Lehi administrator quits amid city battle

LEHI — City Administrator Ed Collins — caught in the middle of the battle between the City Council and Mayor Howard H. Johnson — is quitting.

"Howard has made it clear that he will not reappoint me, the City Council has made it clear that they won't approve anyone, and that sort of makes me Mr. In-between," said Collins, who has worked for the city for 10 years.

Collins told the City Council and staff Thursday that his last day would be June 30, the end of the fiscal year.

Johnson, who has been in office four months, said this will not end the conflict.

"I don't think Ed is the source of it, I don't think it is over," he said, referring to what he considers to be an undesirable element among city staff.

The mayor had a letter drafted by the city attorney in February telling 17 employees, including department heads, that he would not reappoint until he had interviewed them. Johnson said he has interviewed five or six of them so far and has told only Collins that he would not reappoint him.

Johnson said he is seeking out those he contends have mistreated residents.

The council, which supported Collins, has been talking about changing the form of city government from mayor-council to council-manager, taking away most of the mayor's administrative policy.