Micah Grau is leaving the city of Hutto to become assistant city manager in Buda.[/caption]
Assistant City Manager Micah Grau will spend the holidays on vacation as he transitions from Hutto City Hall to Buda City Hall with the same title.
“I’ll miss the friendships, the people,” said Grau, who is listing his house with a Realtor this week. “I’ll miss walking through downtown seeing the Christmas lights. I’ll miss going anywhere in town and seeing people you know.”
It’s an advantage, Grau said, he has enjoyed while working in a small town.
“I grew up in a small town, so Hutto was perfect,” he said.
Grau joined Hutto in 2006 when the population was 8,000. The population has tripled since while maintaining the small-town feel.
“Hutto is nobody’s hometown, but everybody adopts it as their hometown,” Grau said. “It’s a unique way to build a community with so many coming from New York, California and Michigan.”
The City Council, Grau said, has worked hard to honor its agricultural past and maintain and rebuild a historic downtown.
“Everybody knows everybody, and you value the relationships, the community,” Grau said.
Originally, Grau created budgets and worked in finance for the city of Hutto. He moved into his role as assistant city manager and moved to Hutto in 2010 with his wife, Mallory. They have two children, Eli and Norah.
Among the challenges Grau said he faced in Hutto, was finding creative ways to finance and complete projects.
“A lot is changing here, and there are a lot of big decisions to make,” Grau said. “The city is working with the Hutto Economic Development Corp. to bring businesses here. We need jobs and industry to maintain the balance of the community.”
Buda, he said, is in a similar growth situation with a smaller population and more commercial growth but is looking to maintain the balance [of residential and commercial] and preserve the city’s history.
Grau said Hutto will continue to address challenges, as city officials have hired a city manager, Odis Jones, and have decisions to make about placing a bond issue on the May ballot.
“Hutto has great potential, with 52 square miles of land and growth potential of 200,000 residents,” Grau said. “I’ll miss it, but I’m looking forward to working in Buda.”
Grau holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Texas A&M University and a master's degree in public administration from Texas State University.
He officially ends his job in Hutto on Jan. 2 and starts in Buda the next day.
Micah Grau is leaving the city of Hutto to become assistant city manager in Buda.[/caption]
Assistant City Manager Micah Grau will spend the holidays on vacation as he transitions from Hutto City Hall to Buda City Hall with the same title.
“I’ll miss the friendships, the people,” said Grau, who is listing his house with a Realtor this week. “I’ll miss walking through downtown seeing the Christmas lights. I’ll miss going anywhere in town and seeing people you know.”
It’s an advantage, Grau said, he has enjoyed while working in a small town.
“I grew up in a small town, so Hutto was perfect,” he said.
Grau joined Hutto in 2006 when the population was 8,000. The population has tripled since while maintaining the small-town feel.
“Hutto is nobody’s hometown, but everybody adopts it as their hometown,” Grau said. “It’s a unique way to build a community with so many coming from New York, California and Michigan.”
The City Council, Grau said, has worked hard to honor its agricultural past and maintain and rebuild a historic downtown.
“Everybody knows everybody, and you value the relationships, the community,” Grau said.
Originally, Grau created budgets and worked in finance for the city of Hutto. He moved into his role as assistant city manager and moved to Hutto in 2010 with his wife, Mallory. They have two children, Eli and Norah.
Among the challenges Grau said he faced in Hutto, was finding creative ways to finance and complete projects.
“A lot is changing here, and there are a lot of big decisions to make,” Grau said. “The city is working with the Hutto Economic Development Corp. to bring businesses here. We need jobs and industry to maintain the balance of the community.”
Buda, he said, is in a similar growth situation with a smaller population and more commercial growth but is looking to maintain the balance [of residential and commercial] and preserve the city’s history.
Grau said Hutto will continue to address challenges, as city officials have hired a city manager, Odis Jones, and have decisions to make about placing a bond issue on the May ballot.
“Hutto has great potential, with 52 square miles of land and growth potential of 200,000 residents,” Grau said. “I’ll miss it, but I’m looking forward to working in Buda.”
Grau holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Texas A&M University and a master's degree in public administration from Texas State University.
He officially ends his job in Hutto on Jan. 2 and starts in Buda the next day.
