Water board approves interim general manager contract for Wichman

The Nye County Water District Governing Board unanimously approved a new contract for its interim general manager, Oz Wichman.

The not-to-exceed $90,000 contract specifies duties of the general manager that will be added to Wichman’s current contract.

“Over the next few months, the district’s focus will be a groundwater management plan,” Wichman said.

The board is looking for a permanent general manager after Darrell Lacy submitted a 90-day resignation notice at the July 12 Nye County Water District Governing Board meeting.

Wichman’s contract started on Tuesday and will continue until June 30, 2017, the remainder of fiscal year 2016-2017.

While Wichman will perform general manager’s duties under the professional service agreement, the documents say that he may assign his “other employees or agents” to carry out some or all of the work under the professional services agreement. In such a case, Wichman will be responsible for the “supervision and predominance” of those employees and agents.

Wichman said he is currently sub-contracting Hamilton Reed, a former employee of the Nevada Division of Water Resources to capture overdedicated rights in Basin 162.

“He can do work in a more cost-effective manner than I can,” Wichman said.

Hamilton’s billable hours come out of Wichman’s not-to-exceed contract.

Wichman will receive an hourly fee of $60 and travel time at one half of the regular rate and reimbursable expenses. The total contract amount will include work, travel and expenses combined, according to the documents.

He said he calculated the not-to-exceed $90,000 amount himself, as his workload doubled.

“It is my best estimate of the effort required to do these jobs for the district through the fiscal year,” he said.

Wichman said he typically spent between 50 and 60 percent of his not-to-exceed $60,000 salary as a contractor.

Among the duties of the general manager listed in thecontract are preparing ordinances, resolutions and policy documents; assisting the board with the filing of documents required to obtain grants and other necessary approvals from governmental authorities; directing and developing of operating and capital improvement budgets for approval and adoption by the WDGB.

Wichman will serve as an independent contractor and not a board employee or agent. He will not receive medical and retirement benefits.

Contact reporter Daria Sokolova at dsokolova@pvtimes.com. On Twitter: @dariasokolova77