Council looks at naming Marble Falls assistant city manager March 4
DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR
MARBLE FALLS — It’s been about five months since a bicycle accident left Marble Falls city manager Ralph Hendricks severely injured.
Now the Marble Falls City Council is preparing to name a possible successor.
“We’ll likely put the assistant city manager selection on the March 4 regular agenda and make an announcement,” said Mayor George Russell. “And we’ll probably name that person interim (city manager) and let (current interim city manager) Margie Cardenias go back to focusing on the budget and those things. If the person coming in is good enough, he or she will probably be the next city manager.”
On Feb. 25, the City Council interviewed the last of the six finalist for the assistant city manager position.
“Now that we’ve interviewed all six, we’ve asked the city staff to do some reference checks and talk with the finalists about their salary expectations,” Russell said.
While the city posted the position as assistant manager, Russell said council members explained to interviewees the possibility that the position would morph into the city manager role. Several of the finalists are city managers, he added.
“I’m very impressed by the quality of the finalist and also by the large pool of applicants we had,” the mayor said.
In October, Hendricks was on a bike ride when his bicycle struck something on the road and apparently threw him over the handle bars.
Hendricks helmet came off and he struck his head to the ground. Hendricks is still recovering from the injury, but officials don’t believe he’ll be ready, if ever, to return to the city manager position anytime soon.
“We’re all keeping Ralph and his wife Nelda in our prayers,” Russell said.
On March 8, the community is invited to gather in Johnson Park, 230 S. Avenue J, at 8:30 a.m. for a photo to send to Hendricks. The photo takes place before the Race Across America Texas Challenge, a ride Hendricks participated in. People can get a “Ride and Run for Ralph” T-shirt at the event starting at 7:45 a.m.
The T-shirts are free as supplies last, but any donations will go to help defray Hendricks’ medical and other expenses.
Call the Marble Falls/Lake LBJ Chamber of Commerce at (830) 693-2815 for more information on the “Ride and Run for Ralph.”
daniel@thepicayune.com