New Flatonia City Manager Settling In

The City of Flatonia hired Ray Miller, Jr. as the new City Manager. He served as the City Administrator of Thorndale before coming to Flatonia. He’s been on the job about three weeks.

“I’ve been pretty involved in getting into the routine, learning about the employees, the police department, city hall, as well as getting out and meeting some of the business owners and people of Flatonia,” Miller said in an interview with the Record on Tuesday.

Miller said he thinks the future looks bright for the town.

“There’s a good sense of community here in Flatonia,” Miller said. “There are a lot of entrepreneurs revitalizing and repurposing some of the old buildings in the downtown area. I think along Interstate 10 here, there is some potential for commercial growth. It just depends on the market and people’s willingness to move to a small community.”

He offered some observations comparing Flatonia to his former community of Thorndale.

“I think Flatonia has been able to maintain itself over the years even through downturns in the economy,” Miller said. “It seems to have stayed vibrant and moving. That’s one of the big differences I see between Flatonia and Thorndale, even though Thorndale is in a very high-growth corridor.

“But with all small towns, you have your standard issues such as aging infrastructure,” he said. “Streets, drainage, water sewer – trying to work on getting those things improved.”

Miller is no stranger to the area. He grew up in the Schulenburg area and graduated from Bishop Forest High School. His mother lives in the Dubina area. He said moving closer to home was a big factor in his decision to take the job.