One of Danny Mabry’s top priorities when he takes over as Bowdon’s city manager will be continuing the preparations for the renovation of the city’s water and sewage systems.

Mabry and Mayor Jim Watts have met with personnel from the engineering and design firm Gresham, Smith and Partners so that Mabry could make himself familiar with developments in the process, but Watts said Mabry should have no trouble getting acquainted with the project.

“He can work on the sewage and the water expansion right away,” he said. “He has that much expertise.”

Mabry, who resigned last month as city manager of Villa Rica to take the Bowdon position, will begin his new job April 28.

Watts took Mabry on a tour of the city on April 11, giving Mabry the opportunity to meet a number of city employees and review the list of projects that he will be working on during his first few months in Bowdon.

Before becoming city manager of Villa Rica, Mabry served in a number of government administrative positions, including nearly 20 years as both assistant city manager and city manager of Carrollton.

“He’s well-experienced,” Watts said. “He’s going to be a big asset to Bowdon.”

Other projects Mabry said will require his immediate attention are working on the city budget for next year, enforcing the recently adopted nuisance ordinance and assessing the needs of individual departments within the city.

“We spent some time ... talking about each of the departments and what their needs might be over the next year or so,” Mabry said.

When it comes to long-term projects, Mabry said he wants to strengthen Bowdon’s ties with the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce and other economic development groups and to remain active in county projects. He hopes to continue the development of downtown Bowdon.

“There have already been a good many things done downtown, but we’ll help folks in the downtown area look at opportunities to make some physical and other improvements in their facilities,” Mabry said.

Despite the list of projects that await, Watts said he expects Mabry will start off slowly in Bowdon while he becomes acquainted with the city. Watts, who has fulfilled the role of city manager since Interim City Manager Jimmy Meigs left earlier this year, said he will assist Mabry while he adjusts to his new position.

“It’s just a matter of getting him acquainted with the projects that are going on and meeting and getting acquainted with the employees and the facilities as well,” Watts said.

Even after Mabry starts work in Bowdon, he said he will make himself available to Larry Wood, who has been appointed interim city manager in Villa Rica. However, Mabry said he is looking forward to working in Bowdon.

“Bowdon is a very unique community, and it’s always been my goal in any community I’ve worked in to make it the best community it can be and raise its profile,” he said.