Holly Owens takes on role of city secretary

Holly Owens has been appointed as the new city secretary for the City of Gatesville.

Owens is not originally from Gatesville and has commuted for the last four years from Woodway to Bellmead, where she served as the city secretary.

Owens expressed that she was unable to move until her youngest child graduated high school. When the time came for her child to graduate, Owens and her husband, David, decided to move south.

She was hired as the city secretary in late August of 2024, but her official position began around mid-December when Wendy Cole, former city secretary, officially retired.

“I wanted it to be a thoughtful transition, and it gave me the opportunity to learn from Wendy about Gatesville and focus on the planning aspect of my role,” Owens said.

With 23 years of experience in municipal government, it gives her the opportunity to be able to see potential growth in an area and she said that she wants to be a part of that with a front row seat.

“I would like to acknowledge that I have large shoes to fill, and I will do my best to continue with the same level of service that has been provided for many years,” she said. “However, ultimately, I aim to leave a lasting and positive impact on the City of Gatesville by working with the council, staff, and citizens to aid Gatesville in bringing in economic development but also maintaining Gatesville charm.”

She expressed that she enjoys the variety and the legal elements that come with the role of city secretary. Being involved in all the departments gives her a comprehensive view of how the city operates.

“I believe that all experiences and skills from previous positions continuously prepare you for current and future positions, however, for my role here in Gatesville, my planning and building inspection skills will be most valuable,” she said.

As city secretary, the role carries a wide range of responsibilities, all of which are vital to the smooth functioning of the city. Those duties include:

• Manage public records, ensuring all city records are properly documented, archived, and accessible to the public
• Schedule and prepare agendas for all public meetings, take minutes, and ensure the meetings run smoothly
• Legal and ethical compliance ensuring the city complies with state and local laws
  Support to the City Council, Mayor, and City Manager acting as a liaison between the city staff and the council, ensuring the flow of information and supporting the decision-making processes
• Planning and strategic development for long-term planning and development of city policies, ordinances, and other strategic initiatives, such as zoning and economic development
• Manage elections and voter services
• Public communication and outreach to provide Gatesville citizens with information about city operations

“My personal work value is a term called servant leadership,” she said. “I have always strived to put the needs of my team, the city, and its citizens first and to help others develop their own skills and perform at their best.”

Owens mentioned that she really enjoys the history of Gatesville, but most of all, the character and charm of the city, as well as the small-town atmosphere with a sense of community.

“The City of Gatesville has an outstanding group of people working for the citizens ranging from the elected officials to the many different departments that handle everyday operations,” she said. “I look forward to serving the citizens of Gatesville.”