Genoa's a hard place to run for office

Another Genoa town manager tendered his resignation on Tuesday, the third in two years to do so.

The Genoa fault is not the only fissure in town, and it seems those tidal forces are nothing compared to those tugging on the position of town manager.

Tom Peters was well qualified to do the job and seemed to take to it like a duck to water. But he said he felt the divisions that characterize the town would make it difficult for him to be effective in shepherding it into the future.

Chief among those divisions are the very real chasm between what people of the town want and what they need.

Many of Genoa's residents are retirees seeking a quiet place to enjoy their golden years. However, as Nevada's oldest town, Genoa is also a popular tourist destination.

The conflict between visitors and townspeople is an old one and isn't likely to go away anytime soon.

Exacerbating the issue is the fact that Genoa capitalizes on its popularity to make money. The town earns money by renting the town hall and the town church for events. But the real moneymaker is the annual Candy Dance, two days when the town's population increases a hundredfold.

The problem for the town manager is that he works for the Genoa Town Board, elected by residents. Any person taking the job would be torn between the desires of residents and the need for revenue.

We believe the county personnel department should include a picture of Jobs Peak with applications for the job, because the next town manager will need the patience of the longsuffering biblical figure to thrive in the position.