Breckenridge Texan

By Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan

At the Breckenridge City Commission meeting last Tuesday, Dec. 5, several City employees were presented with service pins in honor of the years they have worked for the City of Breckenridge. The commissioners also approved several agenda items.

Honored for their years of working for the City were:

• Diane Latham, Finance Director — 35 Years (Latham could not attend the meeting and will be presented with her pin at a later date)
• Stacy Harrison, Public Services Director — 30 Years
• Christi Tidrow, Development Coordinator — 15 Years
• Scott Bills, Water Plant Supervisor — 15 Years
• Wesley Duggan, Parks Department — 15 Years
• Shelby Buckhalter, Water Treatment Plant Operator — 10 Years
• Chad Skiles, Firefighter — 10 Years
• Darrell Smith, Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator — 5 years

(See pictures of the pin recipients below.)

Additionally, Emily Grenko, a Breckenridge Police Department dispatcher, was honored as the Employee of the Month.

Breckenridge Police Chief Bacel Cantrell presents Emily Grenko, a Breckenridge Police Department dispatcher, with a certificate for being the December City of Breckenridge Employee of the Month. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

American Legion Building

Following the announcements and City Manager’s report, the commissioners held a brief public hearing a request to rezone the property at 611 E. Walker St., the former American Legion building, from R1 (Single Family Dwelling District) to C2 (Community Business District). At the Oct. 24 meeting, the commissioners approved the sale of the building.

“The buyer, which is Andy Rodgers, wants to open up a business at that location,” City Manager Cynthia Northrop said. “So it did go to (the Planning and Zoning Commission) last night (Dec. 4), and they conducted the public hearing and took action to recommend to you all approval of that rezoning request from R1 to C2, noting that it is compatible with what’s in the area.”

No one requested to speak at the Dec. 5 hearing, and the request was approved.

Parking lot

The commissioners also considered a request by the Breckenridge Economic Development Corp. to turn the vacant lot at the southeast corner of Elm and Court streets into a parking lot.

Northrop said the BEDC will pay to refurbish the City-owned lot and will add an entrance off of Court Street. Then, the lot will be striped for about 10 parking spaces, she said. The project is expected to cost the BEDC about $15,000.

The commissioners approved the request.

Street Closure

The commissioners also considered a recommendation by the Planning and Zoning Commission to officially close two blocks of Dyer Street, between North Miller Street and North Live Oak Street. In that area, Dyer Street is not a through-street, due to the parking areas for the New Destination Church (formerly the Breckenridge Senior Citizens Center) in one block and the Boy Scout building and the Stephens County Humane Society’s Thrift Store (formerly known as the Sis Clark Building) in the other block. However, during a recent survey of the area in preparation for the sale of the property at 210 N. Smith St. to New Destination Church, it was discovered that those two blocks are officially considered a roadway with an 80-foot right of way, Northrop said.

The commissioners approved the closure of the roadway and the conveyance of the right-of-way to the abutting property owners — Breckenridge Independent School District to the northeast and Shady Tree Apartments to the southeast.

In a related action, the commissioners also approved Ordinance 23-22, which removes the requirement that the Planning and Zoning Commission first consider and make recommendations regarding city streets before the City Commission can consider such action. Most cities allow such requests and considerations to go to the city council or commission without having to go through a P&Z board first, Northrop said.

FM 3099 Utility Relocation Construction Project

The utility relocation portion of the road construction project at FM 3099 and West Walker Street/U.S. Highway 180 West is complete, and the city commissioners approved final payment to the contractor, Lee Tech Solutions, contingent on the submission of all closeout documents.

The utility relocation project was to move the utilities, including water lines, fiberoptics, franchise utilities, etc, in advance of the Texas Department of Transportation’s project to straighten out the intersection on the west side of Breckenridge. The final bill for the project was for $513,569, about $8,000 less than the original bid, according to Sage Diller, professional engineer with eHT (Enprotec / Hibbs & Todd, Inc).

Sage Diller, professional engineer with eHT (Enprotec / Hibbs & Todd, Inc), talks to the Breckenridge City Commission and others attending the meeting about the utility relocation project at the intersection of West Walker Street/U.S. Highway 180 West and FM 3099. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Street Improvement Plan

Northrop gave a brief update on street projects in the city. The improvements to the intersection at Live Oak and Elm streets, and the intersection at Wheeler and Smith streets have been completed. As of last week, the bridges that cross Gunsolus Creek on Live Oak Street and Shelton Street are awaiting a final walk-through before they can be opened.

Additionally, the intersection at Hartford and Hullum streets, near Stephens Memorial Hospital, is being improved.

Upcoming street improvements include projects financed by a Texas Community Development Block Grant obtained by Stephens County. The County is using the grant money to fund improvements to Hartford Street, from U.S. Highway 180 to the cemetery at Elliott Street, and on Third Street near the high school. That work should begin next year, Northrop said.

During the Dec. 5 meeting, Northrop also explained to the commissioners that in the May 2024 election, the ballot will include the reauthorization of one quarter of 1 cent (.0025) sales tax for the City’s street maintenance program. Based on her research, Northrop said, the tax for the street maintenance program was instituted in 2004 and has to be reauthorized by the voters every four years.

Other Business

Additionally, the commissioners approved the renewal of a contract with Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce for the Hotel Occupancy Tax funds. The City of Breckenridge collects the HOT and gives it to the Chamber to promote tourism and the convention and hotel industry.

The commissioners also approved a request by lienholder of the property at 213 Pembrook to extend the order to abate to February 6, 2024. In October, the commissioners issued an Order to Abate a dangerous building at the location. Since then, the lienholder has begun the foreclosure process on the current owner and needs the extra time to complete the foreclosure proceedings and to remedy the dangerous building situation, which he says he intends to do.

As previously reported by the Breckenridge Texan, the city commissioners also met in executive session with Police Chief Bacel Cantrell. After returning to open session, they voted to accept Cantrell’s resignation, effective Feb. 1, 2024. Commissioner Rob Durham voted against accepting the resignation. Click here to read the article, “Cantrell resigns from police chief position; last day to be Feb. 1.”

Stacy Harrison, Public Services Director, received a pin from City Manager Cynthia Northrop for his 30 years of employment with the City of Breckenridge. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Christi Tidrow, Development Coordinator, was honored by City Manager Cynthia Northrop for her 15 years with the City of Breckenridge. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Scott Bills, Water Plant Supervisor, was presented with his 15-year by Breckenridge City Manager Cynthia Northrop. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Wesley Duggan, with the Parks Department, was presented with a pin by City Manager Cynthia Northrop for his 15 years of employment. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Shelby Buckhalter, Water Treatment Plant Operator, was presented with a pin by City Manager Cynthia Northrop for her 10 years of employment. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Chad Skiles, Firefighter, was presented with a pin by City Manager Cynthia Northrop for his 10 years of employment. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Darrell Smith, Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator, was presented with a pin by City Manager Cynthia Northrop for his 5 years of employment. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Cutline, top photo: Breckenridge Mayor Bob Sims, left, congratulates Scott Bills, Water Plant Supervisor, for his 15 years with the City of Breckenridge. Also pictured are commissioners Rob Durham and Blake Hamilton and City Manager Cynthia Northrop. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)