Mayor-elect Duane Ferguson is donating a Christmas tree for the city park in the center of Otho.

“It’s just a goodwill gesture,” Ferguson said. “I want to pull the community together.”

Ferguson also teamed up with city council member-elect Mackenzie Adkins to host a Christmas tree lighting event on Wednesday.

Each Otho family is invited to bring an ornament to place on the tree.

There will be Christmas cookie decorating and hot cocoa by the fireplace in the park shelter starting at 4 p.m. The tree lighting will start at 5 p.m.

“The kids will be able to decorate their cookies with icing and sprinkles while they drink their hot chocolate,” Adkins said.

Both Ferguson and Adkins hope that the city Christmas tree lighting becomes an annual tradition for Otho. Ferguson said he hopes to eventually plant an evergreen tree at the park, so it could be there year-round.

Ferguson also plans to use the event as an opportunity for the residents of Otho to meet and get to know their newly-elected officials.

Adkins and Ferguson will also be collecting monetary donations, half of which will be given to the Otho Betterment Committee, with the other half being donated to the ABATE Toy Run.

“They do a lot for underprivileged kids,” Ferguson said.