Two more candidates for Lyon County manager to be interviewed

Not completely satisfied with the four candidates for Lyon County manager they saw on May 3, the commissioners have asked that two more be brought in for interviews.

Human Resources Director Steve Englert said at the commission meeting Thursday there were two additional qualified candidates for the position.

He declined to identify them until he obtained a waiver from each, but said they were from out of town and both agreed to come to Yerington for interviews.

The commissioners also directed Englert to continue advertising for the position.

The manager's job became available after the Feb. 15 firing of Donna Kristaponis.

As with the first four - Jerry McKnight, of Fallon; Lionel "Lon" Bushey, of Wisconsin; Ron Stock, of Florida; and Jim Park, of Gardnerville - these two will first be interviewed by a panel of top elected and appointed officials in the county.

The previous panel was made up of Planning Director Rob Loveberg, Human Services Director Edrie LaVoie, Utilities Department Director Mike Workman, Road Manager Gary Fried, Clerk-Treasurer Nikki Bryan, Comptroller Josh Foli and Jeroen Wynands of the Lyon County Sheriff's Department.

After meeting with the candidates and reviewing their resumes, the panel recommended the commissioners continue recruiting for the position.

Englert said he would prefer to wait until he had four qualified applicants, but that the number of applications coming in had slowed.

Commissioner Larry McPherson said he wanted to keep open the option of calling the top two candidates interviewed previously for the manager job. The top two, according to the panel's recommendations, were Park and Bushey.

"If it has slowed down, there are not enough interested people for this position," McPherson said.

Commissioner Bob Milz said he liked Bushey, but added "he didn't interview well with us."

"I'm not sure we had any shining stars," Englert replied.

Englert said it will take 30 to 60 days to complete the interview process, but that the two would appear at the June 7 meeting.

Current interim manager Bob Hadfield said he is willing to stay on as commissioner until a replacement is found, even though his contract expires next month.

The commissioners had the option of hiring a professional search firm, but that the cost would be upwards of $30,000.

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