Lehi City Administrator Ed Collins has decided enough is enough. He's going to end the dispute between the City Council and Mayor Howard H. Johnson -- by stepping down.

"Howard has made it clear that he will not reappoint me, the City Council has made it clear that they won't approve anyone, and that sort of makes me Mr. In-between," said Collins, who's worked for the city for 10 years.

Collins told City Council members and staff Thursday that his last day overseeing the day-to-day affairs of Lehi would be at the end of the 2005-2006 fiscal year, June 30.

While some may hope Collin's move will alleviate some of the conflict between the council and the mayor, Johnson said this isn't the end of it.

"I don't think Ed is the source of it, I don't think it is over" he said about an undesirable element he says exists among city staff and government.

He did say he has struggled with the City Council and the city administration, and that Collins was a part of it, though would not comment about who he feels is the source of the problems.

The mayor had a letter drafted by the city attorney in February telling department heads and others, 17 in all, that he would not reappoint them according to the city code until he had interviewed them.

Since then, Johnson said he has interviewed five or six of those on the list and told one, Collins, he would not reappoint him.

While Johnson is seeking out those who he said have mistreated residents in Lehi, he says he is not seeking retribution. "It has got to stop," he said.

A few weeks ago, Collins said Johnson made it clear that he would not be reappointed. Collins's contract gives him six months severance pay if he is terminated, including a verbal termination such as one the mayor gave him, he said.

After the mayor told him he'd be terminated, Collins contacted the council through the city attorney and asked them what they thought about the situation. They were adamant -- Collins was to stay.

"They're firm supporters, but I think it's clear that we can't continue to operate on a long-term basis with that kind of basic disagreement over whether I'm appointed or not," Collins said.

On Tuesday, the City Council wanted to hear public opinion on changing the city's form of government from council/mayor to council/manager. The change would have released Johnson from the responsibility of reappointing anyone in the city except for the city recorder.

Johnson removed the item from agenda, saying it had been put on illegally, and he refused public comment because it would be on the council agenda April 25.

If the City Council were to approve the change to a city government with a city manager, it would take away much of the administrative power the mayor now has. But Collins said during his time with Lehi, he has basically been acting as the city's general manager and in that position has had several more responsibilities than an administrator.

During Collins's tenure, Lehi grew from 10,000 to 40,000 residents and Collins oversaw the addition to the city's library, the building of a community center, a new senior center, a new literacy center, a new police station, a fire station addition, a large sports park, an expanded water system, and the addition of several businesses -- Micron, Cabela's, Costco, Lowe's and Forest City.

"In the few years when I have been able to know Ed as a person, I have learned of his abilities and of his kindness towards other people and his willingness to see the city of Lehi achieve great standards and goals," Councilman Stephen Holbrook said. "Ed Collins leaves behind a great legacy, he will be missed."

Holbrook would not comment on Johnson's accusations of an element among the city administration and council.

City engineer Lorin Powell has worked for one county and two other cities and has been with Lehi city since 1978.

"I'll be very blunt, I worked with cities and consulted for 32 years, and that is consulting throughout the entire state of Utah, and he is the best city manager I've worked with," he said. "He's extremely talented, he has the unique ability of working with staff, the public and developers."

Powell said the cohesiveness of the city staff is a direct result of Collins's management style and his ability to build people to do great things.

"The city is what it is because of him," said Lehi police Chief Chad Smith. "He's probably one of the smartest men I've ever known. It didn't matter what it was, whether it was the police department or the water department, he knew the ends and outs of what it was."

Colins brought several national and state awards to the city, said his assistant administrator, Ron Foggin.

"Collins brought professionalism to the city," he said. "Ed's negotiation abilities brought us Cabela's, Costco, Lowe's, the Forest City project."

In spite of what city staff may say, Collins said he likes to keep a more realistic perspective.

"I'm no Pollyanna. I have no doubt that in the last 10 years of steering this ship there are people who did not like the wake," Collins said. "Someone else can steer now."

Hearing on whether Lehi should change from a city council/mayor form of government to a city council/manager form.

April 25 at 7 p.m.

Lehi Senior Center, 123 N. Center St.