The Guthrie City Council on Tuesday named Eddie Faulkner as the new City Manager replacing Leroy Alsup who is retiring.
Mayor Steve Gentling said Faulkner will begin his duties April 17, and will officially become City Manager on April 29, after Alsup retires April 28.
Faulkner served as the Business Development Director for the Catoosa Chamber of Commerce for two years prior to his tenure with the City of Catoosa.
During his four-year tenure with the City of Catoosa, Faulkner served as the City Planner and Assistant City Manager. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Northeastern State University and in 2022 he completed the Community Development Institute at the University of Central Arkansas.
Faulkner has been recognized locally for his community involvement and achievements in the Catoosa.
Community:
2020 City of Catoosa - Employee of the Year
2022 Catoosa Citizen of the Year
2022 NextGen Under 30 Recipient - Policy and Public Service
Alsup stated that he believes that Faulkner will be an asset to the Guthrie Community from day one, and by working with the current City Department Head Leadership Team and Community Partners his tenure in Guthrie will be as productive as his own tenure in the Guthrie.
In other matters, the Council approved a resolution declaring 15 area structures as dilapidated and dangerous structures that are detrimental to the health, safety, or welfare of the general public.
Planning Director Dan Kassik told the Council the City sent out letters to property owners that their properties were on the list to either make improvements or risk having the City demolish their property.
“We sent out letters as a courtesy last May and August alerting these property owners that if they did not do something with their own show progress, get the proper permits, they would end up on tonight's list,” he said. “So that was another courtesy that we had put in place and will continue each year in hopes that we get, you know, compliance without having to get to this point.”
Kassik said property owners would have 30 days to show plans for improvements.
“In that 30-day period they will need to obtain all the necessary permits to bring that house into a completely code compliant structure,” he said.