WILSON — In February, the Wilson City Council will begin meeting one hour earlier.

At Monday’s council meeting, approval was given to change the time of council meetings from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m., beginning Feb. 1. The council will continue to meet the first and third Mondays of the month at city hall.

In other business:

During a city board of health update on abandoned and junk vehicles, the council gave the owner of the two vehicles at 616 24th St. until 4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19, to bring them into compliance with city ordinance.

The owner of the two vehicles at 507 24th St. was cleared by the council because the vehicles are now in compliance with the city ordinance.

Other cases of abandoned and junk vehicles were discussed, including those at 3016 Ave. E, 705 24th St. and 2207 Ave. C.

The status of two properties deemed to be in violation of city ordinances by the board of health were also reviewed. They are 305 24th St. and 308 26th St.

The following appointments for 2021 were approved: Wilson State Bank, city bank; Theresa Staudinger of Peterson & Staudinger LLC, city attorney; The Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter, city newspaper; Jennifer O’Hare of the O’Hare Law Firm, municipal judge; Susan Kriley, municipal court clerk, city clerk and treasurer; Joshua Tipton, police chief; mileage rate paid by the city set at 56 cents.

Also approved were: Board of Health volunteers Joshua Tipton, Debra Hill, Jeremy Hlad, E. David Sells, Corie Soukup and Niki Whitmer; David Criswell, chairman of the Tree Board with members Matt Beckman, Eldon Whitmer, and Warren Bushnell; Emergency Preparedness Committee members Joshua Tipton, chairman; members Jerry Florian, Keith Haberer, Christopher Held, Jeanne Heki, the Rev. Ron Lowry, Sheron Lowry, Katie Nelson, Shawn Shipley, Debbie Whitmer and Terry Whitmer along with Mayor Mike Peschka and Fire Chief Joe Soukup; Transient Guest Tax Committee members, Melinda Merrill, president; Susan Curtiss, vice president; Allison Ford, secretary; and members Marge Lawson, Rick Weigel, Stacie Schmidt, Renee McGaffic, Bubba Mikulecky and Jerry Florian.

Council representatives to local boards and committees are: David Criswell, Wilson Forever Fund Advisory Committee; Chuck Crawford, Ellsworth County Economic

Approval to bill the owners of the Wilson Chamber of Commerce visitor’s center and the property at 312 27th St. $100 and $145, respectively, for their share of the annual Union Pacific Railroad land leases.

Approval was given to sell the city’s used Christmas tree lights and Czech banners on Facebook and on Wilson Buy, Sell, Trade for $20 each in “as is” condition.

Wilson Police Chief Joshua Tipton said in the last year more residents are stepping forward to report crimes and tell law enforcement what is going on. He said the department won first place in a Kansas Department of Transportation drawing after taking part in a traffic safety around schools program last October. The prize is a new hand held traffic radar system.

City superintendent Joe Soukup said he is waiting on bids to repair leaks found in the roofs of the city fire department and power plant. No leaks were found in the city hall roof.

Approval was given to purchase a new $585 digital chlorine meter from Salina Supply Company. Soukup noted this is quite an upgrade from the chart the city crew uses to read levels of chlorine in water.

Approval was given to pay for the meal to be served at a Wilson Fire Department dinner in February. Soukup, who also serves as Wilson fire chief, said the department’s annual meeting was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns. However, the 25 firefighters in attendance will still be served a meal and vote on new department officers.

“We are going to social distance the best we can; Soukup said.

Mayor Mike Peschka suggested the firefighters also wear face masks while at the gathering in addition to practicing social distancing.

Peschka asked the council to think about the possibility of having a temporary dog kennel in Wilson to help deal with the increasing problem of dogs running loose in town.

Peschka said the city is receiving an increasing number of calls concerning dogs running at-large, but if city employees catch them, they have no place to go with them other than the Town and Country Animal Hospital in Russell.

Due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, the next meeting of the Wilson City Council will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19, at city hall.