Lakewood City Manager Mike Rock will turn in the keys to a city-provided 2004 Silverado pickup truck shortly after Monday’s City Council meeting.
With growing community and council concern over his expenses, Rock said Thursday he offered to turn in the truck and take a $750- per-month auto allowance instead.
Rock, who earns $196,102 annually, also will pay the city $8,846 in claims and repairs stemming from a February accident that his wife had while driving the truck, and has reimbursed the city $458 for speakers installed at taxpayer expense.
Although his contract allows “personal use” of a city vehicle, “I thought it was in everybody’s best interest” to give up the truck, Rock said.
“The city has some big financial issues to deal with, and the truck was a distraction to that,” Rock said.
In a second closed-door meeting, the council on Wednesday agreed to amend Rock’s contract, which expires in 2010.
“We’ve got to show some decisive action on this,” said Mayor Steve Burkholder. “The general public feels that it wasn’t too cool with what happened on the truck.”
The council, which will consider Rock’s contract changes Monday, also will require Burkholder to review Rock’s expenses monthly and have an outside auditor examine all city spending.
Burkholder said Rock talked to him Tuesday about amending his contract.
“These issues don’t go away overnight,” Rock said. “These things have caused problems for the community, and I care very much about that.”
Kathy Stapleton, a council member when Rock was hired in 1992, said she was “happy they could work this out without losing Mike. He is very, very instrumental in all our development.”
Greg Stevinson, who worked with Rock while developing the Colorado Mills mall, said he applauds Rock for making the offer.
“He didn’t have to agree to that, because he has a contract, but that’s the honorable thing to do,” Stevinson said.
Critics remain unconvinced.
“More discipline may be in order,” said Bill Smith, who unsuccessfully ran for council several years ago. “The council has fiduciary responsibilities for the city’s finances, and it looks to me that the council is not paying attention to what’s going on in the store.”
Staff writer Ann Schrader can be reached at 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com.