded to inform council members a grant application is being prepared for renovations of the basketball courts at Thompson Park.

“The completed application will be available for review at our meeting on March 27,” he added. “After consulting with the Park Board, the application will be for funds to redo one basketball court and add three pickleball courts where the second court is located. It is highly doubtful we will receive the grant this year. But, our chances will be better the second year.”

LaPointe also told council members the city had received a $2,400 rebate from the Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency.

“This was for the Wells Community Center lighting project,” he explained.

The council also acted, by a resolution, to change the board of the Wells Economic Development Authority.

The board had consisted of seven members. After passing the resolution by a unanimous vote, the EDA board will now consist of five members, two of whom shall be sitting members of the City Council and three appointed residents of the city.

Discussion also took place concerning the concession stand at Thompson Park.

“Wells Concrete has had this concrete structure ready to be moved out to the park and it has sat in their yard for a number of years,” council member Crystal Dulas said. “It is taking up space and they would prefer to see it moved. It we are going to use it, they would like to see it happen.”

During discussion it was noted $2,000 had previously been earmarked for the concession stand. The council then decided to tap into their remaining ARPA funds and put $10,000 towards the concession stand and another $10,000 towards the lighting at Thompson Field. The council also put $20,280 of the ARPA funds towards the cost of outfitting the two Wells Police Department squad cars with cameras.

In other business, the council:

• Passed two resolutions accepting donations. A total of $23,850 was accepted to be used for the installation of baseball field lights at Thompson Park and a $2,000 donation was accepted for the Thompson Park scoreboard.

• Approved the request for a $10,000 donation from the city to the Wells Jaycees for the 2023 Wells Kernel Days celebration.