Sparta Aldermen Appoint City Recorder As Interim City Administrator

Sparta City Recorder Tonya Tindle was appointed as Interim City Administrator by the Board of Aldermen Thursday night.

City Administrator Brad Hennessee’s last day of employment will be November 22nd. After deciding on a last day, Alderman Jim Floyd opened the conversation on searching for a new administrator.

“What is the board’s feeling on getting MTAS involved in looking for a city administrator?” Floyd said. “As I understand, they go through the candidates and give us a list and we interview them ourselves.”

Mayor Jerry Lowery said he is against contacting MTAS at this time. Lowery said he thinks Tindle should serve as interim until the end of the year. Lowery said by then, the board can have a work session to discuss the city’s future.

“Not saying MTAS does not get involved, and maybe they can give us a list of candidates out there,” Lowery said. “But I’m just putting my trust in this board that I think we can make the right decisions for Sparta. However, we have not discussed it yet.”

Tindle served as an interim city administrator for five months before Hennessee was hired in 2019. The city utilized a nationwide search through MTAS to hire Hennessee.

As a part of the conditions approved by the board, Hennessee will not be required to report to office hours starting next week. Lowery said the city wanted to help Hennessee as he transitions to a new role with the city of Murfreesboro.

“I think it would be best to let the board approve that, so we all know up front that is happening,” Lowery said. “We don’t want in the future comeback and say we paid Brad and he was not here. We just want to be clear about what we are doing to help him.”

Hennessee will be paid until the 27th and also receive holiday pay for Thanksgiving.