Wednesday, August 14, 2024
Following Scott Albert’s exit as Gatesville City Manager in May, the Gatesville City Council will decide the fate of the position at an upcoming meeting in August.
Gatesville Police Chief Brad Hunt has served as interim city manager since Albert’s resignation. On Tuesday, Aug. 27, the council will vote on whether Hunt will continue his service as city manager or resume his role as police chief.
The city used a hiring firm, Strategic Government Resources (SGR), to find a city manager after Bill Parry’s retirement in 2023. While Mayor Gary Chumley has notified the firm that the city might need their services again this year, he said the city council does not plan to search for other candidates until after the vote on August 27.
“In the meantime, we had moved Chief Hunt into the city manager position, and he has done a fantastic job,” Chumley said. “He has exhibited the leadership skills that we needed in there, and also the team building skills. Morale is higher now than it has been for quite some time.”
If the council chooses not to continue with Hunt’s service, or if he declines the position, Council Member and Mayor Pro Tem Meredith Rainer said they will work with SGR to search for potential candidates, a process that could take between three to six months.
Chumley and Rainer explain what the city is looking for in the next city manager and how they plan to maintain stability following back-to-back city manager exits in 2023 and 2024.
In a town the size of Gatesville, they agree that community involvement is essential.
“We want someone who is a part of this community,” Chumley said.
Rainer adds that they want a city manager who is not only involved but has a long-term vision for the city’s growth.
“Also, someone who wants to be here, because I think that changes their mindset of the decisions that they make long-term,” she said. “If they want to be here five to 10 years, what do they want to see Gatesville look like?”
While good leadership among city staff is key, Rainer said citizen engagement is another important part of the role.
“I think we need someone who is a people person and can communicate not just with the staff but with the citizens too,” Rainer said. “And an open-door policy – if someone comes to speak to the city manager, it would be nice if he’d let them in openly and listen to their concerns.”
Chumley praised Hunt for his work as interim city manager so far. He explains that the city council elected Hunt for the role due to his leadership skills and community involvement, especially after his planning for the total solar eclipse that took place in April.
“He did a great job of getting people organized and everything as far as that goes,” Chumley said. “He was a leader form the word ‘go.’ He could command, and you wanted to go do what he said and what you asked him to do.”
Gatesville operates under a council-manager form of government, which means the city manager serves as the chief executive of various city departments and projects. They also work with the city council to establish policies and programs. The position oversees a city containing more than $53 million in assets, 82 full-time government employees, and a current budget of approximately $30 million.
What key issues will the next city manager face?
The next city manager will face several major projects in Gatesville – mostly involving infrastructure improvement to accommodate the city’s inevitable growth. Chumley and Rainer share some of the major issues that they believe the city will need to prioritize in the upcoming year.
“For growth, especially right now, I think we are really behind and need to invest in some of those things that you can’t see,” Rainer said.
Both Chumley and Rainer agree that water and sewer line improvements are a top priority.
“The absolute number one thing we are needing right now is some infrastructure improvement,” Chumley said. “One is over on Leon Street by the iron bridge. The river has washed out and exposed a sewer line there.”
Several water and sewer projects are already in the works, including repairs at the Stillhouse Wastewater Treatment Plant and to a sewer line on State Highway 36.
“We are in the process of starting the line on (Highway) 36,” Chumley said. “We’ve got subdivisions that are wanting to come in, but we can’t service them because of lack of infrastructure.”
Rainer adds that finding solutions to condemned structures and code enforcement are another priority for the city. In other words, abandoned homes deemed unsafe for occupancy as well as regulations to help clean up certain areas.
“Some of these houses, for the most part, some of the abandoned houses are just dilapidated and unlivable – what do we do with those to more beautify Gatesville and make it more welcoming?” Rainer said.
Rainer said the council wanted to give Hunt through at least the end of August since he assumed the city manager role during budget season. Hunt has worked alongside Interim Deputy City Manager Mike Halsema and other city department leaders to build the budget for fiscal year 2025, which the council will adopt in September.
“I think Brad is doing a great job and he’s a good communicator,” Rainer said. “I think he communicates well with council, and so we’ll see in August after the bulk of the budget gets done.”
