Sheets is ready to serve

Stepping into any new role is rarely easy, and Brent Sheets quickly realized that when he arrived in Linden.

Sheets, originally from the Panhandle area, was hired in December 2025 as Linden’s new City Administrator. Like many small communities, Linden has faced challenges in recent years, but Sheets says he saw both opportunity and a strong foundation to build on.

“For us as a town, strong communication across the board is critical,” Sheets said. “I knew coming in there would be challenges, but I also saw a great opportunity. I wouldn’t have taken this position if I didn’t believe in the people here — the staff, the council, the mayor — and the potential this town has.”

Sheets said gaining trust from the city staff and working together as a team will be key as the city continues addressing past issues while preparing for the future.

“This job can be demanding at times for all of us, especially when you’re working to address concerns while also making sure, we meet state requirements and compliance,” he said. “But the goal is to move forward in a way that benefits both the residents here today and the generations that will come after them.”

One of the biggest positives since his arrival, Sheets said, has been the strength of the city’s staff. “We truly have a great staff here,” Sheets said. “Allie Anderson, our city secretary, is incredibly dedicated, and Amy Emlinger, our deputy city secretary, brings valuable experience in government finance with Luci Trahan our utility clerk also playing an important role in daily operations going smoothly. Together they’ve been putting in a tremendous amount of work reviewing finances and the budget.”

Sheets also credited former Atlanta City Manager David Cockrell, who served as interim city manager before his arrival.

“David was a big help during the transition,” Sheets said. “He stepped in when the city needed help and worked hard to stabilize things until I was hired. That allowed us to continue moving forward and focus on addressing the areas that needed immediate attention.”

A major priority for the city right now is completing its audit so our city leaders can clearly understand the city’s financial standing.

“We’re working with a very good audit firm, and I’m looking forward to seeing those final numbers,” Sheets said. “Once we have that information, we can begin planning more strategically for the future.”

Sheets said strengthening financial practices and ensuring transparency are key steps toward building a stable foundation for the city.

“Our police and volunteer fire department we have are outstanding and are people who care deeply about this community and are fully vested in its future,” he said. “Our goal is to make sure we’re setting the city up for long-term success.” That includes improving the city’s infrastructure, supporting and investing in our public works department and staff.

“We want to bolster up our parks, partner with our library, and continue working with the city’s organizations like Music City,” Sheets said. “At the same time, we want to prepare the city for future investment and development.”

Sheets said communities that invest in themselves are often the ones that attract new businesses and residents. “If developers see that a town is improving infrastructure, maintaining properties, and updating ordinances, that makes a big difference,” he said. “Those are the things that create opportunities for people to invest back into their community.”

Public service has been a recurring theme throughout Sheets’ career. While attending TCU he began working for the City of North Richland Hills’ water department, where his interest in municipal government began.

He later served six years in the U.S. Marine Corps before spending a decade in government contracting, traveling internationally for work. Eventually family needs brought him back to Texas, where he worked for the City of Daingerfield, the City of Amarillo, and later served as Assistant City Manager and Director of Public Works for the City of Fritch then was appointed as their City Manager.

Sheets and his wife Kimberly also spent time in the Northeast near her family, including a position as town administrator in Hyde Park, Vermont, and later working with the City of Fairfax, Vermont.

Ultimately, the couple decided they wanted to return closer to their children and grandchildren in East Texas. “When I visited Linden and met with Mr. Cockrell, I could see both the challenges and the opportunities,” Sheets said. “More importantly, I saw people who genuinely care about their community. That’s what convinced me this was the right place.”

“But beyond that, we have made it a point to live here and be part of this community.

“My responsibility as city administrator is to serve everyone in this town,” he said. “No matter who they are, at times, yes, it’s not always going to be easy of the decisions I may have to make to, but the goal is to make sure the city is moving in the right direction for the benefit of all residents. That’s why I’m here, and I’m committed to doing the best job I can for the citizens of Linden.”