KEOKUK, IA. -- Keokuk has removed its Public Works Director.

As of about 4 o'clock Friday (7/30) afternoon, Gerald Moughler was relieved of his duties in that position.

Since the public works director is an appointed position, Mayor Tom Marion has to put together an order that indicates the reasons for Moughler's removal.

Once that is made Moughler has 30 days to appeal.

Marion says there a lot of projects currently underway that Moughler was heavily involved in, but a replacement will not be immediately sought.

"We have 4 persons in the public works department, two who have been here for 34 years each. We'd like to maybe get somebody in the office to handle the organization matters, the paperwork and do those type of things, but we're not going to rush to judgement as to who we hire," said Marion.

Mayor Tom Marion did not want to comment into why Moughler has been removed.

Moughler had served as public works director since August 2008.