KELLER, TEXAS (May 2, 2012) – At their meeting on Tuesday, May 1, 2012, the Keller City Council approved a contract with Steve Polasek to become the new city manager. Mr. Polasek has been serving as the interim city manager since April 21st following the departure of former City Manager Dan O’Leary.
“I am honored by the opportunity to become city manager of the City of Keller and look forward to continuing my service to our Mayor, City Council, residents and businesses. I also appreciate working alongside such capable and professional city staff as we continue to provide a high level of service within our community,” stated Mr. Polasek.
Mr. Polasek has been with the City of Keller since 2008 and has overseen various projects and departments including Finance, Parks and Recreation, Information Services, Library, Administration and Human Resources. Mr. Polasek has served in various positions in local government since 1992 and previously worked for the cities of Southlake and Hurst.
One of Mr. Polasek’s first actions as city manager involved changing the organizational structure within the City. The changes provide an immediate cost savings of approximately $60,000 a year to the City while improving operational efficiencies. Assistant City Manager Chris Fuller has been named deputy city manager and will be adding two departments to his areas of responsibility. Mr. Fuller will oversee the departments of Economic Development, Public Works, Information Services, Community Development, Library, and Human Resources. Police Chief Mark Hafner will continue to fill his current role, but will also take on the added task of Director of Public Safety, providing administrative oversight to both the Police and Fire Departments. The City is not creating a department of public safety; both Police and Fire will remain as separate departments. The change will provide Police Chief Mark Hafner and Fire Chief Dan Gaumont, along with their staffs, a better opportunity to work more closely together and further explore opportunities to achieve greater operational efficiencies
I heard Chief Hafner has a size 15 boot. Should be very interesting if he does.
I must say, the new title/position of Director of Public Safety is intriguing. Maybe the Chief will have each dept in synch working the same schedules……A size 15 just might be in order!
Chief Hafner is prefect for this new position. Congratulations, Chief!!! The size 15 will be used often, right at first, but it won’t take him long to get it all worked out.
You folks are suggesting that Chief Hafner will need to use his boot to make needed changes. Fire Fighters are proud to serve the community and will continue to do what we have done since Ben Franklin, show up in your time of need and help you in any way we can. We will be there on the worst day of your life and do our best.
Why all the decisiveness? We are all on the same team anyway. It is sad that some of you folks are willing to put politics in front of the greater good.
Stan we folks are not on the same team as the fireman’s union. Just remember it is your union who has divided the community by contributing ten’s of thousands of dollars to candidates for them to push your agenda. It is the fireman’s union who has to pay people to attend council meetings. Funny I don’t believe other citizens are paid to attend. . That is being political.
Make sure your boots are polished and they are clean. Chief Hafner is a disciplined individual who has made our police department one of the tops in Texas. He will do the same to the Fire Department too.
This is a great move for the taxpayers of Keller.
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This isn’t about the Firemen’s Union, the PAC, politics or anything else. This is simply an issue that we lost a City Manager that had a background in Public Safety and the new City Manager does not. Chief Hafner brings that experience and more, as he has lead the area and the state in finding ways to make Keller’s PD one of the most efficient in the state.
He will bring that experience to the FD and in time I think the rank and file membership will really appreciate what he can bring to the table. He is not there to replace the existing leadership in the department, we all have complete faith in Chief Gaumont, even if he is a Red Sox fan.
It is sad that some of you folks are willing to put politics in front of the greater good..…I couldn’t agree with you more when seeing those yellow firefighter signs supporting Mayor McGrail, Rick Mason and Jackie Black!!