On the threat of termination, Lafayette City Manager Frank Etheridge has exercised his option to resign.

The letter says that he leaves "reluctantly", after a surprise executive session in which four of five council members agreed Monday night, to support the ouster.

Etheridge wrote that he was "shocked by the suddenness" of the vote against him. Mayor Neal Florence also expressed surprise at the council's quick move for termination. No one has yet commented on the reasons for the city manager's dismissal.

Defending his performance in the job for the past year and a half, Etheridge wrote "under my leadership, the city ended the budget year slightly in the black, as shown in the 2-12 audit." He said the city was operating at a deficit of more than 650-thousand dollars when he took the job in 2011.  

 The letter concluded with the offer to support any needs to close out open issues. 

Listed on the March 27 Arrest Report at the Chattooga County Jail are:

David Ray Bird — DUI/Alcohol; Failure to yield at an intersection

Randy Walter Lingerfelt — Theft by taking

Stephenson Neal Pierce — Theft by Taking; Willful obstruction of law enforcement officers

Jacob Riley Smith — no charges listed

Dustin Clayton Veatch — Violation of conditions on license or driving permit; VGCSA/ possession of schedule III drug; VGCSA/ possession of schedule IV drug; VGCSA/ possession of schedule III drug with intent to distribute; VGCSA/ possession of schedule IV drug with intent to distribute; VGCSA/ possession of cocaine; Use of communications facility in the commission or act of felony; possession /use of drug related objects; failure to signal when turning or changing lanes. 

Melissa Bernice Key — Compulsory School Attendance Law 

Reports are circulating that Lafayette City Manager Frank Etheridge was fired by the City Council Monday night, but as of 4 p.m. Tuesday, Mayor Neal Florence said Etheridge is still on the job. No details are being released on the advice of the city attorney.

Florence said council member Judy Meeks asked for an executive session at the close of Monday night's meeting on the city audit. He said the information relayed during that executive session came as a "complete surprise" to him.  

 The Mayor said Etheridge has been given some options to consider and that's why the dismissal has not been finalized. If he does leave the city, City Clerk Brenda Snyder would be named interim city manager. 

In a called meeting last week the Summerville City Council approved funding for a resolution for a Community Development Block Grant.

The city will provide $37,000 in matching funds to the grant that will be used for a county sewer project in the Pennville area. The city is partnering with the county on that project, according to City Manager Russell Thompson.

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is a flexible program that provides communities with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs. Beginning in 1974, the CDBG program is one of the longest continuously run programs at HUD and provides annual grants on a formula basis to local government and States.

Listed on the March 26 Arrest Report at the Chattooga County Jail are:

James Walter Bustin III — Probation Violation

Tony Ray McCann — Driving with a suspended/revoked license; Cancelled registration

Glenn Stanford Nix II — Battery/FVA

Travon Ashari Ransom — Theft by shoplifting