by Malcolm Butler
Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker said that he isn’t planning on filling the position of public works utilities manager that was vacated when Andrew Halbrook recently left to join his father Andy Halbrook as a financial advisor at Edward Jones.
“Working for the city has been more than just a job—it’s been a privilege,” said Halbrook. “I’ve loved every moment of serving this amazing community, collaborating with talented colleagues and community members, and growing both personally and professionally.
“I can honestly say I have left the City of Ruston better than I found it, and I am grateful for the opportunities, experiences, and friendships that this role has given me. I will always have a heart for serving the public, and hope my career allows me to come back to and work for the public in the future.”
Walker said that although Halbrook was invaluable during his time with the city, at the current time, he plans to just divide and conquer when it comes to the positions responsibilities.
“Andrew did a great job for us,” said Walker. “I hired him nine years ago. I knew he wanted to come back. I knew he had some skills, and it worked out wonderfully. We wish him only the best. We will miss him, but as I have learned in this job, none of us are irreplaceable. Everybody steps up.
“We have dispersed those responsibilities out. We are not adding anybody at this time. Fortunately, we are constantly trying to plan for succession in every department within the city. So we were able to move some things around.”
During his time working with the City of Ruston, the 34-year-old Halbrook was part of a team that accomplished a lot when helping move Ruston forward. He helped start and expand the Rock Island Greenway and he was instrumental in the $17.2 Million BUILD Grant for the Monroe Street Corridor.
Halbrook also assisted in completing the largest phase of Downtown Revitalization, doubling the number of revitalized blocks throughout Downtown Ruston; and being on a team that has brought in over $80-plus million in grants and appropriations over the past six years.
“So at this point in time we are not planning to replace him,” said Walker. “Now that could change. We have re-organized and promoted some people. It’s not that (his position) is not needed, but we are always looking to be a little more leaner.
“This was note a position that I would want to go lean on but because we have the right people, (that’s what we are doing).”
Walker said that Randy Colvin and John Freeman would be two of the current City of Ruston employees who would assume some of Halbrook’s responsibilities.
“John Freeman has always been over water and sewer but he will pick up anything we missed and assign it to someone else,” said Walker. “And Randy Colvin has been with us for 20-something years and will help on the electrical and utility side.”
Walker also said the city already had a part-time grant writer that would assume more of that role moving forward. He also said that the city is putting the onus of project management back onto contractors.
“Andrew had taken over the role of project manager somewhat … we are now requiring the contractors who are doing those projects to handle the stuff that in all honesty, they should have been handling,” said Walker. “We had just added another layer with Andrew.”
