City announces top administrator’s resignation

 

City Manager Bob Hart submitted his resignation to City Council during the Executive Session of their December meeting. Hart has accepted the position of City Manager for the City of Corinth, which the Dallas Morning News recently named one of the Top 10 Places to Live in DFW. {{more:Read more …}}

 

His last day in Kennedale will be Friday, January 27. An interim will be appointed at the Monday, January 23 Council meeting.

 

?This is a decision I?ve struggled with because I love this community, but after much discussion with my wife Lois, we decided it was the obvious choice,? Hart said. ?We have family in that area, and Corinth is another growing community, dedicated to maintaining the small-town atmosphere it?s known for. It?s a perfect fit.?

 

Hart moved to Kennedale in 2008 after being appointed City Manager in March of 2007. He?s also served as City Manager of five other Texas cities: Georgetown, Huntsville, Pampa, Sweetwater, and Sundown. Under his leadership, Kennedale has become much more family-friendly, including the replacement of the sexually-oriented businesses on Kennedale Parkway by Burger King, Popeye?s, McDonald?s, and QuikTrip ? the last of which produces more sales tax revenue alone than all of the former businesses did, combined.

 

?The Council is appreciative of the efforts Bob has made on behalf of the community and wish him well.? said Mayor Brian Johnson.

 

Hart also oversaw the construction of TownCenter Plaza and Rogers Farm Park, the expansion of Sonora Park (including the splash pad and disc golf course), numerous street improvement projects, the establishment of Quiet Zones at the railroad crossings, and the addition of the September 11th Memorial. Departmental achievements include KPD becoming a ?Recognized Department? through the Texas Police Chiefs Association Best Practices Program, the water department earning a Superior Public Water System rating from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), and Keep Kennedale Beautiful (KKB) coordinating the addition of curbside recycling.

 

The City of Kennedale also earned the Texas Municipal League (TML) Municipal Excellence Award in Management Innovations (2010, 2012), the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting (2002-15), Scenic City Designation (2013-18), Keep Kennedale Beautiful (KKB) Governor?s Achievement Award (2014), and Tree City USA (2011-16).

 

?It?s been satisfying to watch staff effect so much positive change in such a short period,? Hart said. ?There are many more exciting projects in motion right now, and ideally, I?d be able to see them all to fruition, but there?s just never a perfect stopping point.?