By Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow – Two candidates have applied to fill out the four-year term left vacant by Michael ‘Mike’ Soetaert. The council is expected to fill the vacancy with a roll call vote at Tuesday’s Wellington City Council meeting, starting at 6:30 p.m. at the council chambers.

Jerry Elmore, Jr., and Joseph Grant Hobbs were the two applicants. The council reviewed the applications and interviewed the candidates at the January 20 meeting. The term will end in December 2029.

————

The council will also contemplate removing $83,520 in charge-offs for uncollected utility accounts for fiscal year 2004. The reason for the charge-off is so the city does not overstate assets and income.

In 2024, the city billed more than $10.8 million for utilities, and the charge-off amount represents about .77 percent of the city’s total billing. This will not absolve charge-off customers, who will have the charges reinstated if they choose to have their utilities restarted.

In other business, the council will decide:

•a resolution accepting a bid and three-year agreement with Davis Tree Service of Ponca City to prune trees around utility lines;

•a resolution approving the 2026 annual chemical bids for the water treatment plant.

•a resolution to sign an agreement with Professional Engineering Consultants of Wichita for data collection and storm sewer mapping.

The council has an executive session scheduled with an attorney for consultation.

———

Here are some things the council has been doing over the past two January meetings.

• Due to tariffs, the council increased the fireworks budget from $6,000 to $7,500.

• The council approved four housing resolutions for development (story on this is coming soon).

•Pam Hinman was approved to serve on the Wellington Park Board.

•Jumpstart got its Cereal Malt Beverage application approved.

•The council gave approval for the purchase of $31,634 for megahertz radio equipment for the public safety facility.