After having his pay doubled and then redoubled, Ken Lacy has said goodbye to the Smithville Golf Course, resigning the position, leaving the city to institute a stop-gap measure until a permanent replacement can be found.

Lacy, who had managed the city-owned course and associated facilities, tendered his resignation last week. The resignation was announced to the mayor and board of aldermen during their past meeting, with Smithville Mayor Josh Miller revealing there is a short-term solution to fill the position. That solution, he said, will be to pay Ray Underwood and Dawn Brooks to oversee the day-to-day operation of the facility. They are presently part-time workers.

“I talked with Underwood today. He has been working with Mr. Lacy for quite some time. He said he would be glad to stay on,” the mayor revealed, noting the plan will be to pay him $400 a week and to pay Brooks, who is presently laid off for the season, $9 an hour for 29 hours.

Lacy’s departure comes after he had served at the facility since March. He started there with partner Pete Ferguson.  However, Ferguson left in July and Lacy was named as sole manager for the golf course, pool and tennis courts.

In September, the aldermen voted to double his pay from $1,000 to $2,000 per month. Two weeks later, the aldermen voted to raise Lacy’s pay again, this time from $24,000 to $40,000.

The mayor did not reveal the reason for Lacy’s departure. A long-term solution for the issue will be discussed at future city council meetings. In the meantime the pool is closed for the season and the golf course is only open when the temperature is over 45 degrees.