The City of Fayette has no current plans to hire a new city administrator. Former administrator Tyler Griffith resigned in June, less than one year into his two-year contract with the city.

The decision is largely a financial one for the city. Griffith claimed he was paid a severance of $32,000 at the time of his departure, leaving little in the city’s budget to hire a new administrator. 

City Clerk Tara Kunze will assume many of the duties of administrator. Rebecca Yung moved from the utility office to assist Kunze in City Hall.

While funding the administrator’s position played a key role in the city council’s decision, the long list of ongoing projects was also a factor. Fayette is currently undergoing a city-wide sewer upgrade and is building a new sidewalk along South Church Street.

“With all the projects going on at this point in time, the city council has decided to forgo the hiring of an administrator to allow a certain amount of continuity,” said Mayor Kevin Oeth.

Just how long the city plans to be without a dedicated administrator is unknown. Mayor Oeth said the council will make an evaluation in three months, at which time the city could choose to seek a new administrator.

Griffith’s resignation marks the second time in less than a year and a half the city has been without an administrator. In March 2020, the city council fired longtime city administrator and city clerk Robin Triplett after her failure to timely file financial reports with the state cost the city more than $150,000 in fines. Jeff Hancock was hired shortly thereafter as the interim city administrator, while the city sought a permanent replacement.