Following a protracted executive session August 15 where Watonga City Council members discussed the future of City Manager Karrie Beth Little, the motion was made, seconded and passed to change her job description to interim manager until a successor could be found.
Four council members - Tina Willis, Travis Bradt, Ryan Bruner and Kayla Ragsdale - were in lock step with the action. However, member at large and mayor Bill Seitter voted no on the action.
The council then heard from David Weatherford, an attorney and city attorney who had helped develop a community policing plan that was adopted by Sand Springs, where it has won awards and was accepted by the police union in the town.
Weatherford presented the council with copies of the plan and suggested they have the police department work to adapt it for the City of Watonga and then bring it back to the council for consideration.
Once the presentation was completed, a bombshell dropped when Seitter and Bradt both tendered their resignations from the city council, effective immediately.
City attorney Jared Harrison was unsure whether there was time to prepare for a special election before the regular April election for council seats. First preference, though, was for community members who live in the correct ward - for Bradt - and are registered voters to submit letters of interest and be appointed by the remaining council members to fill the unexpired terms.