At their meeting last week, county commissioners approved the promotion of Public Works Director Chris Spross to the newly created Assistant County Manager/Human Resources Director at an additional cost of $17,200 per year. Geof Stark, Human Resources Director, said the position will take effect on February 26, allowing for a crossover with Stark before his official retirement in late March.
“Chris Spross has been with the county for three-and-a-half years,” said Stark, “and has a considerable knowledge of the departments and staff, qualities an external candidate would not have.” He explained that a promoted employee would usually be placed on the first step in a range. Still, in this case, “Spross has exemplary qualifications to meet the difficult recruiting problem to be able to get a couple additional steps.”
Spross was hired at Step 7 of Grade 86, paying $148,116 per year and including a $600 monthly stipend for a car allowance.
As Public Works Director, Spross presented information to commissioners regarding constructing the secondary water treatment plant at the golf course in the old sewer treatment plant area. The county has received $6 million for this project through the State of Nevada. As part of the Preliminary Engineering Report, the county was notified by the Bureau of Safe Drinking Water that the plant is being built in a current 100-year floodplain. In order to proceed with construction in that area, the county must implement an eight-step process to notify the public and possibly mitigate or relocate the project.
Once the process is completed, Spross will bring a notice of explanation to the commissioners for their approval.
The county is in a lengthy process with HDR Engineering and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to review and revise the existing flood plain mapping and anticipate, when that process is complete, that the area where the secondary water treatment plant is located will no longer be located in the floodplain.
In other business, commissioners contributed $5,000 to the Historic Fallon Theatre to support the non-profit organization in providing entertainment and meeting space to the community.
They also approved a bid to Hammond Construction of $66,829 to modify the entryway at 270 S. Maine Street, where the new Social Services office will be located.
Commissioners meet the first Thursday of each month at 8:15 a.m. and the third Wednesday at 1:15 p.m. at 155 N. Taylor Street.
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