Councilman Doug Harple has resigned from the Buckley City Council, citing an increasingly busy work schedule.

Harple sent a letter to the deputy city clerk on May 1, stating he would resign effective immediately.

“I feel at this time I can no longer give the full commitment and support I believe necessary to hold this position and serve the citizens of this community at a level of service they deserve,” he wrote. “I will always be grateful to the citizens of Buckley for their confidence in my abilities and he trust they placed in me to represent them with the utmost integrity.”

Mayor Pat Johnson commented at the May 8 City Council meeting that Harple’s job involved increasing amounts of travel that made committing time to other pursuits more and more untenable.

Harple’s term for Council Position 3 is set to end Dec. 31, 2013. With the seat becoming vacant far from an election, it falls upon a committee headed by Councilwoman Cristi Boyle Barrett to seek out candidates for replacement. The City Council will then review applicants before making a selection.