By Jett Whittington, The Alliance Gazette
The Alliance Gazette reached out to Interim City Manager Tim Pitts to discuss the state of the city and his future as rumors circulated. The Gazette first spoke with Pitts by phone, then confirmed what he said in a follow-up, in-person interview at the city manager's office between Jett Whittington and Pitts. All information in this article comes from that in-person interview.
What Led to the Interview
The Gazette had been told by various sources that Tim Pitts was preparing to leave his position with the City of Eastland. According to those sources, Pitts was planning to return to the Department of Public Safety as soon as late October.
Statement from Pitts
The Gazette met with Pitts for a follow-up interview in person at the city manager's office. Pitts confirmed that he is leaving his posts with the City of Eastland by December. He said his heart is with DPS and that the decision to return comes after months of navigating city politics. Pitts explained that he is not in favor of handling the local politics at this time, though he did not point to any specific individual as the cause.
While Pitts has made his decision, he is confident in the state of the city. He shared his hope that the city commission will choose a permanent city manager in the coming days. Of 11 applicants, he said, he has narrowed the field to three possible candidates the commission will soon interview. Pitts is hopeful the commission will select a manager so he can help with a smooth transition before leaving.
Pitts also said city operations are stable. He wanted to make clear that city employees have been working diligently and nonstop to keep the city running. He acknowledged that the city is undergoing transitions as the Public Works director retires and the Planning and Zoning department comes under Code Enforcement Officer Brent Barry. Pitts said the Public Works position will be filled, and that Barry will handle both code enforcement and planning and zoning until the police department is able to hire a new code enforcement officer. Pitts reiterated that all of the city employees are doing a great job and he is extremely proud of them and their work.
Although Pitts is leaving his post with the City of Eastland, he will remain in Eastland County. He said that with DPS he will be stationed in the county, continuing to serve residents.
Looking Forward
After months of tension and leadership changes, Pitts remains confident that the city is recovering and stronger than it was. He said he has faith the commission will choose a new city manager who works well with city employees and delivers on the tasks necessary to push Eastland forward. He said he looks forward to the coming days and to working his final months to complete the transition.
Pitts told the Gazette that he intends to recommend Dan Wilson to the city commission as the permanent, full-time police chief. He said the police department would be in good hands with Wilson, and that Wilson and Fire Chief Brightman work well together, making the working relationship in public safety stable.
The city commission is scheduled to meet October 15, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. to interview the applicants for city manager. The executive session is the only item listed on the agenda, with the commission to return to open session to take action if necessary. It is unclear whether the commission will select an applicant during that session.
The commission is also scheduled to meet October 20, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. for a regular meeting. Two executive sessions are listed: the first concerning the police chief position and the second concerning the city manager position.
The Alliance Gazette will continue to monitor the commission and provide updates as they become available.
