Alto City Administrator Debbie Dannelley resigns
Personal reasons cited
BY LELAND ACKER

After 16 months of employment, 12 of which were spent at the helm of the city government, Alto City Administrator Debbie Dannelley turned in her resignation.

"The city is losing a very good city administrator," said Mayor Pro Tem Annie Walker. "We understand her reasons. She wants to be home with her husband who is ill. She will be difficult to replace."

"I'm not abandoning them," Mrs. Dannelley said. "To do this job, one has to put their heart into it."

Mrs. Dannelley said she plans to finish school to be a medical transcriptionist, which will allow her to spend more time at home with her husband.

Her tenure with the City of Alto was met with several challenges. She was hired in October 2006 as the city secretary. In February 2007, she was promoted to replace outgoing city administrator Ashley Judd.

During her tenure, she was able to ac- quire grants to improve the city's utilities infrastructure and purchase a new police vehicle, though her achievements were often overshadowed by ongoing controversies with former utilities director, Charlie Luse.

Still, Mrs. Dannelley said the job had some great moments.

"We got our grants, and passed a proclamation designating a day as Camp Alto Day," she said. "And, we're getting our wastewater treatment plant back on schedule.

"I have nothing bad to say. We had our rough moments, but that was not the fault of the council."

Mrs. Dannelley's resignation is effective Feb. 21. The Alto City Council is accepting applications for the position of city administrator through 5 p.m. Feb. 11.

"We're looking for someone with experience who knows government accounting," Mrs. Walker said. "It will be tough to replace her."