City of Lyons
LYONS, Kan. — Mayor Dustin Schultz and City Council members announced Monday the appointment of Troy Houtman to be the next City Administrator in Lyons. Mr. Houtman will succeed City Administrator Ed Truelove.
Houtman's career includes extensive management experience in local government for the past thirty years. He has served as the Director of Cultural Arts, Parks and Recreation for nearly ten years in the city of Wichita where he had oversight for a $42 million budget. Prior to this he held executive municipal leadership positions in San Antonio, Austin, and Santa Fe. His career as a leader has emphasized his people-oriented management skills and his efficient use of resources. His passion for local government and working with employees and citizens are assets he will bring to the city of Lyons. His track record in managing budgets, programs, infrastructure and maintenance, and acquiring grants and building partnerships will also serve the community well.
He has been recognized nationally as a gold medal finalist by the National Recreation and Parks Association and steered Wichita's 2019 All-American City winning campaign. His passion for community is evident in his volunteer efforts which includes work with Special Olympics, United Way, National Park and Recreation Association, Starkey, and as a former volunteer firefighter. He holds a master's in public administration from Texas State University, an accounting degree from University of Northern Colorado, and is a member of the ICMA (International City/County Managers Association). He also served as a Sergeant First Class in the U.S. Army and Army Reserves.
According to Mr. Houtman, "My desire to move to a smaller community will allow me to use all my skills and abilities to ensure Lyons continues to thrive in a time of growth. I have been to Lyons many times and envision bringing new ideas while preserving the uniqueness of Lyons. Lyons has a strong foundation as a community and I want to be part of its future successes."
Houtman's appointment began Tuesday.
According to Mayor Schultz, the search process was very competitive with 28 applicants, and it was clear that candidates viewed Lyons as a community with a lot to offer and a great place to live. After an intensive interview process, resume screening, reference interviews and an extensive background check, Houtman was selected as the top candidate.
"By unanimous decision the City Council selected Troy Houtman as our new City Administrator. He is a positive, visionary leader who works with people to make good things happen in communities. We found Troy's leadership and people skills were abundantly clear and his ability to work with citizens and employees to make Lyons a thriving community were qualities we saw in him as our next City Administrator."