Two Assistant Casper City Managers Return To Their Former Jobs

Two assistant city managers will return to their departments of expertise next week, according to a news release from the city manager's office on Monday.

Meanwhile, new City Manager Carter Napier intends to hire a chief financial officer for the city.

Napier granted the requests of Liz Becher and Tracy Belser to move back to their full-time department head positions, community development director and support services director respectively.

Former City Manager V.H. McDonald named them assistant city managers in February 2016 to cut costs and share resources, while taking on additional responsibilities to assist him.

In April, Casper City Council assigned Becher as interim assistant city manager after McDonald's resignation and retirement.

Naprer praised their leadership and guidance during the recent months, he said in the news release. "Liz and Tracey have endured tough situations in their roles as Assistant City Managers and have pulled Casper through tumultuous times."

Becher made her most controversial decision when she conducted an internal investigation of the police department and decided to fire former Police Chief Jim Wetzel on May 5.

Two weeks later, Wetzel spoke during the public comment session of a council meeting and excoriated Becher and city council for the decision. Council, however, did not direct Becher to take the action about Wetzel, Councilmember Amanda Huckabay said at the time.

Napier now intends to strengthen his office by hiring a chief financial officer to help individual departments, according to the news release.

The search for a chief financial officer has begun.