Springfield's top city attorney has submitted his resignation after helping the mayor and aldermen through a difficult legal battle.
Mayor Mike Houston appointed Mehlick this summer, following the departure of former Corporation Counsel Mark Cullen. Cullen and other city officials are named in the lawsuit filed on behalf of Springfield resident Calvin Christian. Christian accuses them of knowingly and intentionally destroying the documents he was seeking through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.
Houston says former judge Mehlick, who sat on the bench in Sangamon County for more than 20 years, stepped in temporarily to assist:
"He raised the morale within our legal department. He did an excellent job as the administrator of the corporation counsel's office, and I think most importantly he was able to fashion a settlement to the case. And I think with that done he's ready to move on."
Houston says he's already working to find a permanent replacement for Mehlick.
Until then, the city will send one of the other 7 attorneys in the office to advise aldermen during city council meetings. Mehlick's last day will be December 13th.
