WIDACKI
by JONATHAN YORK
Steven Widacki is Kyle’s first city engineer. He has 27 years of experience, and his past positions include working as project manager for the San Marcos Capital Improvement Department and as senior project manager at the Austin firm Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. By hiring Widacki, city leaders expect to save thousands in contract costs for engineering services.
Why Kyle?
It is an opportunity and a challenge for someone in any profession to be the “first” of something. I have a broad background of engineering experience. I believe it is the reason I was hired for the position, and it will help me in this role to serve the citizens of Kyle.
In a press release you said that you looked forward to “the opportunity to be a part of actually building the city.” What possible projects are exciting to you?
Hays County is developing an update to the countywide Transportation Master Plan. There are few opportunities to participate in and have input on the long-term transportation goals and needs of an area on this scale.
What physical or logistical problems does Kyle need to work on?
Issues that the city needs to work on are similar to those that any municipality in a growth area deals with. These include planning and implementing the needed facilities (utility and transportation infrastructure) to support and accommodate that growth.
A lot of people say that Kyle, despite its growth, should keep feeling like a small town. What do you say about that?
I believe that the “feeling of a small town” is an attitude that can and would be influenced by the citizens of Kyle.
Some Kyle neighborhoods are fairly well-developed. Others are still on septic tanks and don’t have access to as many basic services. What will you do to make sure these poorer neighborhoods get what they need?
Learning and understanding the challenges the city has regarding its infrastructure is a primary goal of mine. As city engineer, I will have a role in the assessment, definition, and estimating of costs associated with implementation of possible improvements that can address those needs. Ultimately, the implementation of any needed infrastructure improvements is a decision to be made by the citizens of Kyle.
