Coast city fires manager; no reason given

GAUTIER — The Gautier City Council has fired City Manager Sidney Runnels.

Mayor Tommy Fortenberry would not give a reason for Runnels’ dismissal. The action came during a closed-door meeting of the council Tuesday.

Fortenberry says the city will begin its search for a new manager immediately.

He says city attorney Robert Ramsey will take over Runnels’ job in the interim.

Runnels accepted the city manager job on July 23, 2008, and started on Aug. 6, 2008. Runnels had been a city manager at Grenada, economic development director of West Memphis, Ark., and mayor of Canton.