BY CONNOR PITTMAN & CODY THORN
New City Manager Alison Ortowski discusses future of Southlake Alison Ortowski became Southlake’s city manager Feb. 1. The former assistant city manager replaces Shana Yelverton, who retired after 30 years with the city and 18 years as the city manager. Ortowski talked about the new position and the future with Community Impact . Answers have been edited for length, style and clarity. How has your experience with the city helped you in this new role? My 16 years with Southlake have equipped me with an in-depth understanding of this distinctive city and a wealth of institutional knowledge. I’ve been fortunate as assistant city manager to provide comprehensive corporate leadership to all of our city departments and gain experience with all aspects of our municipal operations through that
work. This experience, coupled with our incredible city staff and an invaluable, strong partnership with the City Council, will be key in navigating the complex opportunities that come with the role of city manager. What are some things you are looking forward to? In my new role, I am eager to work with the coun- cil and staff on the initiatives vital to Southlake— infrastructure investments, safety and security, partnerships and volunteerism and high-quality service delivery. Southlake will soon celebrate its 70th anniversary, and as we move into a new phase of the city’s life cycle, I look forward to collaborating with its diverse stakeholders to implement inno- vative solutions that address the evolving needs of our vibrant city. Organizationally, I’m also focused on ensuring the city remains an employer of choice with a great workplace culture that supports our core values and strong employee engagement. What are some big construction projects that the city is looking at in 2024 or 2025? As part of our five-year Capital Improvement Plan, the city has projects slated all over the city. The
investments range from expanding our sidewalk footprint to improving roadways that connect our neighborhoods, and exciting park enhancement projects. Another important, major project on the horizon is the replacement of one of the city’s original primary water supply lines as well as improvements to critical water infrastructure. ... These projects and many others are designed ... to support a future-ready Southlake.
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GRAPEVINE - COLLEYVILLE - SOUTHLAKE EDITION
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