Commissioners discuss plan B for Halloween events

The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners, during a Sept. 16 meeting, discussed an alternative option for trick-or-treaters should there be inclement weather during the much-anticipated festivities.

Chair and District 1 Commissioner Bobby "Cub" Whitewater said Tahlequah Mayor Suzanne Myers asked if there were other options in place if it rained during the city's Halloween Trunk-or-Treat event, which is held at the Anthis-Brennan Park.

"[She asked] if we didn't have anything booked at the Cherokee County Livestock Arena, if they could use it for the Halloween Trunk-or-Treat. I was going to check with everybody also to see if, it was a rain-out, rather than the security issues here if we would just want to move everybody out [there]," Whitewater said. "If all elected officials would rather go out there and have one big Trunk-or-Treat area inside the livestock arena."

Elected officials agreed that having the Halloween events there would be sufficient if it does rain on Oct. 31.

"We would absolutely support that," Myers said. "We appreciate the tradition that you all have doing it and we would welcome any kind of a partnership in that activity with you all if that is something that you want to do."

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Drive-Thru Halloween Block Party was designed and implemented to ensure the safety of trick-or-treaters and courthouse employees. Since then, Halloween at the courthouse has operated as such.

The block party was designed for traffic to flow in from Keetoowah Street and Cherokee Avenue on the side of City Hall, and around the block to the courthouse, and exiting on College Avenue off Delaware Street.

Since the pandemic, Tahlequah City Hall offices and departments have held their Trunk-or-Treat event at Anthis-Brennan Park, wherein trick-or-treaters go around to each separate table.

In other business, the board gave its nod to allow Sheriff Jason Chennault to apply for a United States Department of Justice/Justice Agreement Grant for $10,000 to purchase new soft body armor for deputies.

"This is for 10 sets of soft body armor and I don't have a page for you to sign, I just need your approval so I can [apply online]," Chennault said.

Commissioners approved a resolution to accept a $32,484 award from Cherokee Nation for the reimbursement of the Woodall School project. Funds received are to be deposited into the District 2 Project account.

What's next

The next Board of Cherokee County Commissioners meeting is slated for Monday, Oct. 7 at 9 a.m., at the Cherokee County Courthouse.