WILSON — David Criswell, owner of Kansas Foods Inc. and a member of the Wilson City Council, sought answers from his fellow council members during Monday’s council meeting. The questions, contained in a Sept. 20 memo from Criswell to the council, are related to his request for an animal permit waiver.

Criswell asked the council whether they thought making audio recordings of the council meetings was unreasonable.

He also requested the city provide a written copy of the prepared notes city attorney Theresa Staudinger read at the July 6 council meeting regarding his waiver request.

“The taxpayers paid for this report and I’ve always believed that if it’s not written down, it didn’t happen,” Criswell said. “We ought to have a written copy of what she told us.”

Third, Criswell alleged that Dr. David Sells, a retired small animal veterinarian, made statements at past city council meetings that, in his opinion, were not supported by professional literature. Criswell alleged those statements were mostly untrue.

“At the time he made his statements, he was on the board of health, and now he is chairman of the board of health,” Criswell said. “I’d like to know if you think it is unreasonable to ask that he provide some written documentation to support his statements?”

Mayor Mike Peschka said on the question of making audio recordings of the council meetings, he could make an argument either way.

“With technology, anybody can record meetings,” he said.

Peschka said the recordings would become part of the public record.

“Which for the most part is fine — I don’t have a problem with that at all,” he added.

He did have a concern, however, with an innocent, off-thecuff comment made during a meeting being misunderstood and on the public record.

“I don’t say anything that I am concerned about someone replaying my words,” Peschka said. “If I said it, I said it.”

Regarding the information presented by Staudinger, Peschka said he asked for the notes twice. Staudinger told him they were just handwritten notes, not a prepared statement. Peschka said she sent an e-mail Friday stating she had performed a diligent search for the notes but could not produce them.

“So she does not have a record of her notes,” Peschka said.

Regarding Dr. Sells past statements, Peschka said at the last council meeting, the majority of the council approved Dr. Sells as chairman of the board of health.

“I don’t believe the majority of the council is concerned about his statements,” Peschka said. “I don’t feel like when he was talking about the goats he was representing the board of health or the city, he was representing David Sells.”

Peschka said unless the council wishes to pursue these three matters further, he considers them over and done with.