Moab Welcomes Michael Black as new city manager

The Moab City Council and Mayor Joette Langianese welcomed Michael Black as the new Moab city manager at this week’s City Council meeting. 

The position had been open since the departure of Carly Castle, who resigned in March to take a position with the Salt Lake City Attorney’s Office. In the interim, former city administrator David Everitt held the manager position during the search for a new candidate. Langianese thanked him at the meeting and said he would likely stay involved with the city in some capacity. 

Black joined the City of Moab as community development director in July 2023 and has overseen work on critical flood mitigation needs, the overhaul of city land use code, and helping to transition residents from the city-owned Walnut Lane trailer court.

“Following the resignation of our previous city manager in April, Michael took on additional responsibilities and has shown both his dedication to and his skill in identifying and addressing critical issues,” Langianese said in a press release.

Prior to his work in Moab, Black served as the director of parks and community development in Grants Pass, Oregon, for four years and as the community development director for the City of Cottonwood Heights in Utah for five years. Black also spent time as the director of the Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission in Ashland, Oregon. 

“I’m humbled and grateful for the trust of the City Council,” Black said. “As City Manager, I’m excited to build on the strong foundation already in place and to work with the Council, staff and community to achieve our shared goals.”