Just a day after severe flooding led officials to call for mandatory evacuations of a Northern Kentucky city, its mayor resigned to take another job.
Falmouth Mayor Luke Price announced Tuesday he resigned the day before, having decided to accept a position in his personal career that would impact his time as mayor, according to a city news release.
“I have accepted a position in my personal career that will impact my time as Mayor. So at this time, it is with a very heavy heart that I have to make a decision for the betterment of my family,” Price said in the release. “Therefore, effective immediately, I resign from my position as Mayor of Falmouth, KY.”
Price transferred authority over to Falmouth Police Chief Marty Hart to act as mayor until city council appoints a successor.
The city thanked Price for his service and assured residents in a release that operations will continue without interruption during the transitional period.
Falmouth is one of several riverfront communities impacted by flooding after heavy rains battered the region over the past week. The Licking River in Falmouth crested, or peaked, at nearly 39 feet Sunday evening, flooding much of downtown along Main Street.
Residents were forced to leave their homes Saturday night after the city called a mandatory evacuation, saying that utility services and access would be limited after 8 p.m. that night. The evacuation order was lifted at noon Monday.
Sitting along U.S. Highway 27, Falmouth, with a population of 2,169, is the county seat of Pendleton County.
This story may be updated.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Kentucky city mayor resigns to after city has severe flooding