FIRST CITY ADMINISTRATOR AT SC QUITS AFTER 18 MONTHS

SCOTT CITY -- When Scott City Administrator John Saxton announced his resignation Monday it left council members wondering why.

"I knew nothing about it until I got the letter yesterday," said council member Ladonna Phelps. "It is very simply stated."

Saxton gave no reason for his immediate resignation. It took effect at 1:07 p.m. Monday afternoon. He could not be reached at his home Wednesday evening.

"The letter said he wanted to resign immediately and wished the city well," said Mayor Larry Forhan.

The council meets Monday at 8 p.m. During a closed session, members will decide what steps to take to fill the position.

With Saxton's resignation and the upcoming election, city government could get a new look.

Forhan is not seeking another term as mayor and one seat in each ward is up for election.

The council spent two years coming up with money in the city budget to pay for the position before it hired Saxton as Scott City's first city administrator. He took the job in October 1994 with an annual salary of $32,000.

But it wasn't his first job as an administrator. Saxton also was the first city administrator for Maplewood, Mo, near St. Louis. Saxton worked there from 1986 until 1988. He left that position to take a job as county personnel director in Peoria, Ill., until 1994.

Phelps said Saxton helped the city. Under his direction, the city received a grant to update its record-keeping system.

"A good administrator does have the tendency to save the city money because he knows about where the grants are," Phelps said.

During his 18-months on the job, Saxton helped council members with the city budget, wrote grant applications and served as the executive officer for the council. During the past year, he also helped the city organize a street improvement plan.

A half-cent transportation sales tax passed in August. It will fund about $100,000 worth of street improvements annually.

The city also applied as a possible site for a new juvenile-detention center to be built in Southeast Missouri. It is one of several towns in a 22-county area eligible for the 30-bed facility. A public hearing will be held April 1 at the council chambers.