GOLD HILL — The City Council decided its donated police motorcycle should become the private property of a Gold Hill officer.

The council is not out any money, members said at a special meeting Monday. And releasing the bike is easier than reimbursing Sgt. Hank Hobart — or fighting his lien.

"We’ve beat this thing to death," said Councilman Mike Hicks. "Let’s take off the equipment that makes it a police vehicle. (Hobart) is getting a whole bike out of it."

Hobart picked up the Kawasaki motorcycle — donated by the Jacksonville Police Department — on June 23, 2003.

But within months Hobart had incurred nearly $2,000 in personal expenses for repairs and officer training. He later placed a lien on the motorcycle.

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In a written statement, Hobart documented $1,518.81 in repairs and $399.80 in training expenses to get certified on the motorcycle. He wrote the motorcycle still was only worth "an average price of about $500."

Hobart wanted to use the bike for overtime traffic enforcement, he wrote, adding "the PR benefits are also considerable."

Jacksonville Police Chief David Towe said Hobart was the officer he dealt with during the motorcycle’s departmental transfer.

"(Hobart) was the one who picked it up," said Towe.

Towe said the bike came to Jacksonville from Roseburg, was missing a few parts and was partially disassembled. But Towe said he was surprised to hear the size of Hobart’s repair bills.

"It was a pretty decent bike," said Towe. "I even had it fired up at one point, but the timing was off."

Towe said eBay estimates would value the bike at more than $2,000. He was surprised to hear the property he donated to the Gold Hill Police Department in 2003 was about to become Hobart’s personal possession.

"The bike, in the view of the Jacksonville Police Department, was donated to the city of Gold Hill. We would never donate to an individual," said Towe.

Towe also said he was surprised Hobart would incur such a huge debt without council approval.

"If I dump money into my police car, that would be at my expense. I sure wouldn’t expect the city to give it to me," said Towe.

Former Gold Hill Police Chief Rod Countryman said he allowed Hobart to accept the motorcycle from Jacksonville. He also insisted Hobart be certified before he rode it, he said. But he never encouraged Hobart to incur "those kinds of expenses." Or to place a lien on the bike, Countryman said.

"He came up with that just about the time I was leaving," said Countryman, now a captain with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.

Council members said they should not be put in the position of reimbursing expenses incurred without their knowledge or approval. Releasing the bike to Hobart releases the city from liability, they said.

Gold Hill Police Chief Dean Muchow also urged the council to sign the bike over to Hobart.

"My recommendation is (the bike) is kind of an albatross. Just sign the title over to (Hobart)," Muchow said. "Having a motorcycle in a department this size is like putting pearls on a pig."

Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail sspecht@mailtribune.com.