Bill Kohbarger, the new Pahrump town manager, was quoted in the March 28 edition of the Elko Daily Free Press as saying he was terminated from his prior position as Carlin city manager for doing his job, not for his brash attitude.

Carlin is about 25 miles west of Elko. Kohbarger was terminated by a 3-1 vote of the Carlin City Council after almost eight years on the job. The average term of a city manager is about three years.

"I can leave with a smile on my face," Kohbarger was quoted in the newspaper article after the vote. "I got terminated because I followed the council's direction. The council decided to follow those who think the rules don't apply to them."

Kohbarger said he had been evaluated four times since he began work in 2000, receiving high marks.

A letter to Carlin Mayor Cliff Eklund talked about Kohbarger's attitude in dealing with the public. The mayor said the letter was signed by 230 people, but the Elko Daily Free Press reported a copy the newspaper received only had one signature, and it was blacked out.

Kohbarger said only seven people out of a crowd of 50 spoke against him at a meeting. He said those who spoke in opposition were "the slum landlords, individuals who refuse to follow the city's ordinances and those who have lived in Carlin for 40 years and feel they can do whatever they want."

Kohbarger told the newspaper he wasn't surprised at his termination. He reportedly was told Carlin Vice Mayor Donnetta Skinner, Councilman Lloyd Myers and Eklund pledged to get rid of him if they won election.

Eklund couldn't be reached for comment by press time Thursday.

Kohbarger's contract was scheduled to expire Aug. 20. He had 240 hours of vacation pay and one-fourth of his 437 hours of sick leave pending, which with his severance pay would equal a $45,000 buyout, the Elko Daily Free Press reported.

Kohbarger was hired as Pahrump town manager May 27 and given a $105,000 annual salary. He pledged he will hit the ground running when he starts work in Pahrump June 30.

Town Finance Director Michael Sullivan had been serving as interim Pahrump town manager since Dave Richards left in February to take a position in Hoonah, Alaska.