Ennis commission authorizes recruiter for city manager search, approves airport grant and nominates appraisal district candidate

The Ennis City Commission on Oct. 1 approved three items following a public comment period and an executive session.

Mayor Cameron Rayburn and commissioners voted by voice to: retain Baker Tilly to assist with the city manager recruitment and authorize the mayor to negotiate and execute an agreement for executive recruiting services; approve a grant agreement for the airport automated weather observing system (consent item D1); and adopt a resolution nominating Walter Erwin as a candidate for the Ellis Appraisal District Board of Directors for 2025.

Why it matters: The city manager search will shape senior staffing for Ennis; using an executive recruiting firm signals the commission’s intention to conduct a formal, externally assisted search. The airport weather system grant affects airport safety and operations; the appraisal board nomination factors into how valuation and taxation weights are represented among county taxing entities.

What the commission did • Retain Baker Tilly for the city manager search. Commissioner Haney moved ‘‘that the city commission retain Baker Tilly to assist and conduct the search for a city manager and to authorize the mayor to negotiate and execute an agreement for executive recruiting services.’’ The motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. The commission did not record individual roll-call tallies in the public record; the mayor announced the motion adopted.

• Approve airport AWOS grant (consent item D1). The consent agenda, which included a grant agreement for the airport automated weather observing system, was moved by Commissioner Haney, seconded by Commissioner Watson, and approved by voice vote.

• Nominate Walter Erwin to the Ellis Appraisal District Board (E1). Mayor Rayburn explained that the city’s votes are weighted among taxing entities and that the city typically combines votes with others (for example, the NSISD) to elect board members. Mayor Pro Tem Isbell moved the nomination; Commissioner Haney seconded and the motion passed by voice vote.

Quotes and procedure Commissioner Haney offered the Baker Tilly motion on the record: ‘‘I make a motion that the city commission retain Baker Tilly to assist and conduct the search for a city manager and to authorize the mayor to negotiate and execute an agreement for executive recruiting services.’’

Next steps The commission authorized the mayor to negotiate and sign the recruiting-services agreement; the meeting record does not show the contract amount, timeline, or implementation details. City staff will follow up on administrative steps for the AWOS grant and the appraisal-district nomination as appropriate.

Meeting result: All three actions passed by voice vote; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript.

Ending: With no further business, Mayor Rayburn adjourned the meeting at 9:39 p.m.