Curtis Adams has again left his position as city manager of East Ridge, saying he did not get support from fellow officials for what he believed was a needed 47-cent property tax increase. This time the East Ridge City Council took a vote to accept the resignation.

Mayor Mike Steele said Mr. Adams cleaned out his city office and left the key to the city car, either Wednesday night or Thursday morning. He said his city car was left at City Hall.

Mayor Steele said Thursday afternoon he had not been able to reach Mr. Adams, who is also a veteran member of the County Commission.

Mr. Adams had resigned as city manager on July 12, telling the commission in a surprise appearance that he was becoming a "lightning rod." He returned to the post after meeting with Mayor Steele and City Attorney John Anderson a few days later.

At a council meeting on Thursday night with almost a full house, Mayor Steele said he wanted to respond to Mr. Adams, saying he had "pretty much been blasted for being unsupportive."

Mayor Steele said he had been saying a tax increase was necessary since last year - as high as 54 cents. He said, "What I did not support was Mr. Adams' style."

He said Mr. Adams said of the tax increase that "people are going to be mad and I don't care." Mayor Steele said, "I do care. I don't want to pass a tax increase that we shove down anybody's throat."

Mayor Steele said he did not agree when Mr. Adams stated he was proud of the tax increase and that he had three votes lined up.

The mayor said he had supported Mr. Adams so much that "I have felt the ire of some of you citizens."

He said he wanted to keep the tax increase "as low as possible."

Mr. Adams, when he had resigned on July 12, said he regarded Mayor Steele "like a son" and said he wanted him to preach his funeral.

Mayor Steele left the meeting soon after his comments. Vice Mayor Jerry Petty told the crowd that the mayor was not feeling well.

The vote to accept the resignation of Mr. Adams - as reflected in his press release - was 4-0. In favor were Vice Mayor Petty and Council members Denny Manning, Tom Card and Larry Sewell.

Councilman Manning said he attended a Chamber of Commerce speech where Mr. Adams talked about the tax increase. He said, "I like to have fell out of my chair. My wife looked at me and I told her it was news to me."

One citizen told the council that Mr. Adams never should have been allowed to come back after the first resignation.

Jackie Fulks said no one had the authority to put Mr. Adams back in place, and she was working on an ouster petition. She said a court "will decide who will stay on the council."

She said, "The actions of council members for the last few weeks have not been to the benefit of the citizens of East Ridge."

Frances Pope said she had been trying for a week to get a copy of the proposed budget. Attorney Anderson said he will give her an answer by Friday if she is entitled to the "working paper" under the Sunshine Law.

Mimi Lowery said citizens should also be able to see details on cellphone use by council members and administration, saying they are to be used for business and not personal calls.

She questioned about a possible conflict of interest on attorney Anderson representing both parties in a proposed transaction of a pump station to the county Water and Wastewater Authority. Attorney Anderson said he had disclosed the fact he represents both. He said the county engineer had requested the transfer.

The council delayed action on the property transfer.

Mayor Steele said he has received a list of three retired city managers from the City Municipal League. He said the city will advertise for an interim position.

The mayor said the interim manager would serve three to four months while a permanent city manager is sought.

In a written statement Mr. Adams said, "After five months of trying to work with an unbearable and impossible situation, I have decided I have no choice but to leave East Ridge city government. I first agreed to stay until we found a qualified city manager, but I don’t have the heart to be part of bringing an innocent, out-of-town, well-meaning person to East Ridge when he or she would face the same back biting, sneaky, under-mining operation I faced. My good reputation as a 20-year veteran of a highly respected county government would be tarnished.

"My wife and county friends advised me against taking the job, but I sincerely felt I could make a difference. When I was approached I told one of my county friends and he replied, 'Curtis, keep your head low until you get your first check because they have the reputation of firing city managers.'

"When I was first approached I was excited about what could be done in East Ridge. From the beginning I agreed to work for free for the first two months and spend my time to analyze what was needed to move East Ridge forward. I found a city that balanced their budget for two years by taking money out of their reserve fund, which is bad judgment in any government. I found a city with 18 worn-out vehicles, outdated lights at Camp Jordan ball fields, plus many more urgent needs. I also found 134 of the most dedicated, hard-working, and sincere employees that have held East Ridge together in spite of a terrible political reputation.

"I started work preparing the budget I hoped to have approved by the mayor and City Council by the end of June. I first thought a 37-cent tax increase would be sufficient. Mayor Steele gave me his approval for the 37 cents. Then in a few days the mayor walked into my office and commented, 'I want to drop the 37 cents down to 18 cents.'

"I wrestled with that for three days and called the mayor and requested that he come by my office. At that time I told him there was no way I could make 18 cents fit with all of the city’s needs. He agreed to go back up to 37 cents. After working on the budget several more days, two of my associates in East Ridge, Eddie Phillips, deputy city manager, and Frieda Wheeler, community development and city services director, had lunch at Edison’s Restaurant with me and Mayor Mike Steele. They both told him all of our needs in the city and asked him to let us prepare a budget with a 47-cent tax increase. He agreed and, with much excitement and plans on what we could accomplish, we finished our budget for 47 cents.

"On July 8, 2008 I spoke to the East Ridge Chamber. My speech was all about what we planned to do with the 47-cent increase. This Chamber meeting was one of the largest crowds ever attending our meeting. After my speech, Mayor Steele thanked me for my hard work on the budget as he told the group 'I don't want anyone blaming Curtis Adams, he has just pointed out our needs and the amount of money we must have. Last year I said it would take 54 cents.'

"On Thursday, just before the council meeting, he told two city councilmen, 'We've got to cut this tax increase back to 32 cents.' After hearing that I was devastated. That was the reason I offered my resignation. On the next Tuesday, I agreed to stay as city manager until we found someone to replace me.

"The Lord has been good to me, giving me the opportunity to face the facts and the wisdom to get out of a situation I can't change. Five of the hardest months I've ever experienced have been struggling with changing decisions, on a lack of decisions, back biting, and no vision for the future. I want to express my gratitude and appreciation for the support from 134 fine employees and two city councilmen that stood for what they know is the best for East Ridge. Tom Card and Larry Sewell stood TALL."

Mayor Steele said council members are still "all over the board" on the amount of the tax increase.

He said the budget has to be final before the end of August in order for correct tax bills to be sent.

The council went over the proposed budget at a 5 p.m. session and will meet again on the budget on Aug. 11 at 6 p.m.

Council members discussed raising the charge for providing police and fire service to the small city of Ridgeside from $30,000 a year to $60,000 and the next year to $82,666. The latter figure is based on charging Ridgeside based on population - in relation to the population of East Ridge and the amount spent on fire and police service within East Ridge.

Instead of a $3 million bond issue proposed by Mr. Adams, officials discussed getting funds for improvements at Camp Jordan Park and for sprucing up I-75 Exit 1 through raising the rate of the hotel-motel tax from 6 to 8 percent - in line with the rate in Chattanooga. That would bring in an additional $160,000 per year.

Council members spoke of cutting the number of new positions (14) proposed in the Adams budget.

Vice Mayor Petty questioned why legal costs had gone from around $69,000 a year when Cris Helton was city attorney to over $150,000 now. It was $157,963 this past fiscal year.

Deputy City Manager Eddie Phillips said attorney Michael Stuart and now attorney Anderson had to backtrack on some legal matters.

Vice Mayor Petty also questioned spending $47,078 for the city's new history center.

Instead of giving police officers $2,500 in addition to 4 percent raises, he suggested $1,000 for three years.