The Konawa City Council held an emergency meeting on Monday, Jan. 23 after receiving the resignation of City Manager Tim Cully.

Following an executive session, the council voted to accept Cully’s resignation. The city hired him in November 2021 to replace Police Chief Bryan Russell, who had been serving as city manager on an interim basis. Brett Wade held the city manager position from January until August 2021 but was terminated amid allegations of embezzlement and complaints from two employees of sexual harassment.

Cully was hired initially on an interim basis with a starting annual salary of $45,000 and a six-month probationary period, after which, upon a successful review, he was to receive $50,000 annually.

The Council next voted to hire former Seminole County District 1 Commissioner Russell Yott as interim city manager at $25 an hour and 40 hours per week. Yott served as county commissioner from 2018 until the end of 2022. He was unseated earlier last year in an election by Gary Keith Choate, who had previously held the post.

Yott holds a Bachelor of Science from East Central University, an Associates in Natural Gas Compression from Oklahoma State University and an Associates in Chemistry from East Central. His wife, Daniela, is a School teacher at Konawa public schools and has been teaching 13 years.

The Council had previously discussed the City Manager in executive session during their Jan. 12 regular monthly meeting, but no action was taken at that time.

Also during its Jan. 12 meeting, the city council discussed management and budget of the Konawa Police Force, but tabled any action at that time. They agreed to gather information on the specific size of the force they wish to have and a possible change in salary so they can make an informed decision when they return to the issue during their February meeting.