The City of Cave Spring has selected veteran government administrator Gary Burkhalter to serve as interim city manager.
Burkhalter brings decades of public sector experience to the role. He previously worked as assistant county manager for Floyd County before retiring in 2021 and also held the position of county comptroller during his tenure there. Over the course of his career, he has served as chief financial officer for the Bartow County School System and as finance director for the City of Rome.
A graduate of Shorter University, Burkhalter was formally introduced during a Cave Spring City Council work session earlier this month.
He steps into the position following the resignation of former City Manager Nick McLemore, who announced in October 2025 that he planned to leave the post but agreed to remain until a successor was appointed. With Burkhalter’s interim appointment, McLemore’s service to the city has officially concluded.
City officials have not announced a timeline for naming a permanent city manager.
