Corbin City Commission approves purchase of newer vehicle for city manager

Corbin City Manager Marlon Sams.

The Corbin City Commission has authorized City Manager Marlon Sams to purchase a 2010 Chevrolet Suburban SUV to replace the aging city manager’s vehicle.

At a special called meeting Friday morning, Sams told the commissioners that the 2002 Suburban he had been driving had reached the point where it was no longer feasible to repair.

Sams noted the front end had recently gone out on the vehicle, which was purchased used while Bill Ed Cannon was serving as city manager. It was a rebuild purchased from Marine Myers.

“I am using the family car right now,” Sams said when asked what he was currently driving.

Sams said he shopped around and found the 2010 model with 158,000 miles at Tim Short Chevrolet. Through negotiations, Sams said he got the price down to $19,990, which will put it on the road.

“Do we have to have a Suburban?” Commissioner Joe Shelton asked.

Sams said he does regularly use the vehicle to show visitors around Corbin.

Commissioner Ed Tye brought up the mileage on the vehicle, noting an average vehicle will accumulate 15,000 per year.

Mayor Willard McBurney agreed with Tye.

“The car itself is clean. It just has so many miles,” McBurney said, noting under average driving conditions it should have between 80,000 and 90,000 miles.

Commissioner Suzy Razmus said she didn’t have a problem with it considering the cost of a new model would be in the $70,000 range.

“It should be his decision,” Razmus said of Sams.

The commission voted 4-0, with Commissioner Freddy Bruce Hodge absent, to approve the purchase.