Public administrator files second resignation

County officials hope to start taking applications for the position of public administrator on Dec. 20.

Lynn EnEarl turned in her second resignation for the position to which she was re-elected on Nov. 2.

EnEarl resigned in August effective Dec. 1, but after she won re-election, she was required to resign a second time or take office at the beginning of the year.

In a Dec. 3 letter to the Douglas County Board of Commissioners, EnEarl recognized voters' support.

"I have been honored by the support the citizens of Douglas County have given me in re-electing me as Douglas County Public Administrator," she said. "While I deeply appreciate the confidence the voters have expressed, and the trust which they have reposed in me, I nonetheless resign any term of office to which I have been elected beginning in January 2011."

She said in her letter that it was time to concentrate on her family with her husband, former East Fork Justice of the Peace Jim EnEarl, who also resigned.

"While it is difficult for me to conceive of resigning a position and term which has not yet begun, I nonetheless do not intend to serve as Douglas County Public Administrator."

On Thursday, county commissioners are expected to formally accept EnEarl's resignation and direct the county manager's office to start accepting applications for the job.

Assistant District Attorney Michael McCormick suggested the county plan to make an appointment to the position on Jan. 20, 2011.

Under Douglas County ordinance, the public administrator serves as the administrator of the estate of a deceased person. It is an elected position.

Until Oct. 7, it was linked to the position of public guardian which was in charge of those people who've been declared incompetent and don't have family willing to care for them.

The county appointed Claudette Springmeyer to that position on Dec. 2. Springmeyer is also serving as temporary public administrator until Jan. 1.

County commissioners meet 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Tahoe Transportation Center, 169 Highway 50, in Stateline.