After the plan was approved by city voters, the Watonga city government transitioned to a council-manager form in April 2021. The change included a new mayor, as Gary Olsen passed the buck to Bill Seitter.
The government change gave then-city manager Larry Mitchell more control of the day-to-day operations of the city. Karrie Beth Little became the Watonga city manager later in the year.
Watonga Hires New City Manager
After Larry Mitchell served as Watonga’s city manager on an interim basis for over a year, the city hired Karrie Beth Little to succeed him this August. Little, a Watonga native, previously worked in corrections at the now-closed Great Plains Correctional Facility.
Since the hire, Watonga staffers have moved into a new City Hall and hired a new police chief. The city also supported the Watonga Chamber as it put on the first Cheese Festival in two years.