Steve Walsh
Figuring out what to do next after the sudden resignation of Public Administrator Steve Walsh will be Douglas County commissioners biggest task when they meet on Monday.
In addition to formally accepting Walsh’s resignation, commissioners will discuss how to handle the public administration of estates in Douglas County.
The county could either decide to appoint a new public administrator to serve out the remainder of Walsh’s term or choose to abolish the elected office entirely.
Should commissioners decide to appoint a new public administrator, that person’s term would expire Jan. 4, 2027, and the office would be up for election in 2026.
However, should the county commission decide to abolish the position, they would need to either contract for services or hire someone to do the job.
In Nevada public administrators are generally paid from the estate or beneficiaries of a person who died without a will. That means the office doesn’t draw a county salary, unlike other elected constitutional officers.
State law allows the county to pay a public administrator whether the person is elected or selected, though no salary is set in state law.
That would have to be fixed by the 2025 Nevada Legislature should the county seek to pay an elected administrator.
Having the administrator paid by the county would see all fees and commissions collected in the performance of the administrator’s duties paid into the county treasury.
While county commissioners determine what direction they’d like to take, Assistant County Manager Wendy Lang is suggesting Community Services Director Brook Adie perform those duties on an emergency and temporary basis.
“It is anticipated most expenses will be covered by the assets of various estates,” Lang said in her report. “Staff may seek … adjusted opening balance funds to pay for any expenses not covered by decedents’ estates.”
Adie would serve as a point of contact to deal with any immediate action or an emergency. She would be authorized to petition the district court to serve as a special administrator in limited situations.
County commissioners meet 10 a.m. Monday at the Douglas County Courthouse, 1616 Eighth St., Minden.
The first commission meeting of the year takes place on the first Monday of the year under state law.
• County commissioners are being asked to approve a $1.13 million contract to implement new county permitting software between Feb. 1 and June 30, 2030, and to terminate the county’s participation in the current system effective June 30.
• An ordinance approving a zoning map amendment for five acres from agriculture to general commercial is scheduled to be introduced on Monday. The site is located north of Zerolene behind the former COD Garage showroom in Minden. Commissioners may also discuss a master plan amendment at the site.
