Highland city attorney David Church resigns

HIGHLAND — David Church is resigning as Highland's city attorney, after 10 years in the post.

Highland city leaders, including a new mayor and two new council members, will discuss Church's replacement during Tuesday's City Council meeting.

Church, an attorney with Blaisdell & Church who worked for Highalnd on a contract basis, requested to be let go from his position.

"I'm associated more with the guys going out," Church said. "These guys who got elected, they deserve to have their own advisors."

In November, residents voted out incumbent Mayor Jay Franson in favor of challenger Lynn Ritchie. Council members Brian Brunson and Claudia Stillman, who both chose not to run for re-election, were replaced by Scott Smith and Tom Butler.

Also Tuesday, the council will discuss hiring a new city administrator.

Former city administrator Barry Edwards was fired by the former council in December, a termination Edwards requested.

By terminating Edwards instead of allowing him to resign, Edwards secured a cushy severance package that gives him more than $10,000 a month for four months and payout of sick leave up to 500 hours.

The new council had planned on terminating Edwards when they took office in January. Ritchie has called for an investigation into the matter, alleging Edwards was overpaid severance.

— Amelia Nielson-Stowell