Perhaps it’s been tried and failed many times in the past, but a Wayland woman presented a proposal to establish some kind of a community center so local teens have something to do after school instead of hanging out and getting into trouble.

Jen Kuyt, who manages Country Cat Rescue Lady, told City Council members Monday evening that she would like to have a place for teen-agers ands pre-teens to go after they get out of school Mondays through Fridays. Calling on the theory that idleness is the Devil’s workshop, she said she would like to have a role in providing a safe place for the kids to go while their parents are at work.

“I don’t know where to start,” she said. “I’m not a business person, but there’s obviously a great need for it.

Kuyt said she’s not looking for the city’s financial support, but she would like its endorsement to give the effort some legitimacy.

She brought in Wayland High School senior Samantha Ostrowski, who moved here from Arizona a couple of years ago and has been overwhelmed since arriving here.

Kuyt said, “This is what your teens are begging for and I’m willing to provide it.”

She said she envisions a place for young people to study and do homework, to socialize and perhaps even listen to music.

Right now teens from the Hillside Learning Center volunteers at the cat rescue for a short time each day and they could come in early each day to prep the place and some maintenance.

Her current service site, which also trains cats to be pals with senior citizens at Green Acres, isn’t big enough for a teen center, so she needs to find a site for a center and hopes to list support from area businesses.

City Manager Josh Eggleston said, “We (the city) don’t have land, we don’t have a building… I think she’s asking for moral support for a public-private partnership.”

Council listened, but took no action.

In other business at Monday’s meeting, the council:

• Decided to move forward on a plan to allow social districts for businesses, identifying a common outdoor place for people to imbibe adult beverages, especially during special occasions and festivals.

• Learned from City Clerk Leann Clausen that her office is applying for a grant for election equipment to better handle this year’s primary and general because the city now has two precincts.

• Agreed to allow a Youth Baseball and Softball parade from the lot across from the State Police post down North Main to Cherry Street, then to the City Park.

• Approved STG Website’s offer to handle the city’s web site because IT Right is no longer doing the job. City Treasurer said STG will make the site “more user friendly.”

• Approved the hiring of Natalie Garcia as interim director of the Downtown Development Authority until a permanent director can be found. DDA Director Teryl Austin resigned the post earlier this winter.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was published in error. The city has a policy in which relatives cannot be appointed without a unanimous vote. Tracy Bivins voted no to Garcia’s appointment, so it was not approved.

• Approved the request for a special use permit to allow a contracted yard at a business at 1105 133^rd Ave. after receiving a recommendation from the Planning Commission.

COVER PHOTO: Jen Kuyt speaks to members of the Wayland City Council.