SKAGGS SAYS BOARD RENDERED HIM VIRTUALLY POWERLESS: MARBLE HILL CITY ADMINISTRATOR RESIGNS

MARBLE HILL -- City Administrator Herman Skaggs has resigned after accusing the Marble Hill Board of Aldermen of rendering him virtually powerless.

Skaggs, who has been with the city for nearly two years, said actions taken by the board in recent months have "all but removed the duties and responsibilities for my position."

Skaggs' last day with the city will be Monday. His resignation was accepted by the Board of Aldermen Monday, although his contract with the city does not officially expire until Feb. 11, 1992.

"I wanted projects to go and to be able to see things get done, and I didn't have direct authority to get those things done," said Skaggs. He also accused Mayor Shirley Cooper of "refusing to communicate ... or to provide guidance or leadership."

Cooper denied the allegations. She expressed no ill will toward Skaggs or his decision to leave and wished him well in his new position.

Skaggs said he has accepted a job as city administrator for Desloge, a town of about 3,500 people in St. Francois County.

"I'm happy for him that he's able to make an advancement in his position and go to a larger community," Cooper said. "I think it will be a big step in his career."

F.X. Peters, president of the Board of Aldermen, could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Before working at Marble Hill, Skaggs was employed by the National Flood Insurance Program in Kansas City.

Skaggs said the board's actions prompted him to look for another position.

"Marble Hill is a great place to live," he said. "But in my type of position and most city administrators are the same you have to see results, and you have to be able to go out and accomplish some change."

In a written statement given to board members, Skaggs accused the board of following the wishes of the mayor and city clerk in most instances. He said the removal of his authority was done without revising the city ordinances governing his position.

"The changes are in direct violation of the ordinance, yet no one questioned it. The mayor and city clerk are now in total control of the city and the board has concurred," he said in the statement.

Cooper said city issues were always handled among board members. "The board has always worked it out as a board," she said.

Both Skaggs and Cooper said the decision whether to hire another city administrator will rest with the board.

Skaggs said the past two years has been a time of growth for the city. He said that in 1990, the city issued over $1.5 million in building permits. The city, he said, has been successful in removing dozens of junk cars and dilapidated buildings.

He said overall the businesses and residents of the town have seen much-needed progress in the two years.

He said he and his wife, Jeannie, are not anxious to leave the town.

"I think we both feel we did have an impact in the community in the short time we were here," he said.