WILSON — A discussion concerning the recruitment of a new attendant for the city burn pile topped the agenda Monday during a meeting of the Wilson City Council.

Mayor Larry Ptacek said city employee Steve Ford took the job as attendant recently, but doesn’t know if he can continue it. Ford will remain burn pile attendant until Nov. 30.

Ptacek then led the discussion on the recruitment of a new attendant.

“I feel it should go out to application,” he said, adding for the city’s purposes an independent contractor would be the best solution.

Other discussion centered around whether the applicant needs to be a resident of Wilson and what the job would pay.

Council member Darcy Hubka-Vopat said requiring the applicant to be a resident of Wilson would severely limit responses.

Ptacek said offering more pay for the job would also increase the number of applicants.

In the end, the council decided to seek an independent applicant. The applicant does not necessarily have to live in Wilson, and the pay would be $9.50 per hour.

The new winter hours for the burn pile will be from noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays.

In other business:

• City superintendent Marty Prester said the city crew repaired water leaks, has been working on alleys and scraped the road at Jellison Park. He said the water tower was inspected Nov. 1 and both the inside and outside need painted. City crews are also in the process of raising meter lids on the streets and working on replacing signage so it is more readable.

Wilson Police Chief Josh Tipton is working with Prester to develop a plan for signage on Ave. E in an attempt to slow traffic and make drivers aware of children playing in the area. Tipton suggested “Children at Play” signs be installed at both ends of the street and a “Pedestrian Crossing” sign be installed near the alley. He also suggested a crosswalk be installed to improve safety.

Council member Chuck Crawford asked Tipton about possibly installing rumble strips in that area. Tipton said rumble strips wouldn’t work because they would be bladed up this winter as crews remove snow from the streets.

• City clerk Susan Kriley said the city will save $43 a month for Blue Cross-Blue Shield medical coverage for 2020. The new rate for 2020 is $451.18 per month, down from $494.52 per month in 2019.

• Kriley said the city’s tan van is now back in service and the city’s 1988 GMC salt truck has been placed on the Purple Wave auction site for sale. The auction ends Nov. 19.

• Kriley noted the burn pile passed state inspection Oct. 3.

• Approval was given to a request to waive trash service at 2904 Ave. G.

• Ptacek appointed Tipton to chair the city’s emergency preparedness committee on a recommendation from the current chairman, Jeanne Heki. She will remain a member of the committee, however. The council approved Ptacek’s appointment of Tipton.

• Tipton said the Wilson Police Department conducted Red Ribbon Week activities last week at Wilson School with the assistance of the Ellsworth Sheriff ’s Office. Tipton talked to the students about drug and Halloween safety and the sheriff ’s office K-9 unit did a demonstration for the students.

The next meeting of the Wilson City Council will be at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18, at city hall.