GEARY – Geary city councilman Cody Wright announced that last week’s city council meeting will be his last, as he will be moving soon to Arizona.
Wright told the council his decision during its regular meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 9, and shared some thoughts on how the city can grow and thrive in the future.
“This has been a great time here,” Wright said. “I’ve enjoyed it, every minute of it.”
He encouraged Geary residents to get more involved in city government and organizations, and mused about how to create more educational opportunities for city residents to train in the hotbutton industries of today and tomorrow.
Wright also gave his thoughts on who should replace him: local woman Kim Lewis, who’s involved with many Geary organizations like the Bison Boosters and the Geary Economic Development Authority. Lewis, daughter of Geary Mayor Bobby Allen, told the Watonga Republican she would be interested in joining the council. The city is researching whether or not Lewis can be appointed, given her father’s position; if not, Lewis said she may run for the seat.
New librarian
All city councilmembers were present for Tuesday’s meeting, though Tabbitha Kiener had to join after it began. During the meeting, the council approved the appointment of a new head librarian and added her to the relevant bank accounts.
Kim Hoyle, who has worked at the library for six years, will replace Lois Margerum as the Geary head librarian after Margerum’s resignation. The Geary Public Library is open every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., or 6 p.m. Fridays.
Non-lethal option
During his monthly report, Geary Police Chief Cecil Harrall said the department has received new tasers and that officers would be certified to use them on Friday, Nov. 12. Some Hinton and Watonga officers were set to be certified at the same time, Harrall said.
“These guys now have an option other than a lethal option,” Harrall said.
In October, Geary police officers fatally shot a man near I-40. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said the man was armed with a knife and had lunged at an officer when the shooting occurred.
Harrall mentioned the shooting but declined to give more details while the incident remains under investigation. “I did get a phone call last week that they (the OSBI) were getting ready to submit everything to the district attorney’s office,” Harrall said. “So that is what we are waiting on there.”
One of Geary’s new officers, Walker Nye, recently became certified. The council voted to raise his pay to $15 an hour.
Later, during the Geary Utility Authority agenda, the council also gave city employees Devin Pratt and Harvel Lewis a $1/hour raise for completing recent training.
During the meeting, the council also:
• Received reports of a clean financial audit from CBEW
• Agreed on a council meeting schedule for 2022
• Approved a holiday bonus for city employees
The council will meet again on Dec. 9 at 6 p.m.