Editor's note: This story has been updated to announce the name of the interim city administrator.

Magnolia Mayor Todd Kana named Kerry Lacy as the city of Magnolia's interim city administrator in an email to Community Impact Newspaper Aug. 28. Kana said he hopes to have Lacy start in his new position Sept. 9.

Magnolia City Council members gave the go-ahead for Kana to negotiate and execute a contract for an interim city administrator at an Aug. 27 City Council meeting.

Kana said the city contracted with Texas First Group Replacement and Interim Management Services—an organization that provides associates for interim professional municipal positions across the state—to hire an interim city administrator in the wake of City Administrator Paul Mendes' death Aug. 21.

The city has contracted with Texas First Group with previous municipal vacancies, Kana said.