WELLMAN

The City of Wellman took another step forward on securing a second water source – Wapello Rural Water – and replacing water mains Monday night when the city council approved an advisory service agreement with Northland Securities and set a public hearing regarding a $2.7 million loan to fund the project. Northland Securities will act as financial advisor regarding the State Revolving Fund (SRF, a loan program that provides financial assistance to local governments for infrastructure projects) and temporary funding; the public hearing has been set for Monday, Oct. 21.

The city council also discussed needed computer and phone system updates at their Oct. 7 meeting, ultimately approving a $13,987 agreement with Impressions Computers, Inc, of Washington to replace a computer, server, backup drives, and router, as well as provide monthly computer service at the city office. Also approved was a new phone system to be provided by Wellman Coop Telephone Association; the current phone system is old and no longer reliable. Dropped calls and the occasional inability to dial out will become a thing of the past, and the addition of voicemail and hands-free headsets will be advantages of the new system.

The council approved preventative street and intake repairs to a portion of 6th Avenue North, as road shifting on sandy soil where natural springs were prevalent was occurring and conditions were likely to cause more costly damage in the future. However, the council voted to deny reimbursement to a resident on that street who paid for driveway repairs due to these same conditions, arguing that based on a report they received, the street did not damage the driveway, but rather the sandy soil and water flow.

Also during the meeting, the council passed resolutions approving the Urban Renewal Report, County TIF Certification, and Ginkgo Ave Bridge Replacement project.

At the conclusion, council member Aaron Fleming noted the opening of The Station tire and auto repair by Chris Miller this week at what was previously Reggie Tire on 9th Avenue.

“It looks really neat and clean in there,” he said. “It’s exciting to see a young man bringing a business to town.”

The Wellman City Council will next meet on Monday, Oct. 21 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.