2013: Kohbarger replaced as town manager

Pahrump Town Manager Bill Kohbarger announced in June he was resigning effective July 12 after five years, to take an administrative human resources job with the city of North Las Vegas, ending a sometimes turbulent career, he was the longest serving town manager at the helm of the town with over 38,000 residents.

It was the top personnel change of the year.

Former Pahrump Town Manager Dave Richards, who served from 2004 to 2008, unsuccessfully sought his old job back.

Susan Holecheck, the former mayor of Mesquite, was hired as the new town manager by a 4-1 vote of the Pahrump Town Board in July. Kohbarger lost his job at the city of North Las Vegas in August.

Two new county commissioners began their terms in 2013: Frank Carbone and Donna Cox.

In March, Nye County Treasurer Mike Maher resigned, after being under fire for filing late and incomplete monthly treasurer reports. The Nye County Commission named Deputy Treasurer Kim Lara as interim treasurer and hired former Treasurer Gary Budahl to help bring the books up to date. On May 21, county commissioners voted 4-1 to hire Richard Billman, executive vice-president of Credico, a collections agency, to fill Maher’s unexpired term.

Nye County Emergency Services Director Brent Jones filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against County Manager Pam Webster in January, Jones was later fired in March. Jones settled his case for $16,833 and $32,166 in severance pay along with $15,000 in attorney’s fees.

Former Nye County Commissioner Joni Eastley was appointed assistant county manager by a 3-2 vote of the county commission Jan. 7, Commissioners Butch Borasky and Cox voted against.

Resident Andy Alberti filed an ethics complaint against the county manager, Human Resources Director Danelle Shamrell and Eastley herself after the hiring decision, but an ethics panel declined to forward the case to the full Nevada Ethics Commission Sept. 18.

In February the Nye County Commission refused to seat the Pahrump Town Board’s choice of Harley Kulkin on the Pahrump Regional Planning Commission, Bill Dolan was named to that seat in April.

Bobby Lewis, who was development services director in Merced County, Calif. and vice-president of Plaster Development Company Signature Homes, was hired as Nye County planning director in September.

Webster, who had planned to retire Dec. 31 decided to stay on for another two years as county manager and was given an amended contract.