Breckenridge Texan

After their offer was turned down by the preferred candidate, the City of Breckenridge’s search committee has decided to put the hiring of a city manager on hold temporarily until the coronavirus-related threat is over, according to current City Manager Andy McCuistion.

McCuistion said the City interviewed several candidates and offered the job to one of them, but due to personal reasons, he turned down the position.

Houston Satterwhite

The committee that was appointed to hire a new city manager decided that recent restrictions, which were put in place across the state and country because of the novel coronavirus, have reduced the likelihood that anyone will agree to make a major move right now, McCuistion said.

“Until we get past all this, we don’t see any use in trying to put ads out, because nobody is going to move anyway,” he explained. “We wouldn’t get much response.”

After his official retirement at the end of this month, McCuistion will serve as a consultant to the city on a contract basis, and Assistant City Manager Houston Satterwhite will be made Interim City Manager, pending approval by the City Commission, which will meet again on May 5.

“I’m going to help them with the budget, help them with the city manager search and help them with other goals that the city has,” McCuistion said. “They’re going to put Houston (Satterwhite) in as the interim city manager.”

McCuistion, who is planning to move to Canton in his retirement, said he will be available to support the staff and the City Commission, coming back to Breckenridge as needed. However, he will be doing some of the work remotely, via computer.

“We’ll have to play it by ear,” he said. “I’m willing to help them. I don’t want to leave the city in a bind.”

Story by Tony Pilkington and Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan

Cutline, top photo: Breckenridge City Manager Andy McCuistion, right, talks to the City Commissioners at a meeting last month. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)