Curtis Adams, former Hamilton County Commission chairman, has quit his post as city manager in Crossville, Tenn., for health reasons, officials there said late Thursday.
Adams submitted a letter of resignation and verbally announced the decision, officials said. He had back surgery recently.
Mike Turner, Crossville fire chief, was named interim city manager on Tuesday, officials said.
"I assumed duties yesterday, and I'll be here until someone replaces me," said Turner, the town's fire chief for 19 years. "Mr. Adams was a great person to us, and we're sorry that he's not coming back."
In his letter dated Monday, Adams thanks the city staff, council members and well-wishers who sent him encouraging notes during a recent hospital stay. The letter does not describe his illness.
Adams also notes in the letter that officials from Hamilton County called and sent flowers while he was in the hospital, and he noted that U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., sent a letter and former Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey called him three times.
"Now, with a heavy heart, I must tell you that I can't make it back as city manager," Adams states. "My doctor first told me I couldn't come back until Nov. 1. Later, he said I should retire.
"This means I must give up the best job I've ever had, a beautiful office, great automobile and 165 of the best employees to be found anywhere," he states.
Adams states that he'll have to leave behind his home in Crossville, too.
His vacation and sick time ran out July 6, the letter states, but he hopes to keep his health insurance until the end of the month and promised to send a check to cover the time.
Turner, 56, said he served as interim city manager when the post was vacant a few years ago.
"It seems like it was about 100 days," he said. The temporary gig is a learning experience, he said.
"It helps me be a better fire chief," he said.
Turner said Adams will be sorely missed.
"I'm just sorry he's not going to be coming back," he said. "He was a scholar and a gentleman to us."