The Watonga City Council met Tuesday night at the new City Hall, but only had four members this month instead of five.
Lindsey Doyel, the Ward Two councilmember, has resigned her post, Mayor Bill Seitter said. Seitter remains on the council along with Tina Willis, Travis Bradt and Allen Cowan.
The council is now looking for community members who might be interested in completing Doyel’s term. To qualify for the seat, you must be registered to vote at your address for at least the past six months, and live inside the Ward Two boundaries.
Ward Two includes much of downtown and central Watonga, including the county courthouse, the public library and the Ferguson Home. It extends to Russworm on the south edge, Clarence Nash to the west, 7th Street to the north and Workman on most of its eastern boundary.
Anyone who’d like to be considered can submit a letter of interest at Watonga City Hall. The letter should include pertinent background and qualifications, and any information that might help the council choose.
Councilmembers will choose a new Ward Two representative from among the interest letters they receive. The seat will then appear on the ballot in April 2023 for the general public to weigh in.
“We certainly appreciate her time on the council and her commitment to making our city better,” Seitter said of Doyel. He is looking for “good quality people that are going to represent our city and move us forward” to apply.
During the meeting, the council also accepted a financial report from RS Meacham and approved requested changes to the 2021-2022 fiscal year budget. RS Meacham’s Dacia Phillips was at the meeting, along with city treasurer Rodney Jacks, clerk Verlen Bills and city manager Karrie Beth Little.
The council met in executive session to conduct a performance review for Little. Afterward, the council voted to increase Little’s base salary by 4%.
“We would like you to know, Karrie Beth, that we appreciate everything you’re doing,” Seitter said. “The grants and the things you’ve brought in, the leadership, the vision that you’ve got for the city, we’re on board with and we appreciate you greatly.”
Little told the council that a recent benefit breakfast for Rowdy Blankenship, the local man injured in a January oil-field explosion west of town, raised about $8,100 for his medical expenses. The breakfast was hosted by the Watonga Firefighters Association.
“They need to be (recognized) for what they did there,” Bradt said of the fire department. “It was just unreal.”
Little also said that the airport runway reconstruction project is slated to begin March 7 and the Watonga Regional Airport will be closed for at least six months starting that day. She reminded locals about the City of Watonga Job Fair at City Hall on Thursday from 2 to 6 p.m., and the Replenysh recycling kickoff party this Saturday, Feb. 19.