Lyon County to hold workshop on county manager ordinance

Still focused on the county manager, Lyon County commissioners have decided to hold a workshop to review the ordinance that deals with the position now held by Donna Kristaponis.

Commissioner Don Tibbals suggested the workshop at last week's meeting to go through the county manager's duties. No date has been set.

"I think she's overworked and underfed," he said. "She doesn't have time to report on meetings to the commissioners, and maybe there are some things the commissioners can take off her hands.

Kristaponis was the subject of controversy last September when two commissioners requested her resignation. She declined to give it, and a hearing was held on whether to fire her. The commissioners backed off after an outpouring of support from department heads, county staff, the public and officials from neighboring counties.

Commission Chairman Phyllis Hunewill said some things are not getting done.

"We have to abide by this ordinance and that's not being done right now," she said.

Hunewill said some decisions were made by Kristaponis that should have had board approval, but she couldn't be more specific.

"We just need to go over the ordinance and make sure we're all on the same page," she said. "We just want to clarify what procedures should be."

Hunewill said it isn't uncommon for ordinances to be reviewed and revised periodically.

Commissioner Leroy Goodman supported the workshop concept with the stipulation that it would include Lyon County District Attorney Bob Auer.

Auer said he wanted to define the responsibilities of both the county manager and the county commissioner and how the Nevada Revised Statutes' framework provides for those responsibilities.

Kristaponis had no objection to the workshop.

"I think every ordinance we have in the county should be revisited," she said. "Some of them have been around a long time, and we need to look at all of them."

• Contact reporter Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee@nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111 ext. 351.