News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The city of Sparta will choose its next Police Chief and City Administrator within the next few weeks.
Sparta’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen interviewed candidates for the vacant positions Tuesday.
Mayor Jeff Young said he was impressed with what each police chief candidate brought to the table.
“I think we had three very well rounded candidates that each and everyone in their own right could serve the City of Sparta well,” Young said. “And we are just going to have to make a decision on who we think is the best fit for our community.”
The board heard interviews from Sergeant Douglas Goff and Leuitenant Allen Selby, both currently with the Sparta Police Department, and former sheriff Mark Roloff of Wisconsin.
Young said current Algood City Administrator Keith Morrison and current McMinnville Public Works Operation Manager Brad Hensley offer useful knowledge to the city.
“Also on them, two very well-rounded candidates. Both bring very similar but still somewhat different attributes to the table,” Young said. “One more associated with public works, you’d say which is a great attribute and certainly is very important to the city. One is more the admin side, which also is equally as important.”
Young said the decision process will prove difficult for the board.
“We will have a brief discussion period on that and we will probably put it on the agenda for some time either tomorrow night, I think we originally had it set for the agenda tomorrow night but we may or may not make that decision in time for tomorrow’s vote. So if we don’t vote on it tomorrow, we will vote on it at the next council meeting.”
The Police chief position opened up after Chief Jeff Guth announced his retirement effective Aug. 31. Likewise, the search for a City Administrator began after former administrator Chris Dorsey accepted a job in East Ridge.
