Gun Barrel City to look for new city manager; mayor, city secretary in charge for now




Longtime Gun Barrel City Manager Gerry Boren resigned Tuesday, Aug. 15, during the City Council meeting.

Boren, who served as city manager for eight years, met with the council in closed session for about 15 minutes before the council returned to open session and ratified a separation agreement between both him and his wife, Marcie. The agreement contains a severance package for Boren, whose contract with the city had expired and not been renewed.

Boren released a statement to the media saying, “After a lot of prayer and discussions with family, I have decided to hang up my guns and holster and tender my resignation as city manager for the City of Gun Barrel City. It is my belief that this will provide me the opportunity to focus on my family and allow the community that I love to move forward without any distractions. I have been contemplating the opportunity to pursue new endeavors and believe this is the right time.”

Mayor Dennis Baade said Boren had expressed interest during negotiations on the new budget to seek other employment.

The city will begin looking for a new city manager, and City Secretary Christi Eckerman and Baade are expected to supervise the staff in the meantime, according to the plan explained by the mayor to reporters after the meeting.

Boren served as city manager for eight years, which Baade characterized as lengthy.  Most city managers only stay on assignment for a little more than two years, he said.

“It was just an agreed upon separation,” Baade said. “It was time.”

The following morning after Boren’s resignation, Councilwoman Carole Calkins sent an email to city officials and the media announcing her immediate resignation. Baade said Calkins resigned for personal reasons, although during the meeting she complained about council members being given incomplete information and updates on issues at the last minute.

Calkins said in her memo, “After considerable thought and study, I have concluded that my family and professional obligations and commitments at this time do not allow me to participate at the level that the city should expect from a city council member. Please accept this letter as my resignation from the council immediately. I do not have any city property or records in my possession of which I am aware. I wish you and the council success as you move forward.”

Baade and other council members expressed regret that Calkins resigned because of her attention to detail and extensive knowledge about financial accounting. Her position will remain open until the May 2016 election because the council appointed a new member to the council to fill a spot left vacant when Mayor Jim Braswell resigned and Baade, who was Mayor Pro Tem, took over as mayor. According to the City Charter, only one council member can be appointed to fill a vacant position.

The council appointed Anne Mullins to fill the vacant position on the council after the only other eligible applicant, Kevin Banghart, rescinded his application when the council deadlocked in a tie vote of two-to-two with Mayor Pro Tem Rob Rea and Wyrick voting for Banghart and Councilwoman Linda Rankin and Calkins voting for Mullins.

Last month, newly appointed Economic Development Corp. President David Skains resigned, citing frustration about negotiations with council members. He was replaced by Steve Schiff, who unsuccessfully campaigned for a council seat in the previous election.

In other action, the council approved a $3.3 million budget for the new fiscal year that Boren presented to the council in his final official duty as city manager.

Boren is pictured below.




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Fishing Report from TPWD (Mar. 27)

EXCELLENT. Stained; 64 degrees; 0.21 feet above pool. The hybrid striped bass and white bass have made a full recovery from the spawn and are now back in the main lake in droves and are on a feeding frenzy. Look for heavy bird activity throughout the lake on flats and near the dam on edges of drop offs especially on cloudy and overcast days. The bite will continue to get even better in these areas as the shad spawn will start to take place in the next 2-3 weeks across the lake. Slowly retrieve shiny slabs or spinnerbaits off the bottom to catch these fish in depths of 17-26 feet of water. The crappie have also migrated back into the main lake. Look for them under bridge pylons or under docks where the depths are between 3-10 feet. Guides have been reporting exceptionally nice catches on sunny warmer days. Report by Brent Herbeck, Herbeck’s Lonestar Fishing Guide Service. Report by Brent Herbeck, Herbeck’s Lonestar Fishing Guide Service.

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