With major growth and development on the horizon for both Tomball and Magnolia, the mayors of each city have focused their sights on the best ways to prepare for the coming boom without losing the identity of their respective towns.

Tomball Mayor Gretchen Fagan, now in her third term, said she understands the need for infrastructure that can handle the coming growth. At the same time, she said she wants Tomball to keep its current small town vibe and feels the city has done a good job at doing just that.

Mayor Todd Kana of Magnolia is a lifelong resident of the city and is fueled by a need to serve its residents. To him, becoming mayor was a natural evolution. Now in his second term, Kana said he is focused and determined on continuing to balance the city's budget and planning necessary infrastructure projects, such as the expansion of the water system. Kana said he wants to continue to see the city grow and hopes to attract more businesses and jobs.

Gretchen Fagan, Tomball mayor

What are the most pressing challenges facing the city of Tomball?

As a challenge east/west [development] is one of the big challenges, but we are taking care of those. Another huge challenge in the city of Tomball is drainage. We are spending about $11 million doing the M121 west channel, which will be on the west side of South Cherry. That will actually open up when Medical Complex [Drive] is built. Then that will allow development on Medical Complex, and it will also drain the south side of Main Street and some of those areas.

What do you want to accomplish in your third term as mayor?

I'd like to see the major projects that we have started get completed. I think that was one of the reasons for wanting to run a third term, because we do have the drainage projects and we do have the road projects that are underway. So, it is kind of taking that leap for the future that we know is coming.

Given the rapid growth and development in the area, is there anything that gives you pause?

No, because we have for so long not had any significant growth. It does not cause pause at all. We are trying to look ahead of the curve, because I have always understood that you have got to have a plan, you have got to have a vision on where you are going to go. The growth is coming, so it can either go all around us, or we can figure out how to do the infrastructure here. We are planning for that infrastructure.

What about the future of Tomball excites you the most?

I think probably the most exciting thing for me is to know that all these projects are a possibility and to be able to plan for that growth accordingly. To put that infrastructure into place. But again, infrastructure is not attractive. No one gets excited about infrastructure, but you've got to have those things. I think that's what excites me most is we have a city government and a City Council, and I would think the people of Tomball, who all understand what we are doing is for the future.

Todd Kana, Magnolia mayor

What are the most pressing challenges facing the city of Magnolia?

Probably the planning it's going to take for the growth that is coming. We have already been approached by multiple developers, so in the not too distant future, we are going to have expansion of our water system needed. Not the water wells and towers, but the distribution system is going to need some expansion in the future if we are going to grow. We need to start planning the expansion of the sewers [and] treatment plant as well.

What do you want to accomplish in your second term as mayor?

Annexation expansion of the city is probably one of my main goals, and much of that has happened in the last year. I'd like to see that continue. Business-wise we thrive off of sales tax, not property tax. If we could get some more tax-producing businesses, if we could find ways to attract them, it would also create jobs. I'd like to continue seeing the city expand, mainly so we can control our own destiny. Conroe is coming down 1488 and if we don't get out there, then they are going to get here.

Given the rapid growth and development in the area, is there anything that gives you pause?

Our goal has always been to try and maintain a small town atmosphere while embracing the growth. I think a lot of that is probably handled by making sure we have an approachable City Council, mayor and city staff. That's the feel we want to continue to create. We don't want it just to turn into a big city. We don't mind the growth in population and tax base and businesses, though.

If you could only name one, what would you say has been your greatest accomplishment as mayor?

Reducing a $600,000 [budget] deficit by $400,000 in three years. We had lay offs. We cut back absolutely everything. That's probably the biggest accomplishment. I can't say that I can take all the credit for it, though. That, along with the city's expansion for the first time in 25 to 30 years.