Richard Allred, who served as Colorado City's mayor for over a year, officially stepped down Feb. 16, though his resignation letter was not presented to the Town Council and made public until Monday night.

Joseph Allred, his son, also submitted a letter to the council announcing his departure.

In his brief letter, the mayor said he was grateful to have worked with the council and with the community, but did not elaborate on why he was leaving his post.

"That was kind of a sudden turn of events," said Councilman Terrill Johnson.

A woman reached later at Richard Allred's home said he was unavailable for comment and hung up the phone.

Richard Allred worked for the Colorado City Unified School District until 2002, the year members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints pulled their children from the public school system. He has since worked as a private schoolteacher in the community at the Utah-Arizona state line.

For now, Johnson will serve as mayor.

"I'm not in a big hurry to find a new mayor or change anything at this point," he said.

Council members also appointed Kevin Barlow as the new town clerk and David Darger to help out part time. Darger also works in the town's building and fire departments.

The meeting ended on a chilly note, after a representative for Bruce Wisan, the court-appointed fiduciary in control of the town's property, tried to address the council.

Jethro Barlow, a former FLDS member, asked the council to place Wisan on next month's agenda to discuss property surveys and road rededications. Council members didn't respond and simply adjourned the meeting.

brooke@sltrib.com