Mahan to retire after 21 years as Breckenridge Police Chief
At the end of January, Breckenridge Police Chief Larry Mahan will wrap up 21 years as the city’s top cop.
Mahan officially announced his impending retirement at Tuesday night’s Breckenridge City Commission meeting, offering a letter dated Nov. 5.
“Y’all probably have heard, but I wanted to make it official; I’ve given you a letter there…I plan on retiring on Jan. 31,” Mahan said. “…I’m going to be leaving after 21 years as Chief and 32 years total with the city. I’m going to head on down the road. I don’t know what I’m going to do, but I’m going to do something.”
Mahan said he has about four weeks of vacation time available but that he doesn’t know yet whether he will take the vacation or get paid for the time.
“I just wanted y’all to know that I’ve always had … with very few exceptions … a very supportive staff and a very supportive Commission, and I hope with the next person, you’ll continue to support them as well as you have me for 21 years,” he said. “I’ll still always be here, so I won’t be far. If anybody has any questions, like always, you’ve got my number.”
Mayor Bob Sims, who is a retired Texas Department of Public Safety officer, talked about having worked with Mahan in the past.
“The only thing I can say is that long before I became mayor, Larry and I have worked together…we can’t even remember how far back, now… but I don’t know what I would have done as a State Trooper out here without his help through his men on so many calls, every type of call you could imagine. There was just one of me out there most of the time,” Sims said. “Thanks to Larry for allowing them to help me and assist me the way they did, it made (my job) somewhat easier. I’m going to miss him, but I don’t blame him.”
Following the City Manager’s report to the commissioners, they went into Executive Session to discuss Mahan’s retirement and the possibility of hiring an interim. When the City Commissioners resumed the public meeting, they voted to accept his letter of resignation. Additionally, they voted to approve City Manager Andy McCuistion to hire an interim police chief, if necessary.
McCuistion said whether or they need to hire an interim will depend on Mahan’s decision about his vacation time. If he chooses to take the four weeks of vacation, they likely will need to hire an interim to serve until a permanent police chief can be hired.
Other business
Paul Prater, right, advises the Breckenridge City Commission on the option to purchase water rights from Possum Kingdom Reservoir. (Photo by Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan)
The commissioners also voted to decline the option to purchase the rights to water from Possum Kingdom Reservoir. The water would be contracted from the Brazos River Authority by the West Central Texas Municipal Water District. The commissioners acted on the advice of Paul Prater, the city’s senior representative on the WCTMWD.
The contract would be for 10 years, and the City of Breckenridge would have to pay for the rights, even if no water was used.
“I don’t believe paying for it for 10 years for nothing is a good idea,” Prater said.
Additionally, the commissioners approved a change order for the Parks Street paving and drainage improvement project, adding $227,471.62 to the previous price of $4,652,497.37.
“What the contract change order is, is kind of a cleanup change order,” said Sage Diller, a project engineer and associate vice president with Enprotec/Hibbs and Todd, the firm overseeing several local road construction projects.
The commissioners also voted to appoint members to the Board of Adjustment. The terms of three members are expiring, and the board reappointed Leslie Howk and Vince Moore to two-year terms set to expire in November 2021. Because board member Tony Baeza is moving out of town, the board needed to replace him. They voted to appoint Turner Baugh to the position.
Story by Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan
Cutline, top photo: Breckenridge Police Chief Larry Mahan, right, submits his official letter of resignation/retirement to the City Commission on Tuesday, Nov. 5. (Photo by Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan)
