Hutto city manager

Hutto City Manager Karen Daly joined the city's staff March 2, replacing former City Manager David Mitchell.

Daly has several years of city management experience and has both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in social work and an additional master's degree in urban affairs, all from the University of Texas at Arlington. Her work experience includes time as city manager of Greenville, assistant city manager in Sugar Land and work with the North Central Texas Council of Governments.

What attracted you to this career?

I was doing an internship and had a permanent job at the [North Central Texas] Council of Governments. [The council] was working with census data and grants, and I asked if I could work with that. I ended up working on water and sewer grants for small cities and thought, 'I get this; I can do this.' Then I started looking at city government and thinking, 'This is pretty cool, too.' You still get to help people; you get to provide a positive benefit, but it's a different stage.

Why did you decide to work in Hutto?

I got a call from the [recruitment firm], and I said, 'Let me come see the community. I haven't been to Hutto in a few years, and I know it's been growing.'

My family and I drove out one Sunday and said, 'This looks like a really fun place.'

We loved the hippos. I decided this city was a challenge. I love the vision the [city] council has set, that they know what they want. No one is arguing about where we want to go, so I consider my job is to get us there. ... Everyone is very positive and very proud of being in Hutto, whether they have lived here for a month or 20 years.

What is your first order of business?

My first order is to get to know the [city's] employees, to be able to successfully know everyone here and know what everyone does and all the pieces and parts. I've said the first month is very internal. The second month is external, making sure I have met everybody I need to meet in the community, all the governmental entities and nonprofits. After those two months, I've promised the City Council an assessment with ideas of what I think I should concentrate on. Then they'll get back to me on what they think is the best of all of those choices.

What do you think will be your biggest challenge as city manager?

Right now [what the city is facing] is very similar to what the school district faces, which is we know growth is coming—we're planning for growth, but paying for growth is a challenge. You have to put the water, sewer and roads in ahead, and there's no revenue stream for that.

Where do you see Hutto in 10 years?

In 10 years I see Hutto as a beautiful, sustainable community where residents are proud of their city and the quality of life that we offer. Hutto will be innovative and will have positive partnerships throughout the community. For those of us who were here in 2014, we will be able to look back and say that we made decisions and grew this city with our future generations in mind.

Personnel file

• Former assistant city manager for the city of Sugar Land
• Received three degrees, one bachelor's and two master's, from the University of Texas at Arlington
• Is married to husband Steve and has two daughters, Emma, and Clair; Clair is a sophomore at St. Edwards University in Austin
• Enjoys playing soccer and is on a team in Round Rock's women's soccer league; also roots for the U.S. women's national soccer team