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Incline Village General Improvement District Board discusses process for replacing General Manager

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – On Wednesday, June 26, the Incline Village General Improvement District Board of Trustees held its regularly scheduled board meeting where the Trustees talked about everything from golf play pass rates and recreation fees to Public Works capital improvement projects in its six-page agenda. Despite technical difficulties of people trying to call in their public comment remotely and two Trustees coming in and out of Zoom, there was also a lot of discussion about IVGID’s financial situation and the general improvement district’s ever-changing staff.

One of main General Business items that the board tried to tackle was what to do with filling the newly open General Manager position. Bobby Magee was hired by IVGID in June 2023 to serve as its interim finance director before being appointed to the IVGID general manager position on March 6. Considering Magee put in his letter of resignation on June 7, his intent to depart IVGID after his three-month stint as GM came as a surprise to the board.

Longtime IVGID employee Mike Bandelin had been serving as IVGID’s interim general manager for a year-and-a-half before Magee.



Last winter the board hired an executive manager recruitment firm to help them fill the position. The firm came back with a few viable candidates, but Trustee Ray Tulloch made it clear that he wanted to hire someone more experienced running commercial enterprises in the private sector.

In the spring of 2024, at least one of the finalists withdrew their application, the board decided to stop working with the executive firm, and they promoted Magee to the position.



During that time, the board also changed the GM job description to extend the contract termination clause to 120 days, therefore Magee will leave IVGID on or before October 5, 2024.

“I think all of us were very disappointed to receive the resignation of Mr. Magee, I had high hopes of working together. As a board we need to be reflective and thoughtful [about how to move forward]; this affects all staff and community,” said Trustee Chair Sara Schmitz.

HR Director Erin Feore asked that the board give clear direction on who the board wants to hire for the role, recalling how some trustees wanted a GM with business experience, others with public government experience. When asked, Feore said that a few people have expressed interest in the open general manager position, but she is waiting for direction from the board on filling it before responding.

“Because of our commercial businesses, we need someone who’s strong in that. We need someone who knows how to drive change and handle these operations effectively,” said Tulloch.

Trustee Michaela Tonking pushed back on that a bit, believing that IVGID needs a GM who can work with Washoe County and is well-versed in finding subsidies and suggested perhaps forming a stakeholder group to get feedback on how to proceed.

“Bobby was well versed in public government and where did that get us?” Tulloch prompted.

Magee sat at the end of the table, stone-faced the entire time.

“I don’t think we should use a recruitment firm this time around. What Mr. Magee and Mr. Cripps [Assistant Director of Finance Adam Cripps] walked into this year was a disaster,” Schmitz said. “I know for a fact that Mr. Magee has been working extremely long hours. Do we need to get this cleaned up before handing it over to a manager?” she prompted, explaining how Magee has had to deal with staffing and community issues.

“I think the first step is that we should accept Magee’s October 5th resignation letter. Over the past year, the institutional knowledge that IVGID has lost is a big hit to us,” Trustee Dave Noble chimed in remotely.

Schmitz suggested some reasons as to why Magee chose to leave, and asked Magee if he could confirm what she said. He curtly replied, “I’m not sure I should comment at this time.”

“Is my perception accurate?” Schmitz asked him.

“I think it would be fair to say that this has been more of a challenge than I originally anticipated,” Magee said.

“I don’t know what the right answer is, I just think we need to do something different,” Trustee Matt Dent said remotely.

“I recommend accepting Mr. Magee’s resignation, look at the costs of a recruitment firm, management firm, or consultant,” Tonking said.

Schmitz asked that HR Director Erin Feore look into different kinds of general manager recruitment and consultant firms, and come back to the board as soon as possible, preferably at the July 10th meeting.

“So, I’m hearing that we’re going to throw everything at the wall and see what sticks,” Feore said.

In the public comment period before this general business item, IVGID candidate and Incline Village native Michelle Jezycki asked the board to not spend further money on recruiting a new general manager and suggested utilizing IVGID’s own HR to find a practical replacement. “The board said that the general manager had to live in the area, then hired someone who didn’t. I don’t think this [GM recruitment process] is fair or productive,” Jezycki said.

IVGID Board Talks Finances During the Treasury Report

When IVGID Assistant Director of Finance Adam Cripps gave the treasury report, Tulloch talked about payroll.

“We’re consistently overshooting our payroll budget. We increased wages and benefits by 15% and if we can’t live within that then we have a serious problem,” he said, explaining that he was also concerned with comingling funds by moving revenues around in budgets and paying $25,000 for OpenGov when it’s been non-operational for 18-24 months.

“I’m troubled that we’re over budget on salaries and benefits and under budget on capital expenditures. This is not a sustainable business model,” Schmitz added.

Following up from the Treasury Report, Magee described his process for managing the Fiscal Year 2024/25 District Budget that was set by the Board. Magee said that all IVGID departments have been looking at their budgets with the General Fund in particular.

“Salaries and benefits were $5.4 million for 2023/24, they went up to $5.8 million for 2024/25,” Magee said, adding how his resignation will amount to a cost-burden savings of $151,000 for the district.

Tulloch questioned allocations of IT costs to certain departments, and Magee tried to explain it. Tulloch eventually told Magee, “It doesn’t address costs, just throws the ball over the wall, so you’re saying.”

“We have not made any changes. This is what the board directed us to do and that is what has been done,” Magee said. He also reiterated to the board that per their requests, all IVGID open positions will remain vacant except for two positions under recruitment right now.

Tulloch asked that a freeze be put on promotions, but Schmitz didn’t think that the board should make decisions that hamper the services of the district.

“There are positions that are mission-critical to the district, and we’ve been understaffed in the past,” Schmitz said.

Other Items Discussed

– The board accepted the proposed Veterans Memorial design and location in a 4-1 vote. Tonking had some concerns about the location of the memorial taking away parking spots but was assured that there would be another chance to review the location down the line.

– Baker Tilly completed its agreement with IVGID on acting as its special advisor for the parks and recreation department on June 28, 2024, and a new IVGID Parks and Recreation Director is coming on board July 22, 2024. Trustees Tulloch and Schmitz believe that parks and recreation fees should be raised to address inflation.

– Interim Director of Public Works Kate Nelson asked the board to review and discuss proposed sewer and water rate increase scenarios and adjustments to the fee schedule. The options are as follows:

Alternative 1: As originally proposed on April 24, 2024, per Board’s Request of using Year 2 Rates from the 2023 Study

Alternative 2: Water Rates Based on Year 3 of the 2023 Study (except admin fee remains at Year 2 levels); Sewer Rates Remain at Year 2 Levels

Alternative 3: Alternative 1 with Additional Flat Fee for Reserve Fund.

Alternative 4: Alternative 2 with Additional Flat Fee for Reserve Fund.

Alternatives 2 and 4 would generate the most revenue; Alternative 3 would raise customers’ base rate the most (the base rate is currently $106.03 in FY2024). Dent, Schmitz and Tulloch liked Alternative 2; Tonking favored Alternative 2 or 3; Nelson suggested Alternative 3 or 4.

“I like alternative 3; I just don’t want staff living in the mistakes of others,” Tonking said.

“I would rip the band aid off honestly and go with alternative 3 or 4,” Nelson said. “The longer you delay a rate change, the further you’ll get behind. Staff recommendation is to get [the budget] to at least zero.”


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