Committee of the Whole Approves City Administrator Ordinance

A charter ordinance establishing the position of city administrator will go before the Cheyenne City Council when it meets Monday night.

The Committee of the Whole approved the ordinance by a 5-2 vote Tuesday night. Ward III council members Jim Brown and Richard Johnson voted against the ordinance. Ward I Councilwoman Annette Williams and Ward II Councilman Dicky Shanor were absent.

Brown says there's been a power struggle in the city over the past couple of years and he thinks the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce wants to be able to control the city.

"I think that's what's truly going on and that's what's frustrating to me," said Brown. "It's all personality based. When you look at the economic indicators of our city over the past several years they're strong, they're up. Cheyenne has no reason to hang its head next to any other city. We're a forward moving, progressive city. So I don't understand why the strong mayor form of government isn't working."

Brown says if the citizens want to bring a petition to the city clerk, he'll be the first one to vote yes on appropriating money for a special election.

"Show me a petition, show me a couple thousand people that want to change the form of government or at least have a vote on it and I'll support those people 100%," said Brown.

If the ordinance is approved by the governing body a special election would be held in November. If backed by voters, the city administrator would start in January 2017.