The revamped Watonga City Council met Tuesday evening at City Hall for a relatively brief meeting as they prepare to dig into the budget for the next fiscal year.
The council discussed the recent Bikes & BBQ event, appointed members to the public library board, and renewed its contract with the T.B. Ferguson museum.
During the meeting, the Friends of the Ferguson Home, which owns and operates the historic Watonga structure, requested the city up their contract with the museum from $8,000 to $12,000 this year so the Friends can hire part-time help at a higher hourly rate.
The Friends had been advertising an open museum attendant position for $7.69 per hour, but the new contract will allow them to hire someone at $10. Louise Dunn said someone is interested in the position at that salary.
The museum is currently undergoing renovations, including to its porch and paint job. A volunteer is doing most of the work for free, Dunn explained.
The council approved the increase. It also agreed to assume responsibility for the museum’s monthly phone and internet bill, which comes to about $89 a month; Dunn said that was necessary to avoid paperwork problems in changing over the phone account from a previous museum operator, the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department. The council approved that change, as well.
Before the council discussed the Ferguson Home, John Morris spoke about the recent inaugural Bikes & BBQ event that drew hundreds of bikers to town. Morris, the event organizer, gave the city a certificate of appreciation for its cooperation and help with the event, especially on short notice.
“I was beyond surprised at how many people actually showed up,” Morris told the council, saying the festival drew attendees from across the state and from Texas, Kansas, New Mexico and beyond.
“I’m hoping we get bigger and better from here,” Morris said. He intends to begin planning next year’s event in the coming weeks.
During the meeting, the council also:
• Appointed Janet Taylor and Janice Cobble to three-year terms on the Watonga Public Library Board.
• Voted for Gerald Haury and incumbent Craig Stephenson as nominees to the Oklahoma Municipal Assurance Group Board. OMAG provides insurance and risk management solutions to over 500 Oklahoma municipalities, large and small. The incumbent Stephenson is the city manager of Ponca City, and Haury is town administrator in Mannford.
Before the meeting ended, interim city manager Larry Mitchell told the council the city has closed on purchasing the 410 W Main St. property — the former Blaine County Human Services offices — where the city will will move its operations over the summer. Mitchell anticipates the move will begin in earnest sometime in July.
The council will come together on Wednesday, May 19, to begin working on a budget for fiscal year 2021-2022.