County Begins Search - New County Manager as Barbee Announces Resignation

After nearly seven years of service, Churchill County Manager Jim Barbee will step down from his position this summer. The Board of County Commissioners officially accepted Barbee’s resignation at their April 3 meeting. His last day will be July 7.

Barbee has served in the position since 2018 and helped guide the county through major challenges and growth, including the COVID-19 pandemic and continued infrastructure development.

With Barbee’s departure on the horizon, commissioners approved a plan to launch the search for the county’s next top administrator. The hiring process, laid out by Chief Deputy District Attorney Joseph Sanford, includes public advertising, pre-screening, and final interviews expected by early June.

Unlike the 2018 recruitment effort, this year’s plan does not include hiring an outside search firm. Instead, the county will use widely accessed job platforms such as LinkedIn, Indeed, and professional sites tailored to public service roles.

Under the proposal, Barbee would help form a small recommendation panel to screen initial applications and present a shortlist of three to five qualified candidates to the commission. However, not all board members were on board with that approach.

Commissioner Eric Blakey raised concerns about transparency and emphasized that elected commissioners — not a committee — should be the ones deciding who moves forward in the hiring process.

“I think it’s our duty as county commissioners to pick the next county manager,” Blakey said. “I’m not interested in people from past administrations making decisions for our future.”

He added that the commission should have access to all applicants, not just a preselected group.

Commission Chair Myles Getto and Commissioner Matt Hyde voiced support for the recruitment plan, calling it efficient and in line with standard hiring practices. They agreed that commissioners could approve the members of the recommendation panel, ensuring oversight throughout the process.

“Ultimately, the final interviews and selection will be up to us,” Getto said. “We’re just trying to streamline the process to bring forward the most qualified candidates.”

The job posting is expected to go live on April 11. Application screenings and background checks will follow in May, with interviews and a final decision by June 6. The new county manager would begin work by the end of June, allowing some overlap with Barbee for a smooth transition.

Job listings will be published locally in The Fallon Post, Nevada Appeal, and Reno Gazette-Journal, as well as on national platforms geared toward government professionals.

The board approved the recruitment plan in a 2–1 vote, with Blakey opposed.