Everly will be looking a bit more clipped come wintertime.

The city council on Monday awarded a bid to David Lux for $20,000 to remove and trim trees in town. Ten trees will be removed at a cost of $10,000, while the rest of the money will go towards trimming overgrowth in the road right-of-way. The work is to be done by Thanksgiving.

Trees became a point of discussion for the council earlier this summer. In June, resident Jim Hartmann complained that several trees in the right-of-way were overgrown, which he said created hazards from falling branches during storms.

In other business, Mayor Brad Behrens gave an update on progress at the city's water tower. The structure's exterior and interior are in the process of getting new coats of paint.

Behrens said tanks have been brought in to hold treated water while work is being done. It wasn't part of the initial plan, but Behrens felt it was necessary.

"It would look really dumb right now dumping treated water during a drought," he said. "I wasn't too happy about it, but what are you gonna do?"

Maguire Iron, Inc., of Sioux Falls, S.D., is completing the work. The council earlier this year awarded a contract to the company worth $129,750, which included the current painting job as well as future checkups and maintenance scheduled through 2026.

The contract allows the $129,750 sum to be spread out over five fiscal years with the city paying $25,950 annually through 2025. The agreement also includes a sixth-year visual inspection in 2026 with a price tag of $10,708.

After the inside and outside are repainted, Maguire Iron will return each year to complete routine maintenance and a variety of other checkups. The agreement allows the city to budget expenses instead of paying one lump sum upfront, according to previous council discussion.

The 100,000-gallon water tower was built in 2001 and still has its original paint job and sealcoating. A representative from Maguire Iron noted earlier this year that it was important to complete the upgrades as soon as possible so the company didn't have to completely strip and repaint the exterior.

Microchipping of paint, as well as mold and mildew buildup, will be addressed with the new coat and sealant. City officials have warned that water pressure may fluctuate while work is completed and are asking residents to conserve water when possible.