CITY DESK
There’s No Place Like Home for Jarrell’s New City Manager by Linda A. Thornton
STEERING THE MUNICIPAL SHIP
FAMILY PHOTO/HANNAH BLACK PHOTOGRAPHY HEADSHOT/KHANDIESE COOPER OF KHANETIC IMAGES
“Watching Jarrell struggle, I felt a calling to return to my hometown and give back.”
W
hen Danielle Singh graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in engineering, government work was not on her radar. But, after a layoff in 2008, she accepted a position in Bryan as a civil engineer, which opened her eyes to the possibilities. She realized serving the community meant something to her and never looked back. She subsequently assumed the role of assistant city manager in Killeen before moving back to Jarrell, her hometown. In 2022, having watched the city struggle without a full-time city manager for an entire year while simultaneously experiencing a population surge of over 60 percent, she felt a familiar tug to serve. No longer content to remain a spectator, she took the initiative and sought the position.
City managers are responsible for the day-to-day management of a city and, unintimidated by the scope of her new responsibilities, Danielle has learned that all cities experience the same issues, just in different variations. Having guided Killeen’s 150,000 residents through COVID and Winter Storm Uri, she realized the secret to accomplishing goals was taking the job one day at a time. As she settled into her mainstream duties in Jarrell, Danielle found the city’s foundation—its budget—was the perfect place to start. She is prioritizing maintaining water capacity and discontinuing the small-city practice of property taxes subsidizing utilities. Also prominent on her to-do list are hiring a police chief and more police officers, focusing on infrastructure, and replacing contract workers with in-house staff. Danielle emphasizes that her approach isn't solely about her personal vision but revolves around aligning with the aspirations of the mayor, city council, and the broader community. With enthusiasm for enhancing the quality of life, she highlights future objectives like the expansion of park facilities. On the immediate horizon, she reveals plans to propose a July 4th fireworks event and a festive holiday tree lighting ceremony.
For more information, scan the QR Code to visit the City of Jarrell's website 8
S E P T E M B E R 2023 M Y JA R R ELL M O NT HLY
THE WOMAN BEHIND THE DESK Danielle laughs as she explains that each day seems to have its own plan. She credits her husband, Shailen, for being the backbone of their family and always helping with their three children. Their middle son, born with autism and cerebral palsy, has shaped their lives in a new way. The whole family has a profound appreciation for loving people as they are, and they are all proud to have become disability advocates. While her five-minute commute from home to city hall may not be enough time to decompress, Danielle says her overuse of sticky notes, along with her photographic memory, keeps her organized. A city manager is never off duty, and neither is a parent, but Danielle is content to have found her spot in life in Jarrell.