Thursday, OCTOBER 9, 2025 |
Photo – Matthew J Hall – Courtesy City of Rawlins
The new Interim City Manager of Rawlins says his political experience makes him well suited to the job.
As reported by Bigfoot99, the Rawlins City Council appointed former Cody Mayor Matthew J. Hall as Interim City Manager on Tuesday evening.
Of the ten incorporated municipalities in Carbon County, Rawlins is the only one operating under a City Manager form of government. Unlike the traditional Mayor and Council system used elsewhere in the county, the Rawlins City Council sets policy, and the City Manager is responsible for carrying out the Council’s mandates while overseeing budgeting, staffing, infrastructure, and day-to-day city operations.
Bigfoot99 spoke to Interim City Manager Hall shortly after his appointment. Hall said he is still acclimating to the position, but he plans to tackle some of the city’s longstanding issues, such as cyber security and the water supply.
Hall said the water infrastructure issues in Rawlins are widely known across the state. Years of deferred maintenance have left the city’s transmission lines in disrepair, leading to repeated service interruptions and increased water and sewer fees for residents. As Interim City Manager, Hall said he plans to use his political experience to secure the support Rawlins needs to repair its water system.
Hall served two terms as Mayor of Cody, Wyoming, first in 2016 and again in 2020, and said he wanted to continue working in local government. After learning about the open Interim City Manager position through the executive recruitment firm, KRW Associates, Hall said he was eager to apply.
Hall said his eight years of experience as Mayor of Cody have prepared him to navigate the unique demands of managing the City of Rawlins. Although Cody and Rawlins face different challenges, the Interim City Manager said both cities require similar leadership strategies.
Hall will fill in for City Manager Tom Sarvey while he is on an extended medical leave. Over the course of his two-year tenure, Sarvey also led the city’s finance and human resources departments. Hall said he intends to concentrate on the City Manager position and prioritize efforts to address staffing shortages across the city.
City Manager Tom Sarvey has been on medical leave since August, and while his condition is unknown, it’s reasonable to assume he may not return to the role. In that case, Hall said he’s willing to step in permanently.
Hall said he plans to spend the coming weeks getting up to speed on his duties and learning how the city operates.
