City to receive assistance from firm in locating new city manager; sets proposed property tax rate

The Breckenridge City Commissioners approved an agenda item to allow Strategic Government Resources to assist in locating a new city manager. The decision came during the special Monday, August 17 meeting, inside the Breckenridge City Offices Chamber.

The decision comes as two individuals, Heather Robertson-Caraway and Houston Satterwhite serve as co-interim city managers of Breckenridge.

“What they approved is we will go through Strategic Government Resources to find a city manager, “Heather Robertson-Caraway, Breckenridge co-interim city manager said. “The Breckenridge Industrial Foundation will finance this process.”

The foundation would cover the $100,000 cost of financing a new city manager and is a proposal, needing approval from the Breckenridge Industrial Foundation.

According to the Strategic Government Resource firms website, the purpose of the firm is to “help local governments become more successful by recruiting, assessing, and developing innovative, collaborative, authentic leaders.”

This is not the city of Breckenridge’s first attempt using the firm, Strategic Government Resources, to assist in the search for a city manager. The city used the firm in 2011 and had mixed results.

The city hired Brad Lee Newton for the position of city manager but removed him from duty after a six-month evaluation into his role. With just a few months into the position, the city paid the remainder of Newton’s annual salary of $82,000.

Along with benefits, the city also provided a city vehicle, a cell phone, and reimbursement for professional dues and travel.

“As long as city commissioners are thorough in their questioning and investigating,” Robertson-Caraway said. “Everything will go fine. The individual will serve as an interim city manager for a time period to see if it works out and will handle duties if allowed.”

The funds to cover the cost of paying the interim city manager will be covered by the Breckenridge Industrial Foundation. Members of both the Breckenridge City Commissioners and Industrial foundation will form a committee to search for a new interim city manager.

City Commissioners also proposed that the property tax rate be increased with the adoption of a new tax rate. City Commissioners are looking to propose a new property tax rate during the Tuesday, September 1 special meeting.