New Euless city manager aims to keep momentum going

Newly appointed City Manager Loretta Getchell said she is ready to take on the challenges of overseeing the ongoing growth and development in the city as new business and residential projects are flourishing.

The City Council voted unanimously to appoint Getchell at a recent meeting.

Getchell, 47, replaces longtime City Manager Gary McKamie, who retired at the end of January. Her salary is $175,000.

“We are at a point in Euless’ history where we are reaping the benefits from the development that we’ve been working on for years,” she said. “I want to continue providing an environment friendly to businesses and welcoming to residents.”

Getchell said she wants to continue McKamie’s legacy of forming community partnerships and working with cities and businesses including Hurst, Bedford and Dallas/Fort Worth Airport.

Some employees have been with the city since the 1980s and 1990s — during a time when the city saw rapid growth and development — and they are reaching retirement age, she said.

Getchell said she asked department heads to help identify employees with leadership qualities so that the city can provide mentoring and training for them.

Getchell, who graduated from the University of North Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, came to Euless in 1997 as director of fiscal and financial services. She is a certified public accountant and government financial officer.

In 2004, she was promoted to assistant city manager, and four years later, Getchell became deputy city manager.

Getchell supervised many departments and projects including the municipal court, finance, human resources, utility billing and fleet operations. She also was in charge of the library, Texas Star Golf Course and Conference Center, public works and engineering.

“These are exciting times for Euless with tremendous development opportunities for our city thanks to our current council and those who laid the foundation in the past,” she said. “We are also fortunate to have dedicated employees who truly care for this city and work every day to make it better.”

This story was originally published February 10, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "New Euless city manager aims to keep momentum going."