Mayor announces several new businesses opening

Mayor Jerry Lowery, along with city codes department head Mike O’Neal, have announced the opening and future planning of several new businesses in Sparta. 

In the week leading up to the Dec. 21, meeting, Christy’s Pub Grub, a new restaurant located on Liberty Square, opened its doors providing residents and visitors alike with a new and unique dining experience in downtown Sparta. The day of the meeting, Circle K convenience store and gas station, located on the corner of Bockman Way and Moore Street, officially opened for business. And, in possibly the biggest news of the evening, it was announced that after the start of the new year, Five Below, a discount store franchise, would be working to open a location in West Towne Plaza, which is directly behind McDonald’s Restaurant, on Highway 111.

In other business, the board approved the hiring of a new police officer for the city as well as the solicitation of applications for a street laborer because of the impending retirement of long-time city employee Jackie Brown. They also approved the police department selling abandoned vehicles on GovDeals and entering into a contract with Samsara for GPS Asset Tracking.

“GPS Tracking systems are proven to enhance safety measures, reduce fuel expenses, reduce operation costs, boost efficiency and safeguard the assets,” city administrator Tonya Tindle had told the board in her report.

She also said the system will allow department heads not only to know where vehicles are at any time but to also keep up with when oil changes are due, when tires need to be rotated, and other general maintenance, all of which will help reduce future repairs and potentially lower insurance.

“It’s not just to know where they are but all of the things that need to be done,” Tindle said.

Tindle also told the board the “Drivers Safety” grant the city received from PE Partners in the amount of $4,500 will be used to offset the annual cost of $17,034, with the remaining $12,534 being spread over across all the departments for budgeting purposes.

Before the meeting was adjourned, the board unanimously approved the mayor’s recommendation to appoint Angie Saylors to the Housing Board; Kyle Goff to the Parks and Recreation Board; and Connie Leftwich, Jim Floyd, James Douglas, and Sheila Robinson to the Sparta-White County Senior Center Board of Directors.

“Thank you to all of the department heads and employees of the city of Sparta,” Mayor Jerry Lowery at the conclusion of the meeting. “The city is moving in a unique direction with the comradery and the work being done as a whole.”

The next meeting of Sparta Board of Mayor and Aldermen will be 5 p.m., Jan. 4, 2024, at Sparta City Hall.