WELLMAN

The Wellman City Council met on Monday, June 17 for a regular meeting. Here, the council approved a myriad of things while also raising city employee wages by 4% across the board. They also listened to a concerned resident during public forum.

This concerned resident spoke about his concerns regarding stray cats in Wellman. He claimed a neighbor feeds and houses many of these cats, exacerbating the issue. He also stated the cats have free range in and out of the neighbor’s house.

The resident then stated he captures stray cats on his property and releases them elsewhere but is growing tired of doing so and wants the city to take action.

In the past, the city dealt with their growing cat population by passing an ordinance which places responsibility upon the shoulders of those who feed stray cats. This means damages and any other issue can be taken up with town residents who feed stray cats.

Despite this, neither the city nor the concerned resident can prove that his neighbor feeds the cats and thus, the city wasn’t sure what their next step would be.

After discussing the cat overpopulation issue in depth, the concerned resident shifted focus to another issue. He claims a different neighbor has a garage coated in lead paint. He claims the lead paint is chipping off and working its way onto his property. He also claims he tested the paint, proving it is lead.

If true, the chipped paint could be a health hazard for the concerned resident, the owner of the garage, and the community as a whole.

The council pondered what their next step could be for this issue. They could not act on either issue during this meeting since neither was on the agenda. However, it seems the council will revisit one or both of the issues addressed by the concerned resident at a later date.

 Council action

The council discussed a pavement project at 9th Avenue, south of Highway 22.

This project is a necessity, according to City Administrator Kelly Litwiller. If the city does the project now, it could cost around $300,000. If they wait, the price will double. If they wait more than a year, the cost becomes even more unclear, meaning action now will save the city in the long run.

The council asked Litwiller to continue looking into this project, hoping to make it a priority later on.

The council approved a quote from Kevin’s Concrete LLC to do minor road repairs.

The council set a public hearing date for a proposed conveyance of right of way easement to Wapello Rural Water Association, Inc. on Monday, July 1.

The council approved a quote from Kay Park Recreation to replace picnic tables.

The council discussed a tree stump removal project with Kalonial Tree Services, but tabled the discussion as more could be added in the future.

Next council meeting: The Wellman City Council will meet again on Monday, July 1, at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall for their next regular meeting.