WELLMAN

Residents of Wellman will soon be notified of a change to the billing due date for city utilities. On Monday, the city council approved a motion which included changing the due date from the 10th of the month to the 28th, which will take effect in September.

“The reason that we’re proposing to change the dates is to speed up the process a little bit,” said utility clerk Cindy Thrapp. “Right now, you read a meter at the end of the month, you don’t send the bill out until the 15th of the following month, and it’s not due until the 10th of the following month.”

The new process will have bills sent out on the eighth of each month with the days allowed for payment reduced to 20.

When the new process is adopted, Wellman residents will have a month where two bills will be due eighteen days apart. September was chosen so that residents would not receive two bills during a later month like November when gas bills are much higher.

“This won’t change anything for anybody who’s on heating assistance, the LIHEAP program… nothing will change,” Thrapp said. “The biggest thing will be the first month that it changes, just because you’ll have a bill that normally would be due on the 10th, and we’ll have a bill that had been sent out early and it's going to be turned around and due on the 28th. So, they technically will have two bills due in the same month.”

Public Forum

The council heard from a resident of 6th Ave North, who described a growing cavity under the apron of his driveway. The four-foot hole was recently fixed, but the resident shared concerns about where the ground is going.

Mayor Ryan Miller said that the city was unable to find any cavities under the road itself. The city plans to continue monitoring the location.

Fireworks Fallout

The council also discussed the reasons for the cancellation of Wellman’s July 4th fireworks. There was miscommunication between the Wellman Community Club and Richmond Shooters leading up to the day of the event. While the Community Club planned to make the call Thursday afternoon, they were told Thursday morning that there was only time to set up about half of the typical show.

“If he unloads and it rains, there was a possibility of taking an $18,000 bath for the city and losing $18,000 worth of fireworks, and I’ve got to make that decision now,” council member Nathan Klostermann said.

The council also discussed the suitability of other potential locations for future fireworks shows.

Council Action

A resolution was passed authorizing conveyance of Right of Way Easement to Wapello Rural Water Association, Inc.

The council passes a resolution amending salaries set for employees of the City of Wellman for FY25.

The City of Wellman Street Finance Report for 2024 and the Outstanding Debt Obligation report were both approved.

The council also voted to waive the right to review the plat of survey for PR Schrock.

An agreement with Gronewold, Bell, Kyhn & Co. regarding the annual review was approved as well.

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