Dallaire named Gardnerville manager

The word "acting" has been removed from the official title of the Gardnerville manager/engineer.

On Tuesday, town board members voted unanimously to make Tom Dallaire Gardnerville's permanent chief officer with an annual salary of $80,000. Originally hired as an engineer, Dallaire assumed the duel duties of manager and engineer when Jim Park left in March.

"For three months, it's been a huge learning experience for me," Dallaire told board members. "I'm working hard trying to figure out the role."

Dallaire requested the town subcontract with a local draftsman, for about $45-75 an hour, to help complete road, sidewalk, storm drain and water rights plans. He said the manager job is consuming much of his work day, leaving little time for engineer drawings.

"Do you want the job?" asked board member Paul Lindsay. "If you don't want the job, I don't want to lose you as an engineer."

Dallaire told board members he wanted the manager/engineer position, but that he needed drafting support to move projects forward.

"I have confidence you can do the town manager job, but I don't want to burn you out," Lindsay said.

Board member Michael Philips was absent for the vote.

n According to Dallaire, the town's health and sanitation account is currently underfunded by approximately $13,000, prompting discussion of another round of rate increases and/or cost-saving measures.

Last summer, the town board approved a staggered 3.5 percent rate increase to raise an additional $26,657 annually for capital reserves. However, Dallaire said depreciation has not been sufficiently accounted for, and that the lousy economy has not helped.

"We have had small rate increases twice in the last year and a half," he wrote in a memo. "But with people losing their homes and businesses either going out of business or cutting down on their service, those small rate increases have really not helped out a lot."

Dallaire said the residential trash program does not pay for itself and is being subsidized by the commercial portion. He presented three options for residential trash: a rate increase of 7 percent; charging all residential customers whether or not they're in the house; and charging $4 per quarter for an extra can.

He also floated the idea of a commercial rate increase of 2.67 percent.

Board member Jerry Smith said he didn't want to charge residents for a second can and preferred a staggered-increase approach.

"Our customers and homeowners are being hit," he said.

On the other hand, Paul Lindsay said residents felt like they were getting "nickel-and-dimed" with the staggered increase.

"I'd rather do it sooner than later," he said. "I don't want to wait to raise rates and then in January be in a worse position."

To cut expenses, Dallaire said the town has not replaced a vacant position. Furthermore, they're dumping loads at the Carson City Landfill rather than the Douglas County Transfer Station.

"That's our biggest ticket item," he said. "It's going to help with the upcoming year."

Even with higher gas and labor costs, Carson's $50-a-ton charge is a lot cheaper than Douglas' $93.80-a-ton charge, Dallaire said. Comparing last year's numbers, he said the town could have saved roughly $83,000 by dumping in Carson.

No action was taken Tuesday as the board is looking to further discuss the matter.

n Gardnerville is also trying to get rid of a feral cat feeding station on Eddy Street that neighbors say is drawing unwanted skunks, raccoons and birds into the neighborhood.

According to town officials, the feeding station was recently relocated to an empty garage leased by Eddy Street Book Exchange; however, the station itself is handled by the Wylie Animal Rescue Foundation.

"The property owner was shocked to see it there and didn't know anything about it," Dallaire said.

A petition to remove the station, signed by five neighbors, was submitted to the town on June 1.

"It is increasingly apparent that there exists an environmental hazard but also a potential health hazard," the document reads.

Soliciting advice from Carson Creature Catchers, the town received a letter from professional trapper Heather Lackey who said, "Wildlife should never be fed under any circumstances whether we are in discussion about raccoons, skunks or feral cats. The general public is under the impression that feeding wild animals is acceptable; however, it perpetuates problems far beyond making animals dependent on artificial food sources."

Dallaire said the town has been trying to contact the Wylie Animal Rescue Foundation while also getting permission from the property owner to remove the station.