WILSON — The Wilson City Council has approved a list of criteria for those seeking an animal or poultry waiver.

The approval came Monday during the council’s regular meeting.

According to information provided by the City of Wilson, a wavier may be granted under the guidelines. The list of criteria that must be met for a wavier includes the person registering is a resident of the City of Wilson and has no past animal citations from the board of health or is not in violation of an existing animal ordinance or the animal guidelines.

“Again, this is not an ordinance,” said Mayor Mike Peschka. “These are guidelines. That’s all they are is guidelines. If you are going to consider a waiver, here are some things to think about.”

In other business:

• Approval was given for the City of Wilson to participate in Plans A, B and C of the proposed 2021 tax abatement proposal as presented by the Ellsworth County Neighborhood Revitalization Program.

“I think it’s a lot more aggressive than what we had,” Peschka said.

“It’s definitely better than anything we’ve had,” council member David Criswell added.

Peschka said other city councils in the county will need to approve the plan, as well as both school districts. It will then be presented to Ellsworth County commissioners for approval.

• During a discussion about the city’s Abandoned Building Ordinance 854, Peschka said the first set of letters will be sent out Oct. 12 to the owners of 10 buildings that were identified as abandoned prior to 2002 and remain abandoned. Criswell raised concerns about the building he owns at 2418 Ave. E.

“I use it for my business,” Criswell said, adding he stores items there and is working on it. “I worked over there this morning for a few hours hanging sheet rock and a couple of days last week.”

Peschka said once a property owner gets a letter, they have the opportunity to come before the council and say their building is not abandoned. He noted the council wasn’t going to debate Criswell’s property now.

“I don’t mind bringing it up at the right time,” Criswell said.

• The council approved by consensus a proposal by Peschka to solve the problem involving the way property owners learn they are in violation of the board of health ordinance.

Peschka said after the council approves a property as being in violation of the board of health ordinance at a council meeting, the owner is then sent a letter. But if they happen to get a copy of that week’s Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter before the letter arrives, they will see the story in the paper noting their property has been identified on the violations list before receiving the official letter of notification from the city.

“That just started us off on the wrong foot with a few residents,” he said. “And I understand. I would probably feel the same way if I read it in the paper.”

As a solution, Peschka said when the board of health identifies a property, it won’t be brought to the council for action right away. Rather, the board of health will notify city clerk Susan Kriley, who will send a letter to the property owner notifying them they are in violation. The property owner will then be given 10 days to address the issues identified by the board of health. Otherwise, it will be brought to the council, and the council will start the process of seeking a remedy to the violation.

“That way they can’t say hey, I didn’t know anything about it until I read it in the paper,” Peschka said.

• Peschka said no one has applied to fill the public compliance officer vacancy. He noted the city will keep looking to fill the volunteer job, which pays $100 per month.

• The city will restart advertising for the police chief/patrolman vacancy.

• The council will decide at the Oct. 18 meeting whether to approve renewal of the Central Brochure distribution proposal. Kriley noted the cost has gone up from $500 to $525.

The council needed more information in order to make a decision.