WILSON — Wilson Mayor Dan Taylor unexpectedly threw his hat in the ring for the upcoming Nov. 7 general election Monday, after giving permission to a request by Wilson resident Sandy Robinson to start a write-in campaign on his behalf. In recent weeks, as council president, Taylor was appointed mayor after Mike Peschka resigned. Peschka died Oct. 4, however, his name remains the only name officially running for Wilson mayor on the Nov. 7 ballot.

“The loss of Mayor Peschka leaves a void that can be filled with the same goals and continued vision that Mayor Peschka and the council strove to obtain,” Robinson said. “Council member Dan Taylor is successfully filling the shoes of Mayor Peschka in his health crisis.”

Robinson thanked Taylor for stepping up.

“For the city to continue to grow and move this vision forward, I am supporting a write-in campaign for Dan Taylor as mayor of Wilson,” she said. “Dan has already proved himself very capable while serving as interim mayor, and now mayor.

Robinson concluded by thanking the city council and Peschka for their dedication to making Wilson a great place to be and saying she looks forward to continued progress.

In other business:

• Approval was given to a set of hobbyist guidelines pertaining to junked, wrecked, dismantled, inoperative, discarted or unregistered vehicles or parts thereof.

• During public forum, Dan Erdman questioned the need for changes in the guidelines dealing with inoperable vehicles.

“Do you have anything else besides that,” Taylor asked.

Taylor’s lack of a response was in line with rules the council made for those making comments during the public forum. Specifically, there should be no expectation that a governing body member will provide a reply. These rules are printed at the bottom of each council agenda and distributed to those in attendance.

“It’s not a health issue,” Erdman said. “It’s not a nuisance or a hazard or anything. I’m just curious why you guys decided to spend that much time and money on an ordinance that doesn’t seem to require it. I don’t see where it benefits the people.”

“Do you have any other statements you want to make,” Taylor asked.

“I’m curious why you won’t answer any of my questions,” Erdman said.

“It’s not a question and answer session,” Taylor said. “Do you have anything else you want to add?”

Erdman and Taylor continued their exchange for several more minutes until Erdman appeared frustrated and released the remainder of his five-minute time limit back to Taylor.

Kristofer Ritchie then continued questioning Taylor along similar lines as Erdman.

“What has brought this on,” Ritchie asked. “Were you just going to sit there and not answer questions from the public regarding city issues and thumb your nose at the people who are sitting here, the residents of the town? What gives you the right to do that?”

“Do you have anything else for us,” Taylor asked.

“Yeah, I have lots to say,” Ritchie responded. “Who is going to spend all of their time looking for these cars?”

“Have you got anything else,” Taylor asked.

“I’m asking a question and I want an answer,” Ritchie said.

For the reminder of his allotted five minutes, Ritchie continued his line of questioning of Taylor.

“When do we get answers,” Ritchie asked. “If you’re not going to sit here and answer our questions — my question or anybody else that comes in here — when are we going to get our answers?”

“Have you got anything else to add tonight,” Taylor asked.

“You have turned this into a joke,” Ritchie told Taylor. “You’ve turned this city council into a joke.”

• Approval was given to Resolution 4-2023 declaring a health nuisance at 2309 Ave. D.

• Cathy Smith was appointed as a new member of the city board of health.

• Approval was given to set the cost of the research fee at $35 per hour for open records requests taking more than 15 minutes.

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