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City Manager’s Update:
Mount Pleasant, TX, August 31, 2020
One of the most important elements of any successful organization is the staff team, which certainly includes the City of Mount Pleasant. It’s a privilege to work with so many dedicated employees who have been with the City for many years, and it’s also exciting to welcome new members to the team.
Police Chief Mark Buhman
As you may have read, our new Police Chief, Mark Buhman, will begin September 15. He brings 23 years of professional law enforcement experience with him from Salt Lake City, Utah, Police Department. That is where he was the Police Chief’s Executive Officer and previously served as the Assistant Division Commander over a division comprised of 112 officers, including patrol, K9, and community outreach officers.
Chief Buhman is fluent in English and Spanish and has a track record of sound, fair leadership, creative problem solving, and working with all department ranks.
I personally want to thank Assistant Chief Kyle Holcomb for doing an exceptional job during the past seven months as Interim Chief. We are confident that he and Chief Buhman will be an effective and impressive leadership team with a strong focus on community engagement and policing.
Ricky Harris, Director, Parks & Recreation Department
Last week, Ricky Harris began his new job with the City as Director of Parks & Recreation Division. Ricky will plan, coordinate, and manage all parks and recreation operations and activities, including the divisions of Parks Maintenance, the Civic Center, Main Street, Special Events, and the Municipal Pool.
Ricky is a U.S. Army veteran and has extensive experience in managing Capital Improvement Projects (CIP), building partnerships with community stakeholders, and implementing Parks, Recreation, and Trails Master Plans. At the same time, he runs a tight ship when it comes to facility maintenance and staffing.
A graduate of Texas A&M University-Commerce, Ricky is a Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP), a Certified Pool/Spa Operator (CPO), and holds TCEQ Landscape Irrigation and Texas Department of Agriculture Pesticide Applicator licenses. He is a member of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and Texas Recreation and Parks Society (TRAPS), received the Martin Luther King, Jr., Spirit of Dedication Award in 2014.
John Ankrum, Building Official
Additionally, John Ankrum joined the City in August as our Building Official. He is responsible for conducting building plans, structure inspections, reviewing all building permits applications, and code enforcement and health services.
John comes to the City with 24 years of professional experience, most recently with the City of Paris. John has earned 16 ICC Certifications as well as certifications through the Sequoia Institute. He is a state-licensed plumbing inspector, code officer, and Trakit Administrator.
Please join me in welcoming our newest team members and sharing your appreciation for our hardworking employees. If you are interested in a career with the City, you can find current job openings at www.mpcity.net.
As always, I encourage you to contact me anytime you have questions or concerns ethatcher@mpcity.org or call me directly at 972-951-0993.
Sincerely,
Ed Thatcher, City Manager