‘Trick-or-Treat Night’ Set for Oct. 30 by City Council

WATONGA – The Watonga City Council declared this week that Saturday, Oct. 30 will be designated “Trick-or-Treat Night” in the city this year, opting to encourage the Halloween tradition on a weekend rather than a school night when the holiday actually falls.

The recommendation from Mayor Bill Seitter was passed during the council’s regular monthly meeting Tuesday night, and the first meeting held at the new Watonga City Hall at 410 W. Main St.

The meeting was attended by councilmembers Travis Bradt, Lindsey Doyel and Allen Cowan, Mayor Bill Seitter, City Manager Karrie Beth Little and several city employees. Councilwoman Tina Willis was absent.

During the brief discussion on Trick-or-Treat Night, Bradt pointed out that the activity will coincide nicely with the Trunk or Treat event hosted by the Watonga Ministerial Alliance at Huff-Lorang Park.

“It’s gotten to be a big deal,” Bradt said. “People from all around come.”

Watonga Christian Church’s Adam Lovitt, who attended the meeting, agreed and said the event drew about 400 children last year. Trunk or Treat will be held at the park this year on Oct. 30 from 5 to 7 p.m.

During the meeting, the council also:

• Approved the monthly financial report from RS Meacham

• Approved a proposal for financial auditing with Jana A. Walker CPA PLLC for the fiscal year that ended on June 30. The auditor that had previously agreed to perform the city’s audit this year has backed out due to a lack of staffing, and Walker’s firm will perform the audit instead

• Declared as surplus the office partitions previously located at 410 W. Main, the old Department of Human Services building, so they can be sold to the highest bidder

• Declared as surplus some heating and air conditioning equipment that had been located at the same property, opting instead for a different heating and cooling system at City Hall.

Bradt and Seitter also commended the city and the Chamber of Commerce for a successful Watonga Cheese Festival, which occurred earlier this month. Little told the council she is currently conducting a second round of interviews for the city’s vacant police chief position.

Low Income Water Assistance

After the council meeting, the councilmembers reconvened as the Watonga Public Works Authority and worked through a short agenda. Most notably, Little recommended the city participate in a new program from the state Department of Human Services that will help lowincome residents pay their water bills.

The program is similar to LIHEAP – the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program – Little explained. “People can go through the Department of Human Services and request payment for their electric,” she said. “The same process will be for water. They just have to request it at the same time, and the Oklahoma Department of Human Services will, in turn, reimburse us.”

The brand-new program will roll out at the end of December, Little said, and should not create an extra burden for city employees. The council agreed to participate in the program, and also mused about ways to assist city residents in applying for the funds.

Little agreed that assistance might be offered through the library or some other similar way.

The city council will meet again at the new City Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 6 p.m.