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Prosper councilman, Town Manager submit resignations
Staff reports
Place 1 Town Councilman Dave Benefield and Town Manager Mike Land have submitted letters of resignation from the Council and the Town, both moving out of Prosper to pursue career opportunities, according to Prosper Mayor Ray Smith.
“It’s a great loss to the Town to see both of these gentlemen go elsewhere, but the legacy they leave behind will give solid testament to their incredible effectiveness,” he said.
Benefield leaves an associate pastor position at Lighthouse Church in Prosper to accept the position of senior pastor of River of Life Church in Mason, Texas. Land has been selected as Deputy City Manager for Coppell.
In his first term on the Council, Benefield demonstrated a commitment to ensuring that his votes on the Council reflected his values and principles. “Dave was a Council member who did not vacillate on his commitments. You always knew that he would vote his conscience and that his votes and questions would always fall on the side of what was right for Prosper,” said Smith. “We’ll miss his steady hand.”
A special election will be held over the next several months to fill the unexpired term Benefield leaves.
Land, Prosper Town Manager for almost five years, officially steps into the deputy position at Coppell on July 16. His tenure at Prosper, after a 10-year stint as city manager in Gainesville, has been marked by a balanced progression of growth for Prosper.
During his watch, the Town grew exponentially, increasing in population by almost 100 percent. Neighborhoods, developments, commercial activity, Town services, and a staff-wide dedication to customer care saw measurable increases. Town tax rates remained stable while the influx of residents and businesses along with prudent passage of bond programs gave the Town enough financial flexibility to build parks, upgrade infrastructure, improve streets and provide critical municipal services.
The initiation of major thoroughfare construction projects, the launching of water and sewer extensions and an amplification of business recruitment and retention projects are results of Land’s leadership and vision for the Town.
“Mike’s long-range vision is one of the hallmarks of his tremendous ability. His clear visualization of where the Town should place its emphasis has been remarkably accurate and on-target. He truly sees the big picture, and for Prosper, his abilities were perfectly suited. We will greatly miss him and his visionary capabilities. At the same time, the Council realizes that someone of his talent would be ripe for greener pastures, and while we hate to lose him, we wish him and Lisa the very best,” Mayor Smith said.
The Town Council will meet over the next few days to discuss the timetable for the special election, and to mull over the process of replacement for the town manager.
“It’s a great loss to the Town to see both of these gentlemen go elsewhere, but the legacy they leave behind will give solid testament to their incredible effectiveness,” he said.
Benefield leaves an associate pastor position at Lighthouse Church in Prosper to accept the position of senior pastor of River of Life Church in Mason, Texas. Land has been selected as Deputy City Manager for Coppell.
In his first term on the Council, Benefield demonstrated a commitment to ensuring that his votes on the Council reflected his values and principles. “Dave was a Council member who did not vacillate on his commitments. You always knew that he would vote his conscience and that his votes and questions would always fall on the side of what was right for Prosper,” said Smith. “We’ll miss his steady hand.”
A special election will be held over the next several months to fill the unexpired term Benefield leaves.
Land, Prosper Town Manager for almost five years, officially steps into the deputy position at Coppell on July 16. His tenure at Prosper, after a 10-year stint as city manager in Gainesville, has been marked by a balanced progression of growth for Prosper.
During his watch, the Town grew exponentially, increasing in population by almost 100 percent. Neighborhoods, developments, commercial activity, Town services, and a staff-wide dedication to customer care saw measurable increases. Town tax rates remained stable while the influx of residents and businesses along with prudent passage of bond programs gave the Town enough financial flexibility to build parks, upgrade infrastructure, improve streets and provide critical municipal services.
The initiation of major thoroughfare construction projects, the launching of water and sewer extensions and an amplification of business recruitment and retention projects are results of Land’s leadership and vision for the Town.
“Mike’s long-range vision is one of the hallmarks of his tremendous ability. His clear visualization of where the Town should place its emphasis has been remarkably accurate and on-target. He truly sees the big picture, and for Prosper, his abilities were perfectly suited. We will greatly miss him and his visionary capabilities. At the same time, the Council realizes that someone of his talent would be ripe for greener pastures, and while we hate to lose him, we wish him and Lisa the very best,” Mayor Smith said.
The Town Council will meet over the next few days to discuss the timetable for the special election, and to mull over the process of replacement for the town manager.
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