WILSON — The City of Wilson is looking for a few good bus drivers. At the Feb. 18 meeting of the Wilson City Council, city clerk Susan Kriley said she has nine drivers signed up to drive the city bus, but only four or five can drive during the week. She and Mayor Mike Peschka encouraged anyone interested in driving the city bus to call city hall.

In other business:

• Four properties in Wilson have been found by the city’s board of health to be in violation of city ordinances. They are 809 to 815 24th St., 2211 Ave. E, 720 26th St., and 2203 Ave. E.

Letters will be send to the owners giving them a 30-day deadline to begin cleaning the properties. Included in the letters will be photographs and a copy of the report for each property. The owners have the right to a hearing with the city council.

“We need to consider these on a case-by-case basis and be fair,” Peschka said.

The council approved the findings of the board of health on the properties that need cleaning.

• Approval was given to a $1,243.12 quote from Wilson Communications to purchase a new Dell personal computer for the city office. In addition, the city will pay $45 per month for managed services. The city has the option to opt out of the managed services after a year.

• Approval was given to Wilson Police Chief Joshua Tipton to attend training March 4 in Salina.

• Tipton said Wilson’s Emergency Planning Committee met this past week to review the city’s emergency plan and updates. In a related matter, approval was given to Tipton’s recommendation to add Jerry Florian and Shawn Shipley to the city’s emergency planning committee, along with Christopher Heki.

• Council member Darcy Hubka-Vopat presented the updated form for those wanting to participate in the city basketball league. It received consensus approval by the council.

• Hubka-Vopat said she is looking at possibly expanding the equipment available at Jellison Park. The possibilities include a Mini-Putt Putt golf course and tennis courts. She is also exploring grant opportunities and will start putting something together.

Council member Chuck Crawford said he and council member Ryan Stoppel are continuing to develop a mission statement for the city. Discussion and action on the statement was tabled until a future meeting.

• Approval was given to the 2020 list of officers for the Wilson Fire Department: Joe Soukup, fire chief; Michael Ellis, first assistant fire chief; Brad Schiermeyer, second assistant fire chief; Tyler Denham, secretary; Sheldon Frederking, treasurer; and Jack Koch, reports officer.

• The proposed abandoned property ordinance was briefly discussed, but no action was taken. Theresa Staudinger, city attorney, was not at the meeting, and Peschka noted she wanted to talk about the ordinance before it was considered by the council.

“I think it’s a good idea,” said Cindy Heinze, council president. “I also think it’s going to be a greatly indepth thing to do.”

“Our intent is to try to do something positive for the city,” Peschka said.

• Approval was given to a revised proposal from Kirkham Michael & Associates of Ellsworth for work on the city streets. Crawford said the original multi-point proposal cost $15,500. The revised proposal is $4,350.

“I think we need the engineer evaluation and feasibility on this thing,” Crawford said in recommending approval for the proposal.

“Everything we’ve talked about tonight, almost, takes money,” Peschka said. “So any money we can save someplace, can end up being money we can divert to somewhere else.”

• No action was taken after a 10 minute executive session to discuss non-elected personnel.

• The council discussed applying for a grant from the Kansas Department of Commerce for housing rehabilitation and demolition for low income property owners. Peschka noted the city has received this grant twice in the past. The council would apply through the North Central Regional Planning Commission in Beloit.

“It potentially could help out some people,” Peschka noted.

The application for the grant is due by the end of August.

The next meeting of the Wilson City Council will be at 7 p.m. Monday, March 2, at city hall.