WHITE SPRINGS, Fla. — White Springs has a new town manager, at least on an interim basis.

After Stacy Tebo submitted her resignation Oct. 9, the town council held a special meeting Oct. 17 to interview Tommie Jerome Jones, a town resident, for that position.

Jones was unanimously approved as the town’s interim town manager on a six-month basis, working 20 hours per week at a rate of $25 per hour. Jones was to start, effective immediately. Tebo’s resignation came with a 30-day notice with her last day slated to be Nov. 8.

Jones is the first known African American to serve as White Springs’ town manager.

The council reviewed his resume and experience while interviewing him at the special meeting.

Jones comes to White Springs with a wide range of management experience from serving in the transportation department in Broward County as well as serving as the assistant chief of a treatment plant in Pompano Beach. Among the skills and experience Jones has obtained from those positions include information technology (IT), water and wastewater treatment, distribution and operations, database administration and technological support.

But Jones has a checkered background that includes a number of arrests dating from 1979 to 2005, including several burglaries and grand thefts as well as battery, resisting arrest without violence, improper exhibition of a firearm, solicitation, and cocaine possession.

That criminal history was not discussed in the special meeting but Councilman Tom Moore said the mayor and council were aware of his background prior to approving Jones as the interim town manager.

Jones has not submitted a formal application for the position.