Hutto has new interim city manager after previous leader left because of family issues
Isaac Turner took over this month as Hutto's new interim city manager after the previous city manager left because he could not commit to moving his family to the city, officials said.
They said the city is searching nationally for a new city manager with the help of a search firm. The process is expected to take several months.
Turner was the city manager of Taylor from 2014 to 2019, according to a city of Hutto news release.
"In addition to managing comparably sized cities in Florida for a decade, in Texas he managed the city of McKinney from 1997 to 2000 after holding an executive-level position with the city of Dallas for several years," the release said.
READ: Hutto names Hutmacher as new city manager
It said Turner earned a masters degree in public administration from the University of Kansas and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Kansas State University.
The town's previous city manager, Warren Hutmacher, left his position on Nov. 12 because he could not commit to moving his family to Texas, the city announced in another city news release.
The Hutto City Council approved a separation agreement with Hutmacher in November that was "significantly less than his contract called for, allowing him to keep relations amicable with the city," the release said.
The city paid Hutmacher $142,998, which was seven months worth of his salary and also paid $10,300 for seven months of insurance coverage for Hutmacher and his family, according to the separation agreement.
Hutmacher had 22 years of experience in local government around Atlanta before he became city manager in Hutto in October 2020.
“We believe it’s important for our city manager to live in the city where we all live,” Hutto Mayor Mike Snyder said in a statement.
“Despite Warren making headway in leading the city forward with his vision to rebuild our culture — starting with hiring experienced, skilled professionals in several critical roles for the city — the timing just wasn’t right for him and his family."
Hutmacher was the third city manager to leave Hutto since 2016.
City Manager Karen Daly resigned in January 2016 after being accused of having "broken relationships" with the Hutto school district, firefighters and county officials.
She was replaced by interim City Manager Micah Grau. The city chose Odis Jones, whose previous jobs included executive director of economic development for the city of Cincinnati, to be the new city manager in December 2016.
Jones left in December 2019 after reaching a mutual agreement with the City Council and saying he wanted to move on to new opportunities.
Jones, who is Black, sued the city in December 2020 saying he was racially discriminated against when the City Council voided his $412,000 separation agreement that month. The lawsuit is still pending.
READ: Former city manager files lawsuit against Hutto after separation terms voided
Charles McDaniels became the interim city manager after Jones left until the City Council selected Hutmacher as the new city manager in October 2020.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Hutto has new interim city manager after previous leader left due to family issues
