A contract was approved with Richard Osborne Sr. for the job of Nye County manager Tuesday, guaranteeing him a $118,000 annual salary, a probationary period of one year and a lump sum payment of one year's severance pay if he's terminated after that.

County commissioners voted 4-1 for the agreement, which takes effect Aug. 11. Commissioner Butch Borasky cast the sole vote against.

When asked to explain his dissenting vote, Borasky said, "It's too much money."

Osborne will receive less salary than Ron Williams, who receives an annual salary of $149,000. Williams was promoted to county manager in December 2006.

Osborne will receive an annual cost-of-living adjustment of 5 percent plus a compensation increase of up to 5 percent.

At the request of Commissioner Peter Liakopoulos, the additional 5 percent of compensation will be subject to his annual evaluation, which Commissioner Joni Eastley said has never been done before for county managers.

Osborne will receive 10 vacation days, five personal days and five sick days upon beginning his job. That is a compromise over a contract Osborne suggested, with 15 days of sick leave and 21 days of annual leave.

Nye County Human Resources Director Donelle Shamrell said Osborne will accrue 10 hours per month of sick leave and 14 hours per month of annual leave.

"We should all be cognizant of the fact this agreement is subsidized by the taxpayers," Eastley said.

Osborne said his wife will remain in Middlefield, Ohio, until their house is sold. The county will pay for moving his personal property, but a proposed reimbursement rate of 58.5 cents per mile for moving his personal vehicle was changed to the standard moving rate set by the Internal Revenue Service, which Shamrell said was 27 cents per mile.

A provision was also stricken by which the county would have continued to pay Osborne's health and life insurance benefits for a year following termination. Shamrell said he would be eligible for the standard COBRA coverage.

At one point, when Osborne was questioned about the requested terms during a telephone call, he told commissioners, "The art of negotiation is, you don't come in low and go out high."

That earned him kudos for negotiating skills.

Nye County will pay for Osborne's premiums for health, hospitalization, surgical, vision, dental and comprehensive medical insurance equal to that which is provided to all other county management employees.

Osborne will be allowed exclusive use of an automobile provided by the county, though Eastley said there should be a policy drawn up governing use of such vehicles.

Osborne will be provided with a computer, software, cell phone and other office equipment, providing it will be used in his office, not at home. Osborne will be allowed to engage in outside activities with the consent of the board of commissioners, in case, for example, he wanted to speak to a class at Great Basin College.

Osborne, the former director of administration for Tallmadge, Ohio, was chosen as the top candidate from among four people who were called in for interviews July 9. Those four candidates were among a list of 28 who applied for the job.

Liakopoulos said he liked the fact Osborne had experience operating small businesses as well.

Osborne rose in the ranks of Tallmadge, Ohio city government since 1970, from patrol officer to sergeant, to division commander, then to city treasurer, and in January 2000 was appointed director of administration.