Harper, 47, said he tendered his resignation Aug. 2 to start a real-estate and development consulting company, Development Solutions.

And while the city has no plans to hire a replacement, it has retained Harper for a year under a $20,000 consulting contract to assist with redevelopment efforts. The contract was not awarded in an open bidding process, but approved by the City Council on the advice of City Manager Gary Luebers.

"If the city's going to go through turmoil again - and I've been through that twice before - I'm not interested in that again," said Harper about his motivations for ending eight years of city employ. "I've got my own business and I'm focusing on that."

In 2001, West Jordan weathered criticism for failing to follow state procurement laws when purchasing its fleet of automobiles. Most recently, West Jordan has been scrutinized after a vehicle-abuse scandal erupted this summer in Salt Lake County government.

For at least five years, Harper has asked for mileage reimbursement from the state for legislative work days while also accepting a monthly car allowance from West Jordan.

Harper says his actions "are acceptable under federal and state laws for vehicle reimbursement." He blames the media for sowing public doubt and fanning the flames of controversy.

Harper drives his own car, unlike fellow legislator House Majority Leader Greg Curtis, who is among those being investigated by the district attorney for taking state mileage reimbursements while driving an SUV owned and fueled by Salt Lake County, where he worked as legal counsel.

Curtis, who points out nothing has been found after three months of that investigation, also filed for state reimbursement while pocketing a city car allowance as West Jordan's city attorney from 1996 to 2000.

West Jordan officials say an informal review of Harper's personnel files yielded "no evidence of impropriety."

"We have full confidence that his car allowance was done in such a way there was no double dipping," said West Jordan Mayor Bryan Holladay. "He will be missed."

Rob Bennett, a city councilman elected after pledging to rid the city of corruption, said Harper "felt it was time to get out of the public sector so there would be no question of impropriety while he was at the Legislature. To my knowledge, there is no evidence to suggest he has done something wrong."

Harper says his consulting contract with West Jordan was properly awarded.

"There are only a few people qualified in the state to advise them on these projects," said Harper, noting his $20,000 fee is a far cry from the $68,000 he earned as a full-time city employee.

nwarburton@sltrib.com

kstewart@sltrib.com