WILSON — An brief presentation on what the Grow Ellsworth County organization has done for Wilson in the past year highlighted Monday’s meeting of the Wilson City Council.

That brief was given by Kevin Colle, the new executive director of GEC, along with Grow Ellsworth board member Craig Freeman of Wilson Communications and Jim Kirkbride of the Ellsworth County Medical Center.

“I started here in late June and I’m just making connections and going around and meeting everyone,” Colle said.

Colle said one of the main things GEC does is support local businesses, mostly through entrepreneur support.

“We’re really passionate about helping start-ups whereever they may be in the county,” he said.

Colle said that help might be in the form of helping develop a business plan, connecting with the right financing in order to have the capital to help open a business, connecting to different statewide groups and some technical support.

He said GEC has been helping Kansas Originals Market and Gallery to find the right funding options.

Colle noted the big highlight for GEC in 2024 was the Big Kansas Road Trip.

“It brought a lot of tourism in and was a successful event,” he added.

Colle said GEC is the county organization for tourism, for promoting businesses who want to relocate to Elllsworth County and acts as a “community cheerleader.”

“In general we try to advocate for our businesses and support them however we can,” he said. “We’re thankful of your continued support of Grow Ellsworth County and look forward to working with you in the future.”

Freeman said he would like the community to develop a deeper relationship with GEC.

“My objective when Kevin started was to get him over here in Wilson maybe more than we have in the past,” he said.

Freeman said one of those opportunities was a meet-andgreet with local business owners at Made From Scratch in Wilson.

Freeman said Colle was a frequent visitor to the Czech Capitol of Kansas as a child.

“So introducing him to Wilson was easy to do,” Freeman added. “I was encouraged by that.”

Kirkbride said the hospital partners with GEC.

“Wilson is one of those communities that we actually use what you do well as part of our recruitment for nurses and doctors and others to come to this area,” Kirkbride said. “The Czech background is a huge draw to some of our physicians.”

Kirkbride said Wilson also offers other things such as great housing, restaurants and other things like that as well.

“I live just four miles east on Ave. B,” he said. “So I am a Wilson resident, and we’re also a big business with the clinic here in Wilson. We’re also a big supporter of the Czech Fest with our mobile health unit that was parked out here. We’d like to do more of that support. We’ve got a lot of things going on with farmers and ranchers and some wellness and things going. “You’re going to see Grow Ellsworth, the hospital and other big businesses come together and really try and do things more from a county point of view. We appreciate everything that you’ve done and the support you’ve given us in the past. We want to be good stewards of that donation. Kevin is trained in this business, and what I’ve seen so far he is going to be exceptional for us.”

Mayor Dan Taylor said the council is still working on finding a person to serve as Wilson’s representative to the GEC board of directors.

Kirkbride said he would be willing to serve.

Taylor said the council would take that under consideration.

In other business:

• Approval was given to pay Reliant Roofing an additional $808.89 for storm damage-related insurance repairs to city buildings.

• Bills in the amount of $40,789.62 were approved as was payroll in the amount of $14,501.54.

• Approval was given to add the property at 715 27th Street to the city board of health procedures list.

• Approval was given to add Sandy Robinson as a member of the city board of health.

• Taylor said several inoperable vehicle cases are pending. So far, 110 vehicles have been cited under the city’s inoperable vehicle ordinance. Ninety four of those vehicles have been removed and 12 vehicles were brought into compliance.

• Wilson City Clerk Susan Kriley said driver training for the city bus will take place Wednesday, Aug. 27, in Wilson. If anyone is interested in taking the bus driver training, please call Kriley at the Wilson City Office, (785) 658-2272.

• Joe Soukup, city superintenent, said water overflowed from the city water tower recently because the city crews were having trouble with the control telemetry. He said a new alarm has been installed and hopefully, that will eliminate that problem.

• Taylor said the city did a fantastic job during Czech Fest.

“We totally appreciate it,” he said.

The next meeting of the Wilson City Council will be at 6 p.m. Aug. 18, at city hall. The 2026 city budget hearing will also take place at that time, place and location.