University Heights mayor steps down

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS - The mayor of a small town within Iowa City has resigned, citing personal reasons.

Former University Heights Mayor Wally Heitman announced his resignation Sunday with a post on the city's website. Mayor Pro Tem Jerry Zimmermann will lead the council until a new mayor is either appointed or elected.

'I do this for a very personal reason which I am unable to deal with and also adequately carry out my responsibilities as mayor,” Heitman wrote in part.

The city council will hold a special meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Community Center at 1302 Melrose Ave. The council should vote on whether to accept the resignation and decide how to fill the vacancy, either by appointment or special election.

'I think that we have a lot of work to do. My intent is to suggest that we appoint a mayor,” Zimmermann said.

Heitman said that while he didn't want to talk about specifics regarding his reasons for resigning, he said he is satisfied with his work as mayor and that he always tried to deal with issues the right way.

'All of us that are on the council all have personal lives,” Heitman said. 'Sometimes family and personal issues have to be dealt with.”

Zimmermann said that while he does not necessarily have interest in filling the mayor's position, he hopes to find someone with experience so the city can keep its work moving along smoothly.

Zimmermann said he's spoken to some council members and knows of some community members who may be interested in the position - for a term that expires at the end of this year - but nobody has decided for sure.

If the council does vote to appoint on Thursday, it will simply be a notice to residents of its intention. If the community decides it would rather force a special election, a petition to do so would need roughly 69 signatures, according to a memo from City Attorney Steve Ballard. University Heights has about 1,000 residents.

A special election, either voted for by council or forced by a petition, would cost the city about $1,500 and be held no sooner than mid-March, according to the memo.

Ballard suggested in his memo that the council make the official appointment during the Feb. 14 regular meeting. However, the council would first receive applications and public comments, according to the memo.

If a council member is appointed as mayor, this process would essentially begin again to fill the vacant council seat.

Before resigning this week, Heitman had previously hinted that stepping down was a possibility. Heitman said in October that had thoughts of resigning after he was tangled up in a public records dispute with city council member Susan Quezada.

The disagreement led to an Iowa Public Information Board complaint, a dramatic council meeting during which Quezada was removed from a committee leadership position, and the city adopting a new public records policy.

Heitman said his last major act as mayor was to help move some city offices to a new home at the Community Center in the One University Place development at the end of December. Heitman said the council knows they can call him for help if they need it, but otherwise he said he plans to work around his house and relax in his retirement.

l Comments: (319) 339-3172; maddy.arnold@thegazette.com