While the city continues to seek a new city administrator, it was able to sell off one of the holdovers from former administrator Marty Black’s tenure.
Black left the city in June and was replaced by Police Chief Chris Steffen on an interim basis.
Two weeks ago, the Green River City Council approved a $26,000 offer for Black’s city-provided vehicle, a 2011 Jeep Rubicon. The offer came from First Choice Ford in Rock Springs.
Initially, the city tried to sell the vehicle as one of its surplus items. However, no one bid on the Jeep, which city Finance Director Jeff Nieters believed was due to the city’s $20,000 minimum required bid and problems with the vehicle that have caused it to depreciate significantly.
The Jeep was used heavily by Black, who specifically requested the vehicle be provided as his work vehicle. Under his employment contract, the city agreed to provide Black with a vehicle for his professional use. This wasn’t uncommon for the city, as it provided former Administrator Barry Cook with a vehicle under similar provisions. Black requested the Jeep, saying the initial vehicle provided to the administrator, a Toyota Prius, was difficult to drive in bad weather situations.
Black’s usage of his city-provided vehicle was subject to criticism from a few members of the city council. Emails between Black, Mayor Hank Castillon and Councilman Gary Killpack that were leaked to the Green River Star showed an internal dispute between the three regarding how Black used the Jeep and reported his mileage. This dispute ultimately resulted in Black’s contact with the city being modified, which created travel stipend, after a closed-door session hosted by the council to discuss the modification.
After Black left the city, the Jeep was rarely used because of its low fuel economy and suspension problems.
Nieters said the city won’t purchase a vehicle for the position until after the city hires a new administrator.
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