The accolades rolled in from City Council and City Manager Daniel Valenzuela for the retiring Assistant City Manager Michael Dane. The compliments came after Council returned from Closed/Executive Session. Daniel noted this was Dane's last City Council meeting.
Mayor Tom Thompson called Dane "a God send." Councilman Tommy Hiebert noted Dane's creative financial mind.
Dane created and stoked multiple pots of money throughout city government. His going away should have shown city fund balances over the last decade. Their number and size grew significantly.
One of those unspent pots is $2 million for Animal Shelter renovations, originally approved by Council in February 2023. Yes, it's nearing three years since staff cited the urgent need for facility improvements/updates. Fortunately, with professional Shelter management a better plan is underway, one that has a chance of actually happening.
By not spending the borrowing, the City had the opportunity to earn interest on those funds. In 2025 the city earned so much interest on unspent financing that it owed $1.5 million to the IRS.
Dane leaves the City but plans to remain in San Angelo. What opportunities might arise for the former interim Economic Development Executive Director, a role he held since September 2022?
Skybox Data Centers' planned AI facility on the northeast side of town sits on former city land. Dane has been facilitating that development from the city and development corporation side. Might he switch and facilitate from the private sector/AI side?
Who knows, the man may just relax and enjoy his retirement. Time will tell...
