WILSON — The transient guest tax was once again on the radar of the Wilson City Council Monday.

The council approved Charter Ordinance 1-2019, which replaced the ordinance passed it passed in July 2019.

The guest tax stays at 3 percent, one percent higher than the state statute. According to city attorney Theresa Staudinger, the city approved the charter ordinance using home rule in order to exempt Wilson from the 2 percent transient guest tax state statute.

In other business;

• After an eight minute executive session to discuss nonelected personnel, the council approved 3 percent cost of living raises for the city clerk/treasurer/court clerk, chief of police, cleaning person, parttime city hall assistant and part-time police officer. The city superintendent and assistant city superintendent were approved for 1.5 percent raises.

• Mike Peschka of the Wilson Economic Development Corporation reviewed the Wilson Facade Improvement Loan Program.

Peschka said the loan program is through the North Central Regional Planning Commission in Beloit. It is a loan program primarily for businesses in Wilson. Specifically, the program will provide the interested business a zero percent loan to make improvements to the exterior of their building. The loans are from $3,000 to $5,000 for a maximum of five years.

Peschka said there is now $20,000 available in the loan fund.

• Approval was given to purchase two new handheld water meter readers for $6,045 plus shipping from Jayhawk of Iola. Before the purchase is made, the council also approved asking Jayhawk if there is a reader with less bells and whistles on it that would meet the needs of the city crew. If so, purchase that reader.

• City clerk Susan Kriley said the Wilson Booster Club received a $585 grant to purchase 12 banners. The plan is to hang the banners on Main Street, at Wilson School and along the highway.

• Kriley said the $175,000 grant from the Kansas Department of Commerce was received for new moderate income housing.

• Approval was given to Ordinance 853, which separates the water and sewer account transfers. The council previously approved increasing the percentage transferred from 37 percent to 42 percent to build funds for needed work at the city sewer lagoon.

• Approval was given to the 2020 cereal malt beverage license applications for the Wilson American Legion, Stop 2 Shop and Wilson Foods.

• Approval was given to the 2020 recreation license applications for Stop 2 Shop and the Iron Lion.

• Approval was given to a refuse waiver for Ryan Vlcek.

• Approval of the $2,132.08 purchase of 24 helmet lights for the Wilson Fire Department from an online vender was approved.

• Wilson Police Chief Josh Tipton said he has been recertified with a Taser and is now carrying one on patrol.

The next meeting of the Wilson City Council will be at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 6, at city hall.