This year’s extremely wet weather has caused the Wells Golf Course to be closed to motorized carts from time to time in order to keep from damaging the course.
The Wells City Council continues moving forward with the process of establishing ordinances to deal with situations brought about by changes to cannabis laws by the State of Minnesota..
The council has scheduled two public hearings for their Aug. 12 meeting. One of the public hearings will be on a change in the wording of the current moratorium the city has in place.
Assistant city attorney Libby Kantner explained there is a possibility that a change to the statutory definition of “cannabis business” could be understood/misunderstood to mean that businesses associated with the medical cannabis program and certain businesses authorized to begin growing cannabis prior to obtaining a full license (“early cultivators”) are not subject to the moratorium.
“The amendment does not change the expiration date of the moratorium,” Kantner reminded the council. “The expiration date for the moratorium is still Jan. 1, 2025.”
A second public hearing scheduled for Aug. 12 will be for a draft ordinance which would establish a registration and zoning framework for retailers of the Intoxicating Hemp Products.
“The draft ordinance creates a registration system that complies with state law and enables the city to know where Intoxicating Hemp Products are sold for purposes of compliance checks (similar to tobacco compliance checks),” Kantner said. “Additionally, the proposed ordinance allows the city to charge a registration fee to help offset the costs associated with compliance checks.”
Kantner shared the draft proposal also includes proposed amendments to the city’s existing zoning code which would prohibit the sales of these Intoxicating Hemp Products in residential districts as “home sales” and creates reasonable distance requirements between selling Intoxicating Hemp Products and schools (500 feet from school property).
“We look forward to having additional conversations with the City Council on the draft ordinance,” Kantner concluded.
City administrator Tiffany Schrader updated the council on the Wells Golf Course.
“As all of you know, this has been an exceptionally wet summer and there have been complaints going around regarding the decision to not allow golf carts on the course when it is wet,” Schrader said.
Schrader shared pictures of the golf course damage due to the use of carts when the course is excessively wet.
“I understand the frustration of those paying members,” Schrader added. “We continue to ask for patience and cooperation as we get through this. Our small community is lucky to have a golf course and those that maintain it take a lot of pride in it. Decisions are made in the best interest of the course, and we are doing the best we can.”
Other council members shared that SUVs and side-by-sides have also been driving across Half Moon Park and suggested it might be time to remind people that just like snowmobiles, the SUVs, side-by-sides along with other motorized vehicles, are not to be driven through the park.
Schrader reported the preliminary 2025 budget is nearing completion.
“Abdo has been great to work with during this time-consuming process,” Schrader mentioned. “Jesse Sturtz of Abdo has been very helpful.”
Schrader concluded her report with news that the upgrades to the Flame Theatre were complete.
“A new 13 foot by 28 foot-four-inch screen was installed along with a new DOLBY subwoofer, a new digital server, new amplifier and a new igniter, mirror and bulb for the projector,” Schrader said. “We recently increased the cost of our concessions and that was very well accepted by our patrons.”
The council also held a discussion on what can be done with certain houses around the city which either need extensive work or should be torn down. Some of the structures had been damaged by fire and some had holes in the roof which allowed critters to move in and out of the buildings as they pleased. They also talked about a house known as the Tyvek house because it has been wrapped in Tyvek for close to 10 years and never had a permanent exterior product, such as siding, installed on the house.
“We are also looking for direction on making it easier to obtain search warrants for blighted property for the purposes of cleaning them up,” Wells Police chief Tim Brenegan commented.
No decisions were reached but the council will continue to explore available options for dealing with those structures.
Brenegan also reported the new squad finally showed up.
“It is currently being outfitted with all of the equipment and should be ready by the end of the month,” Brenegan said. “The equipment cost has been paid for two years, but the installation costs have gone up and we may be billed for as much as $2,000.”
Street foreman Mike Pyzick informed council members that crack filling on the streets was underway.
“As for spraying mosquitoes, we have used up our leftover spray from last year,” Pyzick noted. “We ordered another half pallet and it cost $4,100. That is twice as expensive as what it cost in 2023.”
In other business, the council:
• Scheduled a budget workshop for July 22. It will be held at City Hall and begin at 5 p.m.
• Accepted the resignation of Amata Whiteside from the Flame Theatre.
• Had the final adoption of ordinance No. 2024-01 and authorized the summary publication of the ordinance.
• Adopted ordinance No. 2024 which made changes to how the Park Board was set up.
• Heard from city engineer Ben Rosol that the city should find out the status of their storm sewer grant by the end of July.