Wellman public works employees will have a shift change for the month of January, following council action on Monday, Dec. 21.

City Manager Kelly Litwiller said she had been asked by public works employees to consider changing the workday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Some council members wondered if starting the workday in darkness during the shorter days of the year would be beneficial for the city. But other council members pointed out that school children are boarding school buses shortly after 7 a.m. and said that there was sufficient light for many tasks.

Speaking in favor of the change, councilman Shannon McCain suggested that an earlier start would allow city workers to better serve residents. Since many homeowners leave for their job before 8 a.m., city workers would have time to talk with them about a concern before they left home. The information they gather from the resident can be more helpful than a work order, he said.

It was also suggested that an earlier start in the summer would allow city employees to complete some of their work in the cooler part of the day.

Council members voted for a trial run of the initiative during the month of January with an evaluation of the effectiveness of the change at the first meeting in February.

In other business, council members voted to remove a speed hump at the corner of 14th Street. and 6th North Avenue.

The hump was placed at the intersection several years ago after the city received complaints from residents of speeding on the street.

The residents are now calling for the hump to be removed, saying it was only marginally effective and is more of a hindrance than a help. One of the residents brought a petition to the council with a significant number of neighborhood signatures asking council to remove the hump.

Additionally, it was noted that emergency vehicles, including fire trucks and ambulances, find the hump an impediment when responding quickly to calls for aid.

Litwiller said the city would remove the hump as soon as it could be done without damaging the street.

Following removal of the hump, Mayor Ryan Miller suggested that the city conduct a speed study at the location to determine if a traffic control sign would be needed.