A few months into his new job as Eagle Mountain city administrator, John Hendrickson is working long hours getting acquainted with the city. He's also learning that little surprises him after 30 years in city government.

"Nothing has overwhelmed me yet and in some ways the city is in a lot better condition than what I thought it would be," he said.

With his years experience much needed in the growing and politically turbulent town, Hendrickson has been in a whirlwind of meetings since taking the job. That includes one-on-one interviews with department and divisions heads, School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration representatives and council members.

"I have been working 12 to 13 hours a day and some days longer," said Hendrickson, noting that even his off hours are filled with phone calls and e-mails about city business.

"It is no more than I expected," he said. "My wife and I understood that I would be spending lots of time and lots of hours in the day and I haven't been disappointed."

One of the major events he is preparing for is the round of annual budget meetings. The city's budget must be completed by June 30.

"Budgeting is a guide," Hendrickson said. "And it is a balance between all the desires, needs and wants of a community and the resources it has, without overtaxing the community. As the resources are available, we will try to accomplish all that needs to be done first and all that should be done, second and all we want to do, third."

While the budgeting is nothing new for this veteran city manager, the unique qualities of Eagle Mountain bring new challenges to his job.

"The differences are always in the details," he said. "I don't think I have ever seen a city that had as little commercial business with as many people. There are also two communities developing it seems, with one area in the north and one in the south. That creates its own challenges. The city, to be healthy, probably can't look at the south area just as a bedroom community in the long term of things. How that will fit in, I am not really sure at this point."

Mayor Don D. Richardson said he is pleased to work with Hendrickson.

"It is nice to draw on the depth of his knowledge," Richardson said.

Hendrickson is already planning for the city's future. He said he sees his new city as still wanting to not be urbanized.

"In a lot of the areas it will remain rural in the way of larger lots, but as building pressures continue, you will see some sub-urbanization of the area because lots have to be affordable," he said. "We have to plan for a tremendously varied city in that regard."

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page D1.