The resignation of Junction City Manager Gerald Smith was confirmed Tuesday night.

He told JCPost.com the city commission had decided they no longer require him as city manager, and they had mutually agreed to go their separate ways.

Smith had been under fire for his proposals in the state of the city address to deal with the city’s debt and infrastructure problems. The Chamber of Commerce had expressed strong concerns about a business licensing program that had been suggested.

Tom Weigand, Chamber of Commerce CEO, said going forward the chamber is totally supportive of the commission,”and understand the difficult time their having going through this after just hiring him six months ago, but we felt like they made the right decision and we’ll support them going forward from here.”

Weigand added that the chamber thinks the community needs to come together to address how to attack the infrastructure needs without adding additional burden to the community.

“As was said over and over, we’re all in this together. I think we need to listen and plan together,” Weigand said.

The chamber will be meeting in the next few days to develop a plan of how they can organize and bring the community to discuss a number of things.

“What is urgent, what isn’t. What can be delayed. What can be addressed. What are needs and what are wants, and maybe move and encourage support the commissioners on doing what is appropriate and what the community as a whole will support.”

Infrastructure needs within the city are major but where will the money come from?

Weigand said finding the money will be a major challenge, and might take time and a different approach.

“Perhaps there are things that we want to maintain but doesn’t really make economic sense right now but those funds could be applied to the needed things until we can grow out of this problem.”

He mentioned that people will pay for infrastructure, but are probably not interested in paying for optional things such as cultural things, municipal buildings, or additional people.

Smith tendered his resignation and was placed on administrative leave following two Junction City Commission executive sessions Tuesday night at the municipal building. Smith had been with the city for approximately six months.