Cookeville establishing the city’s first assistant city manager position to help oversee day-to-day operations and represent the city when necessary.
City Manager James Mills said the new role will provide support for the management of the city while ensuring a leadership transition plan is in place for the future.
“Now, this doesn’t mean that that person that I choose for this position will be the next city manager, but of course, that’s up to the next or a future city council,” Mills said. “But I will, I do believe we will provide a viable candidate and a minimum, provide somebody to serve in the interim.”
Mills said he has no immediate plans to retire despite rumors suggesting otherwise. He said the assistant city manager will be able to serve in an interim capacity if a vacancy occurs.
“I hope to fill this position very quickly, and our plan is to announce at our next meeting who the next, who our first assistant city manager is,” Mills said.
Mills said the city intends to announce the first person to hold the assistant city manager title at the next council meeting.
