Archives > McKinney Courier-Gazette > News
Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
RSS
Share
City manager announces retirement
By Brandi Hart, McKinney Courier-Gazette
City Manager Larry Robinson announced Monday night that he will retire as city manger, effective Jan. 31, 2008. His announcement was greeted with loud applause and a standing ovation by city staff and city council members.
Robinson announced the retirement at the regular workshop meeting, where he thanked God, his family, the council, citizens and city staff for allowing him to serve as city manager since 2000.
“I thank God for allowing me to serve our citizens in this position. I thank my family, especially my wife, Ginny, for their support and sacrifices. I thank the council for allowing me to serve the citizens and staff in three different roles in McKinney, and the opportunity to work with the best, most professional staff I have ever worked with in almost 40 years of public service,” Robinson said.
He also thanked assistant city manager Regie Neff, who, “we all know it wouldn’t be possibly without Regie,” Robinson said. He also thanked assistant city manager Rick Chaffin, Chief of Police Doug Kowalski, Fire Chief Mark Wallace, John Kessel, executive director of the Development Services Department, Jennifer Fung, executive director of the Finance and Administrative Services Department, Hal Cranor, executive director of the Public Works Department, Cathy Lennox, Robinson’s administrative assistant, CoCo Good, director of the Marketing and Communication Department, and Ken Wiegand, the director of the Collin County Regional Airport.
“I think it’s time to change the leadership to someone else and for me to do something different, and what that something different is I don’t know. Because of the fast pace, I’ve not been able to look at others. I’ve got some things my wife and I want to do, such as travel,” Robinson said after the meeting.
“I’m still a commissioned peace officer, so I could also look at chief of police jobs. The other thing would be looking at different positions of McKinney, but I don’t know what those are,” Robinson said.
The 60-year-old began working for the city in 1994 as chief of police. He was named director of public safety in 1998. The council appointed Robinson to interim city manager in 2000 and the position became permanent the following year. He has guided the city through phenomenal population growth since 2000, when McKinney had a population of 50,000 to the approximate 115,198 people who live here today. With the influx of people also came an increase in property valuations and taxes, which rose from $3,528,926,661 in the 2002-01 fiscal year to $8,220,253,314 in the 2006-07 fiscal year. Robinson also pursued public and private partnerships that helped bring developments into McKinney, such as Craig Ranch, the Cooper Aerobics Center, the Adriatica Croatian Village, and the Bridge Street Town Centre that is still being worked out.
Most, if not all of the council members except for Bill Cox, have worked with Robinson since he became city manager and they all gave him heartfelt praise at Monday’s meeting and before the meeting.
“Larry Robinson has served the city of McKinney well in his tenure at a time when we have experienced tremendous growth and tremendous opportunity,” said Mayor Pro Tem Brian Loughmiller. “I congratulate him on his successes and wish him well in his future endeavors. While it is sad when a chapter in our city’s development and administration comes to an end, it is also an exciting time as we begin the next chapter of marshaling our city toward the vision that we are trying to create for our community and citizenry — a sustainable, family oriented vision that we can all be proud of while we grow as a city.”
Council member At Large Thad Helsley also praised Robinson for his dedication to his job and the accomplishments he’s received over the years.
“Larry came along when we needed his leadership to address the rapid growth that we knew we were faced with. At the same time, he was very valuable in building alliances with stakeholders in the community and at the county and state level that are important to this city,” Helsley said. “We’ve got relationships and alliances with the school district, county, Collin College, Federal Aviation Administration, Texas Department of Transportation, and others now that take a lot of time and effort to create. Larry leaves big shoes to fill,” Helsley said.
District 2 Council member Pete Huff said Robinson has done an outstanding job for the city.
“I’m happy to see him be able to retire. I am really sorry to see him go. I think he’s done an outstanding job for the city. I certainly wish him the best and consider him not only a leader, but a friend, and hope that he enjoys the rest of his adult life in endeavors he chooses to pursue,” Huff said.
District 3 Council member Bill Vitz said McKinney is losing a great leader and a great friend, and praised Robinson for treating his staff with professionalism.
“I’ve known Larry for several years and I know that he is a man of high character. He has demonstrated this care for others many times, from the children he taught in Sunday school, to the citizens of McKinney, with whom he has always dealt with in a fair and friendly manner, to the employees of the city who will feel lost for awhile. It will be difficult to fill his shoes. I wish Larry and his family the best in life,” Vitz said.
District 1 Council member Gilda Garza thanked Robinson at the meeting for his service, hard work and guidance.
“I just want to say I appreciate your professionalism,” Garza said.
Cox, who is the newest council member, thanked Robinson for being his friend, in addition to his service as city manager.
“My kids think of you as their friend as well,” Cox said.
Mayor Bill Whitfield also thanked Robinson.
“All I know is when I took a retirement and a buyout in 1990 it added years to my life. I could retire and do as I want to do,” Whitfield said at the meeting.
Retirement will also give Robinson the chance to spend some time with his children: Lawrence Robinson Jr., 39, who lives in Tyler; Matthew, 25, a lieutenant in the Air Force who will soon be deployed to Iraq; Meghan, 23, who graduated from Baylor University in December with a teaching certificate to teach kindergarten through third grade; and Joshua, a junior at the University of North Texas who is studying to become a certified public accountant.
Robinson earned his master’s degree in criminal justice and political science from the University of Texas at Tyler. He is a member of the McKinney Rotary Club, and board member for the McKinney Chamber of Commerce, Medical Center of McKinney, Boys and Girls Club of Collin County, Habitat for Humanity and Collin County Community College Advisory Board.
Contact staff writer Brandi Hart at hartb@acnpapers.com. To post a comment online, access this story at www.scntx.com.
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
You must register with a valid email to post comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here:
Become a Registered User
- Return to: News «
- Home «
- Top of Page ^
