THOMASVILLE — The head of two major arms of City of Thomasville government submitted a letter of resignation Wednesday to Thomasville City Council.

Steve Sykes, city manager/utilities superintendent, resigned effective the last day of the year.

The letter says that after three decades of “giving full measure of my duties and responsibilities as a public servant to the city of Thomasville” Sykes tenders his resignation.

At the end of a Monday night council meeting, Council member Max Beverly made two motions regarding a severance package for Sykes if he resigns by Dec. 31. Both motions received unanimous council approval.

Sykes said Tuesday he had spoken to some council members about the possibility of his resignation, but he had not discussed it with the whole council.

Council members went into a 20-minute closed session during a workshop prior to the regularly scheduled Monday council meeting. The large crowd attending the workshop and meeting was beyond council chambers capacity, and the meeting was moved upstairs to the municipal auditorium.

Sykes’ letter reminded council members about his and the council’s conversation at an out-of-town February retreat: His intention was to work at least two additional years before retiring.

“However,” the letter says, “due to the results of the general election and last week’s runoff election, I believe it is no longer possible for me to work for the 2018/2019 city council and therefore I am submitting my resignation.”

Beverly and Don Sims, the council’s sole at-large council member, were ousted in the November general election and last week’s runoff, by David Hufstetler and Todd Mobley, respectively.

Sykes joined city government in 1987 as a design engineer. He later became assistant city engineer, utilities engineer, assistant city manger of utilities/city engineer and interim city manager and utilities superintendent. He was named city manager and utilities superintendent 13 years ago.

The letter credits Sykes’ accomplishments in his current position to the confidence and support of 10 different council members he has served “and to the support and tireless efforts of possibly the greatest staff the City of Thomasville has ever assembled.”

“As you have requested, I will begin the necessary transition of responsibilities to the interim city manager and utilities superintendent,” Sykes resignation letter says.

At the Monday meeting, Kha Thomas McDonald, senior assistant city manager/human resources and community relations, was named interim city manager/utilities superintendent by unanimous council vote.

Jerry Pionessa, city engineer/assistant city manager, announced his resignation last week, also citing the outcome of the November election and last week’s runoff.