Sources said she was asked to because of conflicts with the city administrator.

Holub also announced that 10 candidates have filed to date as candidates for seats on the new five-member council that will replace the current three-member commission in the April election.

They include incumbents Jim Crofoot and Max Hayen.

New candidates filing are Gene Winkler, Stacey Collett, Melvin Honeyfield, Roger Hannaford III, Roger Schwab, Darvin Markley, Jim Davis and Gerald Kline.

Holub said she expected at least one more candidate to complete the filing process.

The commissioners reviewed health insurance plans for 26 employees with representatives of Medova Health Insurance and then Blue Cross-Blue Shield.

Mayor Martin Tice asked, and was assured favorably, that all local physicians fit into health plans presented.

Tim Oglesby of Blue Cross warned commissioners not to budget for continued years of more favorable premium rates because at some point he expects insurance costs to resume going upwards.

City Administrator David Mayfield said he expects work on the water plant upgrade to accelerate the end of February. He said work was slowed while engineers determined whether one of two ozone treatments and thus an extra basin at the water plant could be replaced by an extra chlorine-ammonia treatment.

Public Works Director Harvey Sanders said his crew moved a utility pole on Denver Street to allow construction of a new home, and replaced a broken pole last week.

They also picked up winter patch blend asphalt to begin patching street holes, he said.

Economic Development Director Jami Williams said she has been investigating high-speed internet providers for Seacat Hardware.