DeKalb interim City Manager Patty Hoppenstedt listens to DeKalb Human Resources Director Cris Randall speak during the Committee of the Whole meeting April 9 as the DeKalb City Council outlines plans in the search for the next city manager.
Mark Busch – mbusch@shawmedia.com
DeKalb interim City Manager Patty Hoppenstedt listens to DeKalb Human Resources Director Cris Randall speak during the Committee of the Whole meeting April 9 as the DeKalb City Council outlines plans in the search for the next city manager.

June 15 might be the last day DeKalb’s interim city manager, Patty Hoppenstedt, will serve the community.

In a letter sent to DeKalb Mayor Jerry Smith on Monday, Hoppenstedt, who was appointed as interim city manager after the departure of Anne Marie Gaura, tendered her resignation to move with her family out of state. Although she did not confirm what her last day would be, she said she anticipates her last day to be June 15, but might be available until June 29.

Hoppenstedt had indicated to Smith and the City Council well before Gaura resigned in March that she was planning to relocate to Tennessee after her husband took a new job there.

“I would like to thank [Smith] and the City Council for your confidence in me and continued support over the past several months,” Hoppenstedt said in her letter. “I truly value all the wonderful opportunities that I have been given during my tenure as assistant city manager and while serving as the interim city manager.”

DeKalb Finance Director Molly Talkington was appointed during the May 29 council meeting as interim city manager starting the day after Hoppenstedt leaves and running until a permanent city manager is selected.

During a special Committee of the Whole meeting Wednesday to go over city department service levels, Smith asked Talkington whether any responsibilities would need to be shifted within the finance department during the city manager search process.

Talkington said Assistant Finance Director Robert Miller will be taking on some of Talkington’s roles during the search and the department is looking at adding a senior-level accounting position to share the load.

Hoppenstedt has said she is working on a transition and cross-training process with Talkington to ensure that city operations continue to run smoothly.

Smith vowed an open and transparent city manager search process and had said that although the city will request proposals from recruitment firms to aid in the city manager search, the process will not negate the idea of seeking a candidate from within the city.