Administrator search continues

The search of a new city administrator reached a new point when the application period closed Nov. 30.

According to Interim City Administrator Chris Steffen, the city received 19 applications from people interested in the position. Locally, three residents living in the city are amongst applicants Steffen said either meet or exceed the requirements posted in the city's job description. Steffen said the city also has three applicants from the Wyoming, Colorado and Utah region that either meet or exceed their requirements, while two others from outside that region met or exceeded the job's responsibilities.

Steffen told the Green River City Council they could take their time in choosing an administrator, saying they didn't need to rush to a selection on his behalf.

"I'm perfectly fine following through with this job till you don't need me anymore," he said to the council Tuesday night.

Some members of the council have expressed a desire to start sorting through applications as soon as they can. Councilmen Gary Killpack and Brett Stokes proposed the formation of a committee to do just that, with Killpack proposing they begin meeting early next week. Killpack suggests the new council members help out on the committee, something newly appointed Councilman Ted Barney agreed to join. Barney took the search one step further, telling other council members that the six applications from within Green River and the region be the first they look through.

"Perhaps we ought to look at these six," he suggested to the council.

Names of the applicants were not released, however Killpack believes the city can find someone to fill the city administrator position in January.

"Hopefully, we can set up some meetings so we can make a decision maybe by the first of the year," he said.

The city has been without a full-time city administrator since Marty Black left the city in early July. Steffen, who serves the city as its chief of police, was tapped to fill in for Black until the city hires another administrator.

During the Tuesday night meeting, another issue from Black's tenure at the city was left for further attention by the city. The council approved various bid requests made for surplus city equipment and vehicles.

However, among the items approved for sale was the 2011 Jeep Rubicon without a bidder listed on the bid sheets. Black used the Jeep as a travel vehicle while working for the city. While it was initially purchased for travel, City Clerk Jeff Nieters said use of the vehicle ended after Black left because of the low fuel efficiency offered by the Jeep. The city opted to sell it to the highest bidder, but bids for the vehicle never came through. Nieters believes the problem is due to the $22,000 minimum bid requested by the city, as well as suspension problems and an undersized engine common to that model, which affect its value.

Nieters said the vehicle will now be shopped around to local vehicle dealers in the hopes that it could be used for a trade towards a more fuel efficient vehicle.