Opinion
editor@recordcourier.com
OUR TAKE
Open
hiring
protects
public
If it were up to us, any hiring county
commissioners had to approve would
be conducted in public.
Last week, county commissioners
approved hiring Chief Financial Of-
ficer Vicki Moore as comptroller, but
not before someone raised a question
about whether there was another qual-
ified candidate.
County Commissioner Dave Nelson
raised the issue and a member of the
audience said he, too, heard from this
person.
According to Nelson, the potential
candidate didnt get as much as a how-
dy from the county.
Had Moores selection been conduct-
ed through an open process, wed know
who else was seeking the position and
their qualifications.
Nevada law requires that hiring of
chief executives, such as county man-
ager or school superintendent, or even
the director of the library, be conduct-
ed in an open process.
We understand that applicants would
prefer not to have their search for a
new job become public. But if thats the
process, then were sure those folks who
are truly interested will adapt. Were not
sure wed want to hire someone who
didnt understand that the keyword in
public position is public, anyway.
More importantly, as chief financial
officer and comptroller, Moore finds
herself in a very important position.
She could quickly find herself second
in charge at the county and could,
should County Manager Larry Wer-
ners contract expire or be canceled, be
county manager.
That process has gone forward
without a public search before, which
should leave county residents wonder-
ing about the one who got away.
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The Record-Courier
| Wednesday, May 10, 2017 | 13
HELPING JROTC That same employee spends up to 25 percent
of his/her salary for medical benefits assum-
ing a high deductible family plan. Oh by the
way, Carson City Deputy Sheriff s start at $5
more per hour. Even Lyon County starts at a
higher wage then Douglas deputies.
East Fork Fire is seeing the same hiring
and retention issues that the Sheriff s Office
has been experiencing for the past two years.
I can promise the readers we are not hiring
experienced lateral deputies from Las Vegas
or Reno which should be the case if we are
the second highest paid in the nation.
The truth is the wages of the southern
public safety agencies are driving Transpar-
ent Nevadas Foot Print study and have no
basis being compared to our local govern-
ment i.e. Douglas County. The study conve-
niently uses three high paid administrative
employees at Metro Police and Fire for the
meat and potatoes of their pension compar-
isons; again let us try comparing apples to
apples.
As an executive board member of the
Douglas County Sheriff s Protective As-
sociation I can tell the readers the county
has been responsibly attempting to bring
Douglas County employees up to our best
and fairest comparable agency, i.e. Carson
City, our Carson Valley neighbor to the
SPECIAL TO THE R-C north. The county bargaining team, county
Elks Exalted Ruler Cheryl Peddicord presented a donation to Douglas High Schools commissioners including her husband Dave
Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) on April 28. The JROTC students helped at Nelson and the county manager has access
a state convention hosted by the Tahoe/Douglas Elks at it lodge April 20-23. to the same facts. I would like to thank the
County Manager Larry Werner, Chairman
Barry Penzel, and Commissioners Nancy
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR our local government employees are the McDermid, Steve Thaler, and Larry Walsh
second highest paid government employees for their continued support of the Douglas
Look at the actual numbers in the nation. County Protective Association.
The author is using the term local to Lastly I would like to remind the readers
Editor: insinuate Douglas County public safety is the and Mrs Nelson, Douglas County is one of
Recent letters to the editor by Jeanne second highest paid in the nation. I looked the safest and best places to live in the na-
Nelson Shizuru and others have gross- up Douglas County Starting wages for a tion, in part by the sacrifices of the men and
ly misinterpreted a Transparent Nevada Deputy Sheriff and can tell the readers of women of your Douglas County Sheriff s
Footprints study where the wages of Ne- Douglas County that a new Deputy Sheriff Office and East Fork Fire Department.
vadas police and fire are compared to other starts their career protecting and serving at President Jon Storke
public safety professional across the nation. $20.02 per hour, which is available on the Vice President Jeff Schemenauer
The letter quotes the Footprints study citing Douglas County Human Resource website. Douglas County Sheriffs Protective Association
Dont close doors to new residents
I
write today to voice my Connie Billington renewed interest for everyone. through events a vibrant down-
opinion about this com- Guest Column I probably could write 10 pages town district. Main Street pro-
munity; what Ive learned on what Ive learned from you, grams at their core truly create,
since moving here three my neighbors and friends being through volunteers, the heart
years ago and why I believe in various programs and it is their out and about our towns as to and soul of a community.
Main Street programs. As a support that makes us what why we all love this community. A favorite quote of mine is,
community, this is a wonder- we are today. Can it be better? All this takes me to the When work, commitment, and
ful place to live. I know many I believe there is always room recent article written in The pleasure all become one and
would wish we would close for improvement and it is with Record-Courier, Friday, April you reach that deep well where
the doors to new residents, the residents ideas and support 7, about Main Street Mind- passion lives, nothing is im-
but that would mean certain that make it all happen. With en program receiving funding possible, by unknown author.
demise at some point, for if we controlled growth, diversity from the Town of Minden. As I would hope everyone finds
are not growing, we are moving and commitment of our pub- Main Street Mindens Exec- what fuels their passion about
backward. In my years of living lic officials, private citizens, utive Director, and on behalf our community, engages and if
in various parts of this country, business and property own- of our Board of Directors, we you havent already, becomes
Ive experienced several down- ers, consumers (yes, that also are grateful for the extended involved at some level. Main
towns with uncertain futures includes visitors and tourists) financial support of our new Street Minden will continue its
and the near death of small and our neighbors that we can program (1 years old) from efforts to engage the businesses
town America. So why do you realize the benefits to programs the Town of Minden for another and residents in making this a
ask, does this have anything to such as the only two Main year. Main Street programs are place where our children will
do with our local towns in the Street programs that currently not businesses, their purpose is continue to thrive, find purpose
Carson Valley? exist here in Nevada. They not to support our town, far beyond and be able to work and live
Living in a community such only create an identity for the the municipal responsibility to as adults in our little slice of
as ours is a privilege. Peo- community, but can stimu- residents for the infrastructure. heaven on earth. Our volunteer
ple simply care about this late and excel in areas such as They exist, to promote and grow motto: Make a differenceev-
area; our natural beauty, their historic preservation, economic areas that need attention due erydayto someone. Come join
neighbors and the resounding revitalization and recognizable to building vacancies, preserve us and find your passion.
overall quality of life that we design improvements to the historic and cultural identi-
all experience every day. It is area. Programs such as Shop ty, revitalize and enhance the Connie Billington is the executive
with that sense of community Small/Shop Local enhance the beauty of the Town plus create director of Main Street Minden
that people volunteer for the viability of our towns creating that sense of family community and a Carson Valley resident