Council puts city manager appointment on next agenda
TEXARKANA, Texas — During a regular meeting Monday, the City Council agreed to place the appointment of David Orr as city manager on the agenda for its next meeting, scheduled for Oct. 25.
After a closed session to discuss the appointment and a employment contract for Orr, the Council reconvened in open session and voted by unanimous consent to take up Orr’s promotion in two weeks.
Orr, who has held the position on an interim basis for more than five months, served as assistant city manager under former City Manager Shirley Jaster, who retired at the end of April.
Orr’s career with the city began with an administrative services manager position in 2009. He became the city’s director of planning and community development in 2014.
He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public administration from the University of Arkansas and a doctorate in higher education administration from Stellenbosch University in South Africa. He has been an adjunct instructor at Texas A&M University-Texarkana since 2009, teaching courses on government.
In other business, the Council voted unanimously to abandon right of way for a 40-foot segment of the 900 block of Franklin Street to Gregg Orr.
Orr owns all adjacent lots in the area just north of Oakhill Drive and south of Mall Drive.
The Council also voted unanimously to rezone land at 1801 Waterall St. from Single Family-2 to Neighborhood Service.
The property is currently the Knights of Columbus Hall and Meeting Center, and a new owner wants to convert it into an events center.