Horseshoe Bay city manager resigns, interim appointed

Horseshoe Bay officials accepted the resignation of the municipality's city manager on Oct. 13 and appointed an interim from within the following day, officials said.

Stan Farmer, who served as city manager for more than 13 years, resigned on Wednesday a day after a city council meeting where contract negotiations were listed to be discussed during executive session.

Circumstances surrounding the abruptness of the resignation and comments from Farmer were unavailable by press time on Oct. 14.

Officials appointed Jeff Koska, the city's utilities director, as interim city manager.

“It was an easy role for me to assume because we have such strong department heads. We work well together,” Koska told The Highlander in an Oct. 14 interview. “I'm not here to micromanage but network between the staff, council and community to get things done.

“The community should not see any interruptions or lack of services due to this change.”

Koska served with the city for 13 years and prior to that worked for the Lake LBJ Municipal Utility District.

During his tenure with the MUD and the city, the appointment was the second time he has been named as an interim. The first was in 2005 when he filled a vacated position due to a death.

“I'm assuming the role of city manager and will try to pick up the piece where Stan had left and move forward,” Koska said.

Rick Williams, an employee in the city's public works department, will serve as interim utilities director.

The appointments will remain in place “until the council has a chance to go through the hiring process,” Koska explained.

That process could take from six to nine months.

On Farmer's departure, Koska could not elaborate but communicated that he believed it to be a “mutual” agreement between the council and Farmer.

“To my understanding, it was a mutual deal that Stan would go on to different things in his career,” Koska said.