LEHIGH — The small central Iowa city of Lehigh is without a mayor and a city clerk. Mayor Mark Johnson said he submitted his resignation letter last week so he could spend more time with his family. On Monday, the Lehigh City Council voted 4-1 to fire City Clerk Wanda Ganeff, citing poor performance. “The city clerk is not following orders, is inattentive to duties and is not using her time efficiently,” Councilman Troy Twito said.
Twito said he wanted the council to vote on whether to terminate Ganeff because of her performance in collecting delinquent utility bills. He has been on the Utility Commission for five months, and Ganeff has been in charge of the utility committee since Nov. 10. Johnson was in charge before her.
Ganeff said the unpaid bills weren’t her problem because she wasn’t in charge then.
“It’s been a complete witch hunt since the first of January,” she said. “It’s been one thing after another.”
Johnson was elected mayor of Lehigh, which has a population of about 400 people, in 2013.
The council also unanimously voted Monday to appoint a new mayor and is expected to make the appointment during its Jan. 22 meeting. If the council doesn’t appoint a mayor within 65 days of Johnson’s resignation, a special election to fill the position will happen by default.