By Michelle Price
Special to the UCBJ
SPARTA – The Sparta Board of Mayor and Aldermen unanimously approved the hiring of Brad Hennessee as the new city administrator yesterday. Hennessee, who is the McMinnville public works director, will take office on July 22.
“I’m humbled by the opportunity, thankful to the board, the staff, the people in Sparta that I have met,” said Hennessee. “Everybody up there has been so welcoming and that is very much appreciated. The board and mayor did everything they could do to welcome someone in.”
The board interviewed Hennessee for a final time on last week after the other finalist for the position withdrew.
“We took it slow,” said Hennessee. “The hiring process was slower than most people would like, but it’s given both sides a chance to give an extended look at the other side and evidently neither of us found anything wrong.”
Hennessee plans to start at the city on July 22 after giving his former employer, the city of McMinnville, a 30-day notice. He said that a family situation prevents him from relocating to Sparta immediately but does plan to move there in the future.
Hennessee doesn’t see any big changes anytime soon for the city and is optimistic about its future.
“I don’t know of any pressing issues,” Hennessee said. “It seems that they have a good thing going. We just want to see if we can make improvements that make a good thing even better.”
