Lakeway City Council has begun the search for a new city manager in response to the sudden resignation of Steve Jones in August.

Following executive session during the Sept. 16 regular meeting, council voted to dedicate $30,000 to hire a search firm to hire a new city manager. Additionally, council authorized Mayor Sandy Cox and Mayor Pro Tem Laurie Higginbotham to choose a search firm within that budget.

No time frame has yet been set for when the firm should be hired.

After entering into executive session during a Sept. 9 special meeting, council named acting City Manager Julie Oakley the city’s interim city manager. Prior to becoming interim city manager, Oakley served as Lakeway's assistant city manager.

During the Sept. 9 meeting, council added a 10% stipend to Oakley’s salary to go into effect retroactively from the time she assumed the acting city manager role immediately following Jones' Aug. 19 resignation. Jones had been Lakeway’s city manager since 2005.