WILSON — Wilson officials hope finally to do something about what has become an irritant for many years to drivers in the Czech Capital of Kansas — the deep dips in the city streets.

During the Jan. 21 meeting of the Wilson City Council, Jon Halbgewachs of Kirkham Michael and Associates in Ellsworth, presented a plan with seven bullet points to provide engineering services to the city.

Council member Chuck Crawford said when he talks to residents in Wilson about the condition of the streets, more often than not the conversation is about the dips.

“Jon is going to address that from an engineer’s standpoint,” he said.

Halbgewachs said his proposal aims to examine cost-effective ways to fix or make the dips better without bankrupting the city.

The plan would first call for Kirkham Michael representatives to meet with city officials to evaluate locations in need of improvement and gather data regarding the city’s current maintenance strategy and costs.

Second, Kirkham Michael would evaluate the city’s chip seal maintenance program and costs.

Third, Kirkham Michael would estimate a potential cost savings to seal all of the city’s streets once every four years, or half of the city’s streets every two years instead of one quarter of the streets every four years.

Fifth, an evaluation would be done on the cost to install curb and gutter and place a chip seal surface on 31st, 32nd and 33rd streets, from Main Street to Ave. D, as well as Paseo and Ave. D between 31st and 33 streets.

Sixth, an evaluation would be done to improve concrete valley gutters for 50 sites in Wilson.

Memos of recommendations would be provided as well as potential outside sources of funding, including the Kansas Department of Transportation Cost Share Program. Finally, a meeting with the council would then be conducted to review the information.

Total cost of all seven steps would be $16,700. However, each of the steps could be completed individually. Council members said they would consider the proposal and get back with Halbgewachs.

In other business:

• City clerk Susan Kriley received a gift and a framed certificate from Mayor Michael Peschka in honor of her 20 years of service with the City of Wilson.

• Approval was given to increase the city’s mileage rate from 45 cents per mile to match the current Internal Revenue Service reimbursement rate of 57.5 cents in 2020.

• City superintendent Marty Prester will get bids for dirt work at the south ballfield at Jellison Park to increase drainage and decrease the space between the pitchers mound and the backstop.

• Tipton said he and a small group are working on information to include in an application to Home and Garden Television (HGTV). He said the cable television channel has a show dealing with the renovation of small towns in America.

“If we get selected, I think it would be good for our community,” Tipton said.

“It’s a great idea,” Peschka said.