Tag Archives: Mayor Jerry Lowery

Sparta Mayor Jerry Lowery has secured a state pledge to help fund the purchase of 120 acres of riverfront property for a new public park. Next, Lowery wants Aldermen to consider the $1.8 million purchase. Lowery said an opportunity to strike a deal like this inside Sparta city limits is unheard of. “This will be a destination spot for generations ... Read More »

Sparta Aldermen voted Thursday night to raise water and utility rates for the first time in five years. City Administrator Tonya Tindle said the state rejected the city’s water budget last year. She said for several years now, Sparta utilities have been barely breaking even or losing money every month. She said instead of the current $18.54 for the first ... Read More »

Sparta Board of Aldermen amended the city’s human resources policy Thursday night to include the new GPS system being rolled out in city vehicles. The system will help the city manage its vehicle fleet, more so than keeping tabs on where vehicles and employees are. Still, City Administrator Tonya Tindle said the city will not tolerate tampering with the new ... Read More »

The idea of a modular nuclear reactor to provide electricity to the City of Sparta captured the imagination of Aldermen Thursday night. Alderman Brian Jones said there are not any reactors of this kind being used in the country yet. “It’s amazing,” Jones said. “They’re saying when they’re in production it’ll take about twelve months to eighteen months to actually ... Read More »

Sparta has begun the process of searching for applicants with event-planning backgrounds and sociable dispositions to manage its Senior Center. Sparta Mayor Jerry Lowery said a new Senior Center Board will be appointed on January 1, and will immediately begin sifting through applications. Lowery said there is no timeline for the new hire, but the board will move swiftly to ... Read More »

Sparta Police Chief Nick Dunn told Aldermen during a Thursday night work session the lack of officers and new certified applicants are hurting the department. Dunn said the city’s low pay compared to nearby areas continues to impact the city. He said he also lacks the ability to give new applicants higher starting wages based on prior experience. Dunn said ... Read More »

As Sparta gets closer to finishing the restoration of its train caboose, city officials concerned about security around the new addition. During the aldermen’s Thursday meeting, City Administrator Tonya Tindle said one of the windows of the caboose was recently broken in an act of vandalism. Mayor Jerry Lowery said he wanted to take inspiration from how Livingston’s mayor handled ... Read More »

The Sparta Board of Aldermen appointed a new city judge Thursday night, as Macey Gurley resigned from the position. Mayor Jerry Lowery and the board appointed Brandon Griffin, a Sparta-based attorney, as the new city judge. “He had put in before when we’d hired the other judge,” Lowery said. “And he does a great job and I’ve talked with him ... Read More »

Sparta Police asked the City Council Thursday night to help with increased pay and the hiring of more officers. Sparta Police Chief Nick Dunn and Assistant Chief Brent Copeland addressed the Council. This after Dunn and another officer responded to a disturbance Saturday night where shots were fired. Dunn said that made him realize the department needed to hire and ... Read More »

Sparta Aldermen voted Thursday night to authorize bids for the installation of a backup generator at the YMCA building. The full-building backup has been purchased. Mayor Jerry Lowery said the generator will allow the YMCA to maintain power and operate as a makeshift emergency shelter if needed. “We hope we never have to use it,” Lowery said. “But it’ll be ... Read More »