Another change in sanitation department director

A second leadership change is coming within Warren County government, as details emerged Tuesday that Tonya Miller Herman will become the county's next Sanitation Department Director.

This move comes after Russell Pedigo withdrew from the position last week. The Warren County Way confirmed this change with members of the county commission.

Pedigo, a longtime Warren County Schools maintenance employee, accepted the job offer on May 4 and was approved by the Warren County Commission on May 18. He had been selected to succeed current Sanitation Director Josh Roberts, who is preparing to become Superintendent of Roads on Sept. 1.

Roberts is running unopposed in the August election to succeed Levie Glenn, who announced he would not seek re-election after first winning the position in 2010 and serving for 16 years.

Herman, pending county commission approval this month, will now step into the role and work alongside Roberts during the transition process before taking over the department. She has been in the solid waste industry since 1997 when she met her husband and began working with their family company. She helped move the business from a residential to commercial operation over 14 years of work before accepting a position with Rutherford County Solid Waste from 2014-2019.

During her five years with Rutherford County Solid Waste, Herman served as administrative assistant before taking over as interim director in her final year with the county.

She’s worked with a company out of Louisville and continued to operate in Murfreesboro over the last six years, but now will be back in a department that she should know well.

“I feel that (working in Rutherford County’s solid waste department) gave me a lot of knowledge and skills in the county side. I’ve dealt with the private sector and the county sector,” said Herman. “With being in it for so long, I have solid connections with several solid waste directors. I can contact them and get input and they’ll share their knowledge.”

Herman is scheduled to begin work July 6, with the transition expected to be completed by the middle of August.