Texas Border Business
The McAllen City Commission selected McAllen Public Utility General Manager and Assistant City Manager Roel “Roy” Rodriguez, P.E. as Interim City Manager effective April 1st. McAllen City Manager Mike R. Perez announced his retirement a few weeks ago.
Rodriguez will use the next two weeks to transition into the position so he can take over the City of McAllen organization.
“As Interim City Manager, I have a job to do and I understand it,” Rodriguez said. “I have to be focused and I have to be able lead a very talented group of people in this city to remain on task. If we do that we’re going to accomplish our mission. That mission is very simple; to provide the best and most efficient services and facilities that we possibly can to our citizens.”
Currently, Rodriguez oversees all operations for water and wastewater for the McAllen Public Utility and the City extraterritorial jurisdiction. He is also an Assistant City Manager for the City of McAllen overseeing the Engineering, Planning, Building Inspections, Informational Technology and Purchasing & Contracting departments.
“One of the advantages here is that we have a group of city commissioners that are very engaged in this community. They care a great deal about the future of this community and I know they’re going to be a lending hand. We’re going to be moving forward together,” he said.
Rodriguez previously worked as the City Engineer, Assistant City Manager and City Manager in Harlingen, Texas. He has 28 years of public service, with 20 of those years in local government.
“Our main bosses here are the citizens of McAllen. What they need to know is that the city services we provide them are going to continue and they’re going to be second to none. Our citizens are very demanding as they should be. They are going to see no difference in that delivery of service and we’re going to ensure as a team that this happens.”
McAllen has some major projects that will enhance the City like the new De Leon Soccer Complex, the Performing Arts Center, and a new hotel at the McAllen Convention Center.
“McAllen is a very exciting town. People that don’t know McAllen don’t realize the vitality that we have here and how dynamic it is. All of those are big projects and they’re issues we worry about but they’re also exciting. They are projects that are going to make our city better,” Rodriguez said. “My background lends itself to these projects.”
Rodriguez has a Bachelor’s of Science in Civil Engineering from Texas A&I University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Texas Pan American.
