>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

Di Lyn Larsen-Hill has given up her seat on the La Grande City Council.

Less than a year ago, Larsen-Hill was appointed to Position No. 2 when John Bozarth resigned in June 2007.

“It was simply a personal decision. After (previously) serving on the council for 12 years, I realize the time commitment it requires. My personal and professional work loads are just overwhelming right now — something had to give,” Larsen-Hill said Wednesday morning.

“They do have a good candidate lined up, and the logical thing would be to let her get going,” she added, referring to Kelly McGee, the candidate running unopposed for Position 2.

The city manager’s office confirmed that Larsen-Hill had officially resigned from Position No. 2 Saturday via e-mail.

A special city council session has been set for Monday at which time the council will formally accept Larsen-Hill’s resignation and decide the next move.

City Manager Robert Strope said the council has several options: to leave the position vacant, to advertise and go through another temporary appointment process or to appoint candidate McGee to fill the position.

Strope says the final decision is up to the council, but he plans to recommend they appoint McGee.

“It makes sense when we have a council candidate running unopposed that would start (serving on the council) in January anyway. And we will begin the budget processes soon, so it would provide a lot of continuity,” Strope said.

The next regular session of the city council is April 2. Should the council follow Strope’s recommendation, McGee would be sworn in at the beginning of the meeting that night.