The History of Wilton's City Commission

In her "Origins of North Dakota Places Names,"  Mary Barnes Williams, Washburn historian, states that Wilton was incorporated as a village in 1902.  The first board meeting was recorded in the minute books in City Hall was held on October 5, 1903.  W. Hubbell was president of the board, and Simon Jahr and Charles Firn were trustees.  At that meeting Frank Pettygrove resigned as Marshall and was replaced by A. Von Steiger.  One of the first orders of business was the institution of a dog tax.

In February 1904, the village was divided into three wards for voting purposes.  In October of that year, an ordinance was passed stating that pool rooms must close at 12 midnight and must be orderly at all times or be assessed a $25 fine.

Evidently there was no press of business to be attended to in the early years, for there are few minutes of meetings held.

In 1905, a pump was purchased for the city well, using electricity derived from the power plant at the lignite mine.  That summer a cistern was dug for a water supply, and $175 was paid for Lot 14 in Block 4 for the construction of a town jail.

In August of that year, the Missouri Valley Telephone Company was granted a franchise, with the village to receive 50 cents per phone, plus the use of two phones free of charge.  

That the town's founder, General W. D. Washburn, maintained his interest in Wilton is shown by the fact that the tax lists in 1908 show him still to own over 50 lots within the village limits.

Also in that year, the hitching racks were removed from Main Street, and warnings were issued against allowing stock to run at large, playing ball on the business streets and the use of loud and profane language.

In 1910 the Independent Telephone Company was granted permission to install and operate a central exchange of a manual type.  All-day service was to be maintained between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. except on Sundays and legal holidays, and emergency service would be provided at all times.  Mrs. C. A. Haltom was the first operator.

The next year Standard Oil Company was granted a 25-year lease on Lot 1 east of the Soo siding to erect tanks and buildings.

That same year petitions were circulated asking Wilton be incorporated as a city.  A special election was held March 8, 1912, at which 56 votes were cast for incorporation, and 44 against.  At another election held April 8, the following officers were chosen:  Mayor E.C. Stocker, and Aldermen, A.D. Hitt, Robert Cotton, Dr. R.C. Thompson, J.A. Pitzer, J.J. Schmid and T.E. Tibbits.  Treasurer was J.C. Anderson; justice of the peace was I.A. Flaconer and police magistrate was B.L. Noble.  We wonder if they all ran unopposed as each received 47 votes as shown on the official canvas.

Although the records show that Mr. Stocker was elected mayor, he must never have served, for Robert Cotton acted in that capacity from 1912 until 1918, according to a letter of condolence sent to his family by the city council at the time of his death in 1923.  Older residents of Wilton have always referred to Mr. Cotton as the first mayor.

The city minute book is missing for the years from 1912 to 1918, so there is no official record of those years.

In 1918 a big decision was made when a call for bids in the amount of $48,000 was issued for installation of a water and sewer system for the city.  This was the beginning of a water supply shortage that has plagued the city fathers ever since.

All through the minutes for the succeeding years we read of complaints and proposals, and of the numerous groundwater wells that were dug in an attempt to alleviate the problem.  Finally in 1974 the city proposed to undertake a $260,000 project to bring water from the two interconnecting eight-inch wells from the Lost Lake Aquifer 8 1/2 miles northwest of the city.  Engineers predicted that his plan would supply sufficient water for all the city needs.  However, in 1987, Well No. 3 was drilled in the intermediate Lost Lake Aquifer because of the declining water level of the past two wells.

In 1919 a new electric lighting system was installed replacing the power plant at the Washburn Lignite Mine No. 1 that had been in use for over 15 years.

The end of Prohibition brought a November 1933 ordinance to permit the sale of beer.

In 1935 some residents of Wilton circulated petitions asking that an election be held on the question of changing the municipal government from a mayor-council to a commission form.  Feelings evidently ran high over this issue, as several legal maneuvers and delays were involved before the election was finally held on September 3, 1935.  At that time 209 votes were cast in favor of the change and 100 against.

At an October 9 election, the following were named to the first city commission:  Ross Tibbits, Edward O'Brien, Rollo Ferry, Ole J. Olson, and Matt Romanick.  Tibbits was the first commission president.

In November of that year, a tract of land was bought from Jacob Kilian for $500 to be set aside as a city park.

Meanwhile the depression and the closing of the underground lignite mine had combined to plague Wilton into an economic slide that it was years in overcoming.  During this period, we read in the minutes of WPA and other work projects being instituted, of houses being moved out of the city and of the resentment of the miners at being deprived of their means of livelihood.

Gradually, however, along with the rest of the country, the city began to recover some of its lost prosperity, though the rebuilding process took years.

In 1958 bonds were issued for a combined Memorial Hall and Fire Protection Building, and a bid of $37,820 was accepted for the project.

In 1961 Montana-Dakota Utilities Company was granted a franchise for natural gas distribution.

In 1965 a paving project for the city was undertaken.  In 1998 the paved streets received a complete repair and overlay.

Wilton City BuildingThe city built a 50 ft. by 80 ft. maintenance shop to house the equipment and in 1982 they built a 30 ft. by 50 ft. addition onto the front of the building for city offices.  This building was built on the location of the former Grand Theater.

The city went to contract policing with the McLean County Sheriff in 1976 and is served by two deputies:  Glenn Wiest and James Youngbird.

Those who served as presidents of the Village Council of Wilton were:  W. Hubbell, Charles Firn, Robert Cotton (1906 and 1908-1910), R. W. Anderson, 1907 and E. C. Stocker, 1911.

Mayors under the mayor-council form of government were:  Robert Cotton, 1912-18; G. W. Stewart, 1918-24;  Charles W. Howe,, 1924-30; A.D. Hitt, 1930 until the change to commission form in 1935.

City Commission presidents since 1935 have been Ross Tibbits, 1935-44; C.T. Thompson, 1944-48; Floyd Anderson, 1948-54; Ole Staven, 1954-56; E. G. Hilken was elected in 1956 but only served two months before resigning, and H. W. Loveland who was appointed in his place was re-elected in 1956 and served until 1967.  Veron Peterson took his place and served until 1968; Paul Bartholomew 1968-78; Kenneth Werre, 1978-85; Merton Hanson, 1985-86; Rodger Denny, 1986-88; Peter Kassian, Jr., 1988-90; John Grey, 1990-94; Peter Elichuk, 1995-97; Leroy Kambeitz, 1997-98; Timothy Kellar, 1998-02; and Kyle Tschosik, 2002 to Present.

Other Commission members are:  John R. Clausen, Rebecca Boechler, Douglas C Archambeau and Joan G Kruckenberg.

Members of the Sales and Use Tax Administration include:  Paul Schauer, Chairman; James Porter, Bernard Schafer, James Nistler , and Douglas C Archambeau.  The Zoning Board includes: Ron Peck, Chairman; Paul Steckler, Howard Stewart, Steve Bernhardt, and Lois Gordian.