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Del Rio council accepts City Manager mutual separation and votes to dismiss City Attorney after executive session
Summary
Following an executive session Feb. 24, the Del Rio City Council accepted a mutual separation agreement with City Manager Shawna Burkhart effective Feb. 25 and voted to dismiss City Attorney Ana Markowski Smith effective the following day; the city also approved conveyance of 3.0 acres to Val Verde County and directed claims staff to pursue a submitted insurance/employee claim.
After meeting in executive session, the Del Rio City Council announced several personnel and property actions upon reconvening Feb. 24.
The council voted unanimously to accept City Manager Shawna D. Burkhart's mutual separation agreement effective Feb. 25. Burkhart clarified on the record that the action was a mutual separation agreement rather than a resignation. The council also approved a motion to proceed with the dismissal of City Attorney Ana Markowski Smith effective the following day; the dismissal motion passed 5–2 with Councilmembers J. P. Sanchez and Randy Quinones recorded as opposed.
Councilmembers also approved conveying 3.0 acres located on Lewis and Rodriguez to Val Verde County and authorized the City Manager to execute the deed. Separately, the council directed staff in a unanimous motion to have the claims department work with the claimant and the Texas Municipal League (TML) to seek payment of a submitted insurance/employee claim.
Why it matters: changes to the city manager and city attorney positions are significant leadership shifts that may affect near-term administrative continuity and require interim staffing decisions. The public record on timing and votes was announced in open session after the executive session.
Next steps: the personnel actions take effect the following day; council and staff must arrange interim management and legal coverage and complete deed execution and claims follow-up as directed.
