The Woodlands Edition | January 2022

2 0 2 2 A N N U A L C O M M U N I T Y G U I D E

TheWoodlands sees changes in management for newyear

OTHER STORIES TO FOLLOW IN 2022

Oak Ridge North considers park plans Oak Ridge North City Council continued its discussion on potential projects using funds from the American Rescue Plan Act in late 2021. Up for consideration are renovations to Teddy Bear Park, located at 27207 Robinson Road. Additional considerations include renovations to Marilyn Edgar Park at 26531 S. Hillside Drive as well as expenses for city water reporting and monitoring improvements. The second round of the funds will be provided mid-2022, bringing the total received to $783,000.

BY VANESSA HOLT

After establishing Jones’ last day of employment, the board unani- mously voted to appoint Monique Sharp, assistant general manager for nance and administration, as the interim general manager. These changes came several weeks after the Dec. 9 announce- ment that John Powers, assistant general manager for community services in The Woodlands, would retire at the end of the year. Two township employees were named to interim assistant manager positions Dec. 16. Chris Nunes, the township’s director of parks and recreation since 2006, and Karen Dempsey— assistant to the president, who has been with the township since it was The Woodlands Community Service Corp. in 1998—assumed the roles, and the interim designation was removed after internal job posting requirements were completed, said Nick Wolda, the township’s director of community relations. Several other positions in the township have also seen changes. Wolda said a vacant position for director of law enforcement moved under a manager position, and the township is working to ll a director of human resources position while using current sta and contracted services to com- plete its duties.

THEWOODLANDS The new year began with new executive sta in place in several key township posi- tions following the retirement of an assistant general manager and the resignation of General Manager and President Je Jones. Jones’ last day was Jan. 3. Jones had served in the positions since Aug. 31, 2020, replacing longtime General Manager Don Norrell. Jones was with the township as it nalized its incorporation study in 2021 and put the measure on the ballot Nov. 2. The measure failed with about 67% of residents opposing incorporation. Jones said in a statement he plans to pursue employment put- ting his skills as a manager to use. “When I assumed the role of president and general manager of The Woodlands Township in 2020, the township was undertaking or considering several projects for which I had experience and a background to contribute with my skillset,” Jones said. “Those projects have concluded and after much deliberation with my family, it makes sense for me to focus on leveraging my three decades of successful city management experience in a community with a traditional municipal form of government.”

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Key: 1 Teddy Bear Park 2 Marilyn Edgar Park

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Shenandoah lays out development plans The city of Shenandoah will work on an expansion of Vision Park’s amenity pond and the construction of a new park this year, city ocials said. At Vision Park, the city has proposed an expansion of the park’s existing detention pond to increase its capacity. City Administrator Kathie Reyer said the project will feature a walking path around the perimeter, benches, bridges and landscaping along with a water feature in the pond. “The increased capacity will provide for current needs along with future development,” Reyer said.

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Construction on the expansion is anticipated to begin in March.

The Holly Hill Trail Park, which will be at the end of Holly Hill Drive on 4.5 acres of land, will begin construction in January. The park will feature a one-third- mile concrete pathway with benches, security lighting, wildowers and additional landscaping, ocials said. A groundbreaking ceremony will be held prior to construction.

Changes in MANAGEMENT

The Woodlands Township board appointed Monique Sharp as the township’s interim general manager after Je Jones resigned eective Jan. 3.

New appointees

Key: 1 Holly Hill Park 2 Vision Park

Monique Sharp Appointed interim general manager and president Dec. 29, Sharp is also chief nancial ocer for the township.

Chris Nunes Appointed assistant general manager by the township board Dec. 16, Nunes has been the township’s director of parks and recreation since 2006.

Karen Dempsey Appointed assistant general manager by the township board Dec. 16, Dempsey has been with the township since 1998.

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HOLLY HILL DR.

SOURCE: THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIPCOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

THE WOODLANDS EDITION • JANUARY 2022