Lake City City Manager Paul Dyal Resigns: Gave His Required 1 Month Notice Today
September 19, 2023 8:40 pm | 1 min read
Updated Sept. 20, 2023 10:25 am: added Mr. Dyal's resignation letter and email to City
Mr. Dyal during a quiet moment in June, 2023.
LAKE CITY, FL – Lake City City Manager Paul
Dyal notified the City today: "Based on my
contract terms, I am offering one (1) month
notice of my separation." Mr. Dyal was appointed
City Manager on January 3, 2023.
Months of turmoil surrounded the appointment and acceptance of a contract between the City Council and Mr. Dyal, including the discovery of his bankruptcies, failure to submit to a background check, and the cover-up by agreement with Lake City Mayor Steve Witt of Mr. Dyal's trip to Alaska on Lake City time to apply for a job as Ketchikan City Manager.
Columbia
County Obserever graphic
Mr. Dyal's resignation letter is here
Mr. Dyal's email to the City is here
Mr. Dyal wrote in his September 19 resignation letter: “I would like to thank you for the trust and confidence you have had in me to be the City Manager/Executive Director of Utilities of such a great city. My focus has always been on protecting and standing up for the City’s employees and championing their great efforts to support and take care of our community. The employees of this City are its greatest asset. Without question, the City of Lake City has some of the most dedicated, knowledgeable, and caring employees that you will find anywhere."
Mr. Dyal concluded, “I wish you, the city, and its employees nothing but the best moving forward.
Mr. Dyal’s resignation leaves the City Council with only one qualified interim City Manager as it reaches out to find a new City Manager, Chief of Police Gerald Butler.
Assistant City Manager Dee Johnson does not meet the City Charter requirements for the City Manager position.
The Lake City Council never disappoints. The citizens should be on the lookout for a workaround by some members of the Council.
It is not clear if there is anyone in the City who is capable of running all the City utilities.
Epilogue
Lake City, Florida: the saga continues.
