A stormy meeting of the Bay City Council this week ended with the surprise announcement of the immediate departure of City Manager, Shawna Burkhart. Her successor has not yet been announced, Assistant city manager Scotty Jones will serve as Interim City Manager. A negotiated joint statement gives no clear reason for her departure, nor of any separation package, and it is understood she may now be leaving the area entirely. The council – with the mayor and councilor Flores dissenting – also agreed to proceed with hiring a team of engineering consultants to report on the next steps to create a quiet zone for Bay City, which could mean no more train horns sounding through the city.