Jon Ward will be Cookeville’s first Assistant City Manager, announced during Thursday’s City Council meeting. City Manager James Mills said the decision to establish the position was not a sudden move but a plan he had considered for at least two years. Ward will receive additional compensation for the added responsibilities, which include assisting with day-to-day operations and preparing to potentially serve as interim city manager when Mills eventually steps down. “He’s somebody already familiar with many of the responsibilities of the city manager position and is involved in most of our ongoing projects and has essentially served as the assistant city manager for the last couple of years,” Mills said. Self said the total contract amount for the lane widening project now stands at $718,943.50.