Small town government vet hired as town's interim manager
Holly has led communities through career, but also has experience in Temple

By KEN ESTEN COOKE
Reporter Publisher

The job is not forever and the commute is a breeze. A city council committee on Monday agreed to terms with Texas First Group Replacement Services to hire Randy Holly as interim city manager.

Holly is a Milam County resident, having retired last November after serving as city manager in Marlin for two and a half years. After serving as administrative assistant in Plainview for five years, Holly has taken city manager positions in Kermit, Farmersville, Bastrop and Marlin, and served three years as assistant city manager in Temple.

Holly was meeting city staff on Monday and was aware of the challenges the city has with infrastructure needs, especially water and sewer projects that are part of the city’s 10-year water plan.

“Every city in the state put in water and sewer lines at the same time, so they’re dealing with the same problems,” Holly said of the aging infrastructure. “Most of it was cast iron, so it’s already outlived its usefulness.”

Holly also comes to the city during the budget planning process for fiscal 2009.

“This is always a busy time of year for any city,” he said. “But the council has informed me that they want a balanced budget.”

With a wide range of experience, Holly said he will get familiar with the organization before determining how to proceed.
 
Career

Holly served as a corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1969-71 and majored in history at Wayland Baptist College. In 1985, he received a master’s of public administration from Texas Tech.

His career has seen him focus on small town governments and the problems they face.

In Kermit in the late 1980s, he helped convert all major functions to computers and successfully pushed for a home rule charter.

In Farmersville, he helped implement infrastructure improvements, having to be mindful of rising tax rates.

In the late 1990s in Bastrop, he helped guide that town through the start of its booming growth, facilitating a 400-unit housing subdivision, improving infrastructure and reworking the town’s zoning ordinances.

During his three years in Temple, he said he helped that town reorganize its engineering, planning and public works departments to save money and was also the contract administrator for the 130-acre Enterprise Business Park the town is now using to help solicit, and get, new businesses.

Most recently in Marlin, Holly helped that town trim its city work force, get a $1 million U.S. Department of Agriculture grant for a water transmission line and secured funding for other water and sewer improvements. Holly also oversaw administration of a 9 p.m. curfew after unruly juveniles would gather along the state highway and cause trouble.

Four years ago, Holly purchased a ranch between Rockdale and Cameron where he now resides.