Pahrump Valley Gazette. Thursday, September 4, 1997 9
County OK's $58,500 salary for 15 hours per week
by Brent Mathewson
Ask, and you shall receive. That was the message Nye
County ConsultanL Stephen Bradhurst, was left with by the
time the Nye County Commission adjourned their meeting
in Pahrump on August 19, 1997.
By a vote of 4..1 the commission approved item 9-F
which was a request by Bradhurst to the County to increase
his rate of compensation from $45 per hour to $75 per hour.
While casting the lone dissenting vote, Commissioner
Cameron McRae alluded to reservations he had as to whether
the position was worth the amount presently being paid.
Bradhurst was not present at the meeting but had earlier
submitted his request in writing. Upon examination, the written
request appears to include statements that shade the truth by a
large margin. A person could be forgiven for wondering if
some statements made are nothing more than a deliberate
attempt to provide misinformation to the commission and/or
he public at large. As examples consider the following:
Bradhurst first addresses the fiscal impact to Nye County
should he receive his sought for 67 percent pay hike. He says
that presently his work for Nye County involves directing
the tri-county (Lincoln, Nye and White Pine Counties)
water planning program. He then says his existing contract
calls for Nye county to compensate him at a rate of $45 per
hour, plus travel expenses. His proposed contract amend-
ment calls for Nye county to compensate him at a rate of $75
per hour, plus travel expenses. Bradhurst estimates ttaat he
will work 15 hours a week during the fiscal year implement-
ing the tri-county water planning program. In his words and
I quote; "Hence 60 hours a month and 720 hours in a year.
720 hours at $45 per hour is $32,400, and 720 at $75 is
$54,000. The difference in one year is $21,600, and Nye
County would pay one-third or $7,200. The fiscal year 97-
98 Tri-county water planning budget has the requisite funds
to cover the increase in compensation." end of quote.
Some people don't like reading figures and get lost when
doing so. In any event, most reasonable people after reading
Bradhurst's statement are left with the distinct impression
that in granting his request for a pay increase it would cost
Nye county $7,200 and that it is a budgeted item for fiscal
year 97-98.
What the reader needs to understand is that all these
figures that Bradhurst goes into in such detail have little to
do with what Bradhurst will be paid by the county in fiscal
year 97-98. Bradhurst's contract with the county was al-
ready broad-based and with an amendment to it approved by
the Commission o0 August 19, 1997 became more so. It now
reads that he will provide, "Technical and management
assistance as requested by Nye County." There is certainly
nothing in there that limits his ability to work only on the tri-
county water planning program and nothing to indicate that
his activities for the county will be so limited.
It is a safe bet that the hours worked charged to Nye County
by Bradhurst in fiscal year 97-98 will approximate those that
he charged in fiscal year 96-97. His close relationship with the
NyJe County Manager, Les Bradshaw, and his close political
ties with people in positions of political power throughout
Nye County'would seem to deem nothing less. Perhaps if you
just fell off a turnip truck you may disagree.
Interestingly enough, in fiscal year 96-97 Mr. Bradhurst
billed Nye County, and was reimbursed by Nye County, at
an average rate of 15 hours per week. 15 hours per week
times 52 weeks a year is 780 hours. In fiscal year 96-97 Mr.
Bradhurst was paid, out of Nye County account #101-111-
52318-326 sub 1901, exactly $35,092.50, plus travel ex-
penses. At $45 per hour this amount equals 779 hours and 50
minutes. I for one am grateful that he didn't charge us for the
Call 24 hours 727-1888
V
] Crematmn
I 00irect Burial
Includes: Removal from Place of death, preparation of Death
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P.O. Box 6000 • Suite 96 • 1161 L Rd. #2
Pahrun'. Nevada 89041
OOOOOOOO#OOOOOOOOO•OOOOOOO0
• Name: •
el,
Address: •
• City: ................ State: ____ Zip: ......... .e
• Phone: .................. Free Membership
• Please rush me witfl obligation Vote n for:
• [}Cremation [ ]Burial L?JScattering •
additional 10 minutes. With the county's population at
approximately 35,000, I do however, have to wonder whether
I got my dollar's worth.
At $75 per hour Bradhurst's cost to the county for fiscal
year 97-98 should come in at right around $58,500 for this
part time job of his. Time will tell, and tell it must. Oh, by
the way, the above mentioned Nye County account #101-
111-52318-326 was budgeted for fiscal year 96-97 at
$48,000. Bradhurst was one of three entities that drew from
the account during that time. The account ran 123.5 percent
($59,311.51) over budget and ended the year expending
$107,311.51 of taxpayer funds.
One can't help but ask the obvious question. Was
Bradhursfs written statement nothing less than a blatant
attempt to delude, misinform and conceal a $23,000 ex-
pense to the county that will go directly into his pocket?
Bradhurst's request received the enthusiastic support of
Nye County Manager, Les Bradshaw. It is not felt that the
county manager needs the assistance of a high priced con-
sultant in order to conduct activity of this type.
That is this man's opinion.
copyright 1997 by Brent Mathewson
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