WILSON — The City of Wilson has decided to purchase the building north of city hall.

At the Feb. 16 council meeting, approval was given to purchase the Robinson garage from the Wilson Foundation for no more than $20.

The garage is currently being used to house the city van.

Mayor Mike Peschka said he talked to representatives of the Wilson Foundation and they don’t want the building. During past council meetings, Peschka and the council have discussed the need to repair the structure. A bid has estimated the cost to repair the west frontage of the building and the roof on the west end would be $5,800, with an additional $3,200 to coat the entire roof.

In other business:

• Peschka said the response from Rolling Hills Electric Cooperative was great during the rolling blackout Wilson experienced earlier that morning.

“Rolling Hills, in my opinion, did everything they possibly could: Peschka said. “The delay was caused by Midwest Energy.”

Peschka said Rolling Hills did not start feeding power back to Wilson until Midwest Energy had someone on site to monitor gas pressure.

“So I think Rolling Hills did a great job: he said.

Peschka noted that he, city clerk Susan Kriley and superintendent Joe Soukup were each in contact with Rolling Hills Electric during the blackout. He noted the manager of Rolling Hills called and apologized for the delay in restoring power to the community.

• Kristopher Ritchie of Wilson asked why the city’s Feb. 11 special council meeting was not posted in the newspaper. Pesckha said the city posts special meeting information on the front door of city hall and that it wasn’t posted in the newspaper because of the short timeframe involved. Ritchie requested to be placed on the list to be notified of special meetings. Kriley will add him to the list.

• Approval was given to a request from Wilson Economic Development to pay a $4,300 annual stipend. Pescka noted it is a budgeted expense.

• Peschka said an insurance adjuster evaluated the roofs on the city power plant, fire station, shop and the eaves on the building at Jellison Park for hail damage. The adjuster figured a $91,000 loss, but insurance will pay 58 percent of that cost to make repairs. The city would pay the remaining $42,000.

“That’s where we are right now: Peschka said, noting additional information is needed. Roof repair will be discussed at the council’s next meeting, Monday, March 1.

• Kriley said the city received a $300,000 grant from the Kansas Department of Commerce for housing rehabilitation and demolition. She noted the city is also in the process of applying for a Kansas Rural Preservation Grant to repair the building at 2504 Ave. E. The application is due March 1 and the awards range from $5,000 to $50,000.

• Approval was given to the new slate of officers for the Wilson Fire Department. The officers are: Michael Ellis, fire chief; Tye Soukup, first assistant fire chief; Zach Barta, second assistant fire chief; Pat Thrasher, secretary; Jeremy Hlad, treasurer; Dylan Walker, reports officer.

• Kriley presented the council with an updated service fee schedule to reflect the recent changes in grave digging fees at the city cemetery which were approved by the council.