Thompson Starts as La Grange’s New City

Describes Himself as ‘Big Picture’ Guy

Jack Thompson, the new La Grange City Manager, made his debut at the City Council meeting on Monday, Feb. 16.

Thompson comes to La Grange from the City of Crowley, a suburb of Ft. Worth with a population of about 18,000, where he served as an assistant city manager. His first day on the job here was Monday. He spent most of the day with Mayor Jan Dockery, who took him on a tour of city facilities and introduced him to city staff and community members.

“I moved here on Thursday,” Thompson said in an interview with the Record after Monday’s meeting. “Prior to that, we made a few trips down here to take a look around. I really like the town. It’s really a great community. I love the town square. You have a wonderful H-E-B and Super Walmart. It’s one of the nicest Walmarts I’ve been in. La Grange is a great town. It’s got great bones, so to speak. Those are all things that really appealed to me about coming here.”

Thompson said his first day on the job went by fast.

“I was trying to get a lay of the land,” he said. “It was like shooting out of a rocket – trying to get my mind wrapped around what kind of projects are going on, what needs to be done. It’s going to be busy.”

At Monday’s meeting, Councilman Ken Taylor raised a concern about sales tax revenue, which funds a large portion of the City’s overall budget. According to the most recent collection figures for the month of January, sales tax was down almost three percent from the same time last year. Thompson said La Grange is not unique in that regard.

“It’s statewide,” Thompson said. “A lot of cities are hurting. We’re not unique in seeing a little bit of a dip. Yeah, they’re lowering interest rates and they’re saying inflation is down, but its still a hit to the people’s pocket book. People aren’t spending what they used to. Their grocery bill is bigger, and a lot of that stuff is tax exempt. So when gas really hits you in the pocketbook, and groceries really hit you in the pocketbook, you quit spending on taxable stuff. We’re not the only city to see a reduction. Hopefully it doesn’t stay that way. It’s something we’re definitely keeping an eye on.”

Stormwater drainage has been another big concern for citizens who live in the lower- lying areas of La Grange, especially since the Hurricane Harvey Flood of 2017. Thompson said he doesn’t yet know all the details about La Grange’s stormwater drainage problems, but he said he’s very familiar with ways other cities have tackled drainage issues.

“I haven’t had a chance to dig into it yet, but I’ve heard it’s an issue here and it’s something I’m looking into,” Thompson said.

The Record also asked Thompson about his management style.

“Typically, I try to stay high-altitude and look at the big picture,” he said. “I’m more of a strategic thinker. I trust my staff a lot and empower them to carry out their jobs. They’re in the trenches, so to speak, on a day-to-day basis. They know what they need to do. I’m here to support their efforts and also work with the Council on goal-setting – what we want to achieve and where we want to take things – so we can help our departments achieve those goals. In a lot of ways, I’m a cheerleader and supporter of my staff, and make sure they have what they need to succeed and meet the goals that the Council wants us to achieve.”