Buda names Interim City Manager, hires firm to conduct search for new City Manager

BUDA, TEXAS – The City of Buda mayor and councilmembers engaged the international firm, Baker Tilly, to conduct its search for a new city manager. They also took action to name Deputy City Manager Micah Grau as the interim city manager to become effective April 1, 2022.

Long-time Buda City Manager Kenneth Williams tendered his resignation to the City Council at the end of the Jan. 4, 2022, council meeting. Williams’ 13½-year tenure as city manager with the City of Buda, which began Sept. 8, 2008, will end Mar. 31, 2022.

The Baker Tilly firm, which has offices in the United States, Australia, Canada, the Cayman Islands, Columbia, Germany, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom, is a top 10 advisory, tax, and assurance firm. Baker Tilly has worked with council members to develop a position description and selection process.

The position description and application for the new city manager can be found on both the Baker Tilly and City of Buda websites. Please see the entire Recruitment Brochure for details. Applicants are encouraged to submit employment credentials and letters of interest by Wednesday, April 6, 2022.

Buda Mayor Lee Urbanovsky said the City was fortunate to have landed a leader like Williams during a time of significant growth and economic development. “Given the continued growth the City is experiencing and the challenges that accompany such growth, as well as the citizens’ recent passage of a nearly $90 million bond package, the council and I, felt it appropriate to undertake a search process that would cast a wide and inclusive net of prospective candidates. We feel that we can get such an applicant pool working with Baker Tilly,” he added.

Grau, who began his tenure with the City of Buda in January 2017 as assistant city manager, was promoted to deputy city manager in April 2019, helping to see the city through the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges of 2021 Winter Storm Uri.

Grau began his career in municipal service as an intern with the City of Kerrville’s City Manager’s Office. From there, he became a budget and special projects coordinator for the City of Hutto before becoming Hutto’s finance manager, then director of finance.

He ended his tenure with the City of Hutto having served as assistant city manager and interim city manager.

Grau earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Texas A&M University in College Station before completing a master’s degree in public administration from Texas State University in San Marcos.