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Marble Falls ends Ralph Hendricks’ tenure as city manager

DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR

MARBLE FALLS — The Marble Falls City Council voted April 22 to end its contract with City Manager Ralph Hendricks and officially let him go.

“It was a tough decision,” Mayor George Russell said. “As a council member, you have a compassionate heart, but you also have your fiduciary responsibilities, and, sometimes, those don’t always mesh. But, in the end, you have to do what’s right.”

Hendricks suffered a head injury during a bicycle crash Oct. 12, 2013. Since the accident, Hendricks has been undergoing treatment and rehabilitation for the injury and hasn’t been able to work.

Hendricks, an avid cyclist, was with a group when his bike struck an object or pothole in the road. The bike apparently went tumbling forward, throwing the city manager. At some point, Hendricks’ helmet came off, and he struck his head.

He also suffered a fractured clavicle and some broken ribs, officials said after the accident.

During his absence, finance director Margie Cardenas has been the acting city manager.

The city is in the process of hiring a new city manager. The council will hold a special meeting April 29 to go over a pool of applicants. Russell said the plan is to whittle the number down to five or six and then bring them in for interviews.

“We’re going to expedite the process as best we can,” Russell said.

Though the council voted to terminate Hendricks and his contract, the city did provide him with a severance package.

Hendricks joined the city as the fire chief in 2006 before taking a position as assistant city manager in 2007. In May 2009, Hendricks was named the interim city manager after the previous one retired. Marble Falls named him city manager Jan. 25, 2010.

Russell said Hendricks has always been a consummate public servant, putting the needs of the community often before his own.

“He loves Marble Falls and this community and always wanted the best for it,” the mayor said. “And he wasn’t just somebody who worked for the city, he is involved in so many things such as the Rotary Club and other organizations. I appreciate everything he did for the city.”

daniel@thepicayune.com