WILSON — The new year brought a changing of the guard in more ways than one for members of the Wilson City Council.

Mayor Mike Peschka announced that after the council’s last meeting in December, Cindy Heinze, who served 15 years on the city council, including several terms as president, submitted her resignation to him in writing.

Peschka said Heinze, who was not at Monday’s council meeting, resigned because of several school conflicts. He said Heinze would not be able to attend the council meetings in January and February due to these conflicts and she thought resigning was the best choice going forward. Peschka said Heinze is leaving the door open to run again for a seat on the council.

In other business:

• Peschka was sworn in as mayor and Dan Taylor and Jeff Keith were sworn in as council members. Keith succeeds council member David Criswell, who did not seek re-election this past November. Taylor and Peschka were both incumbents and were returned to their seats by the voters. Peschka thanked Criswell for his service on the council.

• Peschka appointed Aubrey Ptacek to replace Heinze on the council. Her appointment was then approved by the council. She will serve out the remainder of Heinze’s one year term.

Taylor was appointed council president.

• The following appointments were approved for 2022: Wilson State Bank, city bank; Theresa Staudinger of Peterson and Staudinger, LLC, city attorney; the Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter, city newspaper; Jennifer O’Hare of O’Hare Law Firm, municipal judge; Susan Kriley, municipal court clerk, city clerk and treasurer; Joshua Tipton, parttime police chief; Dr. David Sells (chair person), Jessica Loveland, Caleb Mikulecky, Corie Soukup, Niki Whitmer and Joshua Tipton, board of health volunteers; Joshua Tipton (chairperson), Jerry Florian, Keith Haberer, Christopher Heki, Jeanne Heki, Sharon Lowry, Katie Nelson, Shawn Shipley, Debbie Whitmer and Terry Whitmer, the emergency preparedness committee. The mayor, police chief and fire chief automatically serve on the committee as well.

Council member Chuck Crawford will serve as the city’s representative to the Ellsworth County Economic Development until March 2022.

• Members of the transient guest tax committee were approved, including Melinda Merrill, Midland Railroad Hotel, president; Susan Curtiss, Simple Haven Bed and Breakfast, vice president; Allison Ford, Wilson Economic Development Corporation, secretary; and members Marge Lawson, Kansas Originals Market; Rick Weigel, Wilson Foods; Stacie Schmidt, Wilson Czech Opera House Corporation; Renee McGaffic, Wilson Chamber of Commerce; Caleb Mikulecky, Stop to Shop; and Jerry Florian, Grandma’s Soda Shop. There remains one vacant seat on the committee.

• The mileage rate for 2022 paid by the city was approved at 58.5 cents per mile.

• After two executive sessions to discuss non-elected personnel (the police chief position), approval was given to hire Michael Kinnard as the full-time police chief at a rate of $3,819.32 per month (with a 43-hour-per-week schedule before overtime is paid). Kinnard is expected to begin as police chief on or before Feb. 1.

• During a board of health update, the owner of the property at 811 24th Street met with the council to review progress of his clean up. Peschka said a board of health member will review the progress on the property prior to Jan. 18.

“We’re trying to work with people,” Peschka noted.

Peschka told the owner to be diligent and try to keep the metal on the property off the ground and as organized as possible. He suggested a fence be installed.

• Peschka said the council is considering making a change to the employee handbook regarding the residency requirement. Currently, city employees are required to live within the city limits. However, Peschka noted that is a hurdle when it comes to hiring new employees. He hopes to present a plan at the next council meeting for consideration.

• Approval was given to an animal waiver request submitted by Melinda Merrill of the Midland Railroad Hotel for a banty rooster. Peschka noted she already has a permit for chickens.

• Approval was given to a request by Joe Soukup, city superintendent, to purchase two new tires for the city’s tandem dump truck from Great Bend Coop in Dorrance and have them installed. Total cost will be $963.74.

• Todd Bohnen was approved as secretary of the Wilson Fire Department. He replaces Pat Thrasher, who resigned as secretary recently.

• Taylor said the Wilson Fire Department purchased 15 fire helmets and face shields for $5,362.50 from Wise Fire. The majority of the purchase was paid for by a $4,797 grant from Oneok in Bushton. The remainder was paid by the fire department.

Due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, the next meeting of the Wilson City Council will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 18, at city hall.

"We’re trying to work with people."

Mike Peschka

Wilson Mayor