Payson Roundup

Pete Aleshire/Roundup

Chuck Heron resigned as mayor of Star Valley Friday morning.

The mayor of Star Valley announced Friday morning he was resigning due to health and family reasons.

Chuck Heron sent an e-mail to council members and Star Valley staff around 9 a.m. Friday stating his resignation was effective immediately, said council member Gary Coon.

“I was not shocked this morning when I got it,” Coon said of the e-mail.

“I had got wind that it might be happening.”

Reportedly, rumors began floating around the town several days ago that Heron was considering resigning due to his health and family, Coon said.

“I guess you kind of expect these things; it is a tough job,” he said.

Heron was the second mayor for Star Valley, taking over for Ronnie McDaniel in May 2006.

With Heron stepping down, Vice Mayor Bill Rappaport will take over mayoral duties until the council picks a permanent replacement. In this situation, Star Valley will not hold an election, but council members will appoint a replacement. Coon said a replacement would likely not be chosen until the April 7 council meeting at the earliest.

“It won’t happen this Tuesday because this was kind of sudden,” Coon said.

The council will then have to appoint a new vice mayor from the existing council and finally appoint a seventh council member to take that person’s spot.