By MARK WAITE
PVT

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The search will be on for a new Nye County manager after commissioners decided by a 3-2 vote Tuesday to seek a replacement for Ron Williams.

Williams' contract expires May 30.

A 27-year employee of Nye County who worked his way up to planning director, Williams, 51, was named acting county manager after the termination of Mike Maher in March 2006. He was then given an 18-month contract as county manager in December 2006.

Williams received an annual salary of $144,019 as county manager. Commissioners also agreed to a $51,930 buyout of unused sick leave and a $30,466 payment for unused annual leave.

Commissioner Gary Hollis voted against Williams' contract initially, saying he didn't want to pay someone $92,000 who was only going to stay 18 months. Then commissioner-elect, Peter Liakopoulos had asked the vote be delayed another month until he took office in January 2007.

The vote to hire Williams took place right after county commissioners withdrew an offer to Barbara Blumenfield, a public officlal in Wisconsin.

When Williams was promoted, county officials spoke of an intention to groom the assistant county manager to replace him. Commissioners Tuesday adopted a motion by Liakopoulos to begin recruiting Williams' successor.

Assistant County Manager Pam Webster wasn't at the meeting.

Williams agreed to stay in his post until the end of this year to train the new county manager. Commissioner Butch Borasky wanted a four- to six-month period for Williams' training.

An initial motion by Liakopoulos to begin the recruitment process was withdrawn over a dispute about whether his contract would need to be extended, Commissioner Gary Hollis then made the motion to begin recruiting Williams' successor, which passed.

Hollis' motion was more vague, simply asking Williams to stay in his job long enough to make a successful transition to the new manager, probably four months after the new candidate is selected.

Northern commissioners Joni Eastley and Roberta "Midge" Carver wanted to extend Williams' contract beyond May 30.

"He has done an excellent job and I would prefer to renegotiate that contract," Eastley said. She also reminded commissioners of the difficulty in recruiting a county manager the last time.

Carver added, "That's why I'm voting no also."

Borasky said afterwards he voted to find a successor because Williams had indicated he wanted to retire. He said Webster from day one indicated she had no intentions to move up to county manager.