WILSON — Trash collection rates are going up in Wilson.

At Monday’s meeting of the Wilson City Council, approval was given to renew the trash service contract with Chism’s Trash Service. The current contract expires Dec. 31. The new five-year contract would be in effect from Jan. 1, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2029.

Rates would increase from $20 to $21 for residential customers with one poly cart; from $23 to $24 for residential customers with two poly carts; from $24 to $25 for business customers with two poly carts and once-a-week pickup; and from $29 to $30 for business customers with two poly carts and twice-a-week pickup.

In other business:

• Wilson property owner Dan Erdman spent his three minutes of allotted time during the public forum accusing Mayor Dan Taylor of speaking to Kanopolis Mayor Anthony Hopkins and spreading “slanderous lies” specifically about him that have been “embarassing and harmful.”

“Isn’t that wonderful when communities share information among each other?” Taylor asked.

“As long as it’s true, yeah,” Erdman replied, “but slanderous lies, no.”

“Other than that, yeah, we share good quality information for improvements in our community along with his community,” Taylor said.

“I understand that, but I’m talking specifically about me,” Erdman said.

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” Taylor said.

“Just stop doing it, OK?” Erdman said.

“But it’s OK for you to slander people?” Council President Jeff Keith asked Erdman. “Because you do that in every meeting we’ve had. You like to slander people and you want to degrade people and put people down.”

“That’s not slander, buddy,” Erdman said.

“You’ve slandered plenty of people in this town and on the city council,” Keith said.

“Name one,” Erdman replied.

“Mike Peschka,” Keith said.

“In what way did I slander Mike Peschka?” Erdman asked.

“After he passed, you wanted to slander his name,” Keith said. “I’m sorry, but this council is not going to stand for that.”

“In what way?” Erdman asked. “No answer, because you’re wrong.”

“Did you not call the Kanopolis mayor a pigheaded idiot,” asked council member Jeremy Hlad.

“I did,” Erdman replied, “because he listened to everything Mayor Dan Taylor told him.”

Erdman then accused Hopkins of being prejudiced against him, even though he had never met him.

“And then he (Hopkins) infected the minds of the (Kanopolis) city council and that has caused me harm,” Erdman added.

“He probably just meant your property and the items you keep stored out by your property, similar to the circumstances you did here,” Taylor said.

“What business is it of yours, Dan?” Erdman asked.

“It’s no business of mine,” Taylor said.

“So, is calling somebody pigheaded not slander?” Keith asked Erdman.

“How is calling someone pigheaded not slander?”

“I think you’re a pigheaded idiot,” Erdman said.

“OK, right there, it’s slander,” Keith said.

“No, I gave you my opinion,” Erdman said. “Just like I gave the mayor of Kanopolis because he was acting like you — a pigheaded idiot in my opinion.”

“OK,” Keith said. “And you’re entitled to that opinion.”

“Right, and it’s not slander,” Erdman said.

“But when you start spreading it, it is slander,” Keith said.

“No, it isn’t,” Erdman said.

“So the rules only apply to us and not to you,” Keith said. “The rules don’t apply to you but they apply to everybody on the council and everybody else in this city.”

“You’re one of those guys that sins and then turns the sins against the poor victim,” Erdman said.

“Your three minutes are up,” Taylor told Erdman.

• Taylor reported there are two properties in Wilson with inoperable vehicles that are still not in compliance with city ordinances. If nothing changes, they will be removed this week.

• During an update on the city sewer lagoon project, Taylor said the seepage problem has been solved and work crews are ready to fill the lagoon with water to perform a final seepage test.

• Taylor said the city is waiting for Shannon Mog of Reliant Roofing to contact City Superintendent Joe Soukup regarding roof repairs on some cityowned buildings which will be paid for by insurance.

• It was reported that the Kansas Department of Transportation has approved a $2,250 bid from Mark Shaw to purchase the city’s used Dodge van.

• The last Wednesday the burn pile will be open is Wednesday, Oct. 30. The operator will then switch to late fall-winter hours of operation.

• The council had no objections to a person Hlad said plans to purchase property at 710 30th St. and build four to five camper pads for his private use. It was noted a natural waterway runs through that property, but the construction will not hinder the natural flow of water.

• Keith said he was asked by a patron to have the council consider opening the burn pile to the public on a 24-7 basis.

“It’s something to think about,” he said.

Taylor voiced concerns regarding if that was done, people may dump things at the burn pile that shouldn’t be dumped there such as tires and lumber. He also worried about people other than Wilson residents using the burn pile.

Taylor also noted the burn pile is currently under contract with an operator, and if necessary, the council could find someone else to contract with to run it.

Hlad said if the burn pile were to be open 24-7, security cameras would need to be installed.

• It was noted that Wilson City Offices will be closed Monday, Nov. 11, in observance of Veterans’ Day.

The next meeting of the Wilson City Council is at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4, at city hall.