By Ed Martin, Editor
Lemoore City Manager Andi Welsh
Lemoore City Manager Andi Welsh

Lemoore City Manager Andi Welsh has been placed on administrative leave by the Lemoore City Council following a special meeting held Wednesday, Jan. 11. City officials are mum as to the reasons for the move.

The only topic listed on Wednesday’s special meeting agenda involved employee discipline, dismissal, release and complaints.

According to sources, a member of the administrative team informed city employees Thursday of the surprising move. Lemoore Police Darrell Smith has temporarily taken over the city manager’s duties.

The council hired Welsh in June, 2015 on a 5-0 vote to replace interim city manager Ron Hoggard, who in turn took over when former city manager Jeff Laws, a former Lemoore police chief as well, resigned in 2015. Laws took over following the sacking of longtime manager Jeff Briltz in 2013.

Welsh came to the city with a wealth of experience. At her last position, she was an assistant to the town manager in the City of Gilbert since 2012. She was also an assistant city manager at El Mirage, and she worked from 2008 to 2011 as the Director of Community Services and Arts and Culture for the City of Sedona. She was also Sedona’s assistant city manager from 2004-2008.