Churchill County Commissioners updated and approved the Attrition and Hiring Delay Policy to clarify the commissioners' desires regarding position reviews for departments and the Position Review Board (PRB). In December 2013, the policy was enacted to avoid employee layoffs in light of declining revenues. The policy allowed furloughs, gapping positions, hiring delays, and attrition.
According to Joe Sanford, the Deputy Civil District Attorney, the policy's provisions allow the commission to set an expected savings target as part of the budget process to guide decision-making. The policy also allows the PRB to set a definite start date for gapped positions that will enable departments to advertise for positions during the gapped period, clarifies that the gap period will be at least 90 days, and clarifies the extenuating circumstances under which a waiver may be granted from the policy.
The Position Review Board comprises the County Manager, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Civil Deputy District Attorney, and the Assistant County Manager. The policy was updated to address the current shortfalls in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget.
Commissioners also approved the annual performance evaluation for County Manager Jim Barbee. Assistant County Manager and Human Resources Director Chris Spross explained that Barbee serves at the will of the commissioners, and according to the Nevada Revised Statute, any discussion regarding the competence of a chief executive must be held in an open meeting.
Spross reported that commissioners completed an evaluation of Barbee and his performance over the past year, and that information was consolidated into a summary report with an overall rating of 5. The ratings range from 5, excellent, to 1, unsatisfactory. Commissioners ranked Barbee with an average of Job Knowledge of 5, Interactions/Communication of 4.33, Job Productivity of 5, Planning of 5, Public Relations of 4.33, Work Environment and Safety of 5, and Overall Performance average of 5.
Barbee is at Step 13 of Grade 96, the top pay grade, and therefore not eligible for a step increase.
In other business, commissioners presented the 2024 Jim Regan Memorial Scholarships to students: Emily Bird, $2,500; Hailey Guerrero, $2,500; Kasey Lattin, $2,500; Levi Johnson, $1,500; Weina Lu, $1,500; Owen McIntosh, $1,000; Bryan Mendoza, $1,000; Demi Tekelidis, $500; and Maci Cooper, $500. Barbee thanked Pam Moore for her dedication to running the scholarship program and the Jim Regan Golf Tournament every year, which helps fund the scholarships.
They also approved an ordinance that allows the sheriff or his deputies the discretion to release a captured dog that has been “at-large” back to a cooperative owner rather than transporting the dog to the Fallon Animal Shelter as has been the requirement under county code.
Additionally, commissioners approved the sale of a 30-acre parcel located at 405 S. Harmon Road for economic development purposes for $60,000 to a holding company for Hatcreek Construction. The purchase agreement requires the property to be developed into a commercial construction facility within the next five years. According to Sanford, the development of the property will increase its taxable value, encourage economic growth in the area, and provide an additional source of construction services for the county and local businesses.
The County Commission meets the first Thursday of each month at 8:15 a.m. and the third Wednesday at 1:15 p.m. at 155 S. Taylor Street in Fallon. The agenda can be found at ChurchillCountyNV.gov.
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