WELLMAN

Although they were down two members Monday night, the Wellman City Council conducted business as usual, mindful of the caucuses that would occur later that evening. Among other items on the Jan. 15 agenda was consideration of raising utility deposit amounts, which would require a change in city ordinance.

Currently the city requires a deposit of $200 for gas and $100 for water services. However, City Administrator Kelly Litwiller recommended the council consider raising these amounts for renters.

“When it comes to rental properties, those are the ones that we get burned on. Normally, anybody who owns a house takes responsibility,” Litwiller said.

“The landlords aren’t even responsible enough to tell us that somebody’s moved out and somebody’s moving in,” she explained. “A lot of times it’s less than 24 hours, and somebody’s out and somebody’s moved in. We don’t even know that the person who has left has even left. We need to find a way to make it so that we’re not getting stuck.”

Usually, it is the last and final utility bills that are left unpaid. Litwiller proposed deposits be raised to $250 for gas and $250 for water, for a total of $500 in deposits for renters. Deposits for homeowners would remain the same at $200/$100, for a total of $300.

“If you make them have a larger deposit up front, maybe they’re going to take more responsibility on making sure that they pay, because they’re going to want that money [back],” Litwiller said.

Mayor Ryan Miller suggested the city consult their attorney to make sure the policy change wouldn’t illegally discriminate against renters. Litwiller agreed to do so before bringing the proposed change back to the council for final approval.

Council Action

After receiving a complaint in public forum about an issue regarding snow plowing, the council took action on two items.

First, the council approved the city’s list of projects to be funded by the municipal grants they receive from the Washington County Riverboat Foundation (WCRF). The city will bring the projects before the WCRF board at their March meeting for their approval.

Second, the council approved both preliminary and final plats of survey for the George Kisner Estate. Two residential parcels will be separated from a larger plot of agricultural land that may be sold for development.

Snow Removal

At the conclusion of the meeting, council members expressed appreciation for those who worked hard to remove snow from streets and sidewalks after the two winter storms last week, which dropped about two feet of snow on the city. It was a stressful time for city employees, who put in 19-hour days and got very little sleep.

“They did a great job. We had very few complaints,” Litwiller said. “When there is so much snow, there are only so many places to put it.”

Council member Aaron Fleming noted the people who took out their four-wheelers and plows and helped their neighbors clear sidewalks and driveways, not for pay, but simply out of kindness. That doesn’t happen in every town, he suggested.

“It’s good to live in Wellman,” he said.