IVGID moves to terminate new GM Kent Walrack

Rob Galloway / Tahoe Daily Tribune
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – The Incline Village General Improvement District (IVGID) board voted to terminate new General Manager Kent Walrack’s leadership just six weeks into his term. The motion was passed 4-0 with Trustee Ray Tulloch, who initially voted in favor of Walrack’s appointment, abstaining. The board also passed a motion to extend an offer of employment to previous candidate Robert Harrison.
Walrack’s short-term has been riddled with controversy since it began. He was previously appointed general manager with a 3-2 vote in November. However, that vote was led by two outgoing trustees, replaced by two trustees who were not in favor.
Concerns over lack of financial background
The start of the meeting was standing room only, with most audience seats filled and a small crowd gathered in the lobby of the IVGID office. The board discussion opened with Chair Michaela Tonking, citing concerns over Walrack’s qualifications in government finance. Regarding his performance in his first weeks, Tonking also noted what she saw as a lack of sufficient engagement with staff and trustees.
Trustee Dave Noble cited similar concerns over his “lack of government management and lack of government finance background.”
“In any other situation where we were not facing serious financial issues, Mr. Walrack might be the best person for this job,” said Noble.
Noble, who in the previous week’s meeting proposed a termination of Walrack’s contract, referred to the initial decision as a failure. “Every time the previous board dealt with the general management position, it basically ended up in a failure of one form or another, and to me it was no different in their last actions of hiring Kent,” he said.
Tulloch slams move
Trustee Ray Tulloch, however, voiced his disagreement with the move. “I’d like to go on record here saying this is one of the craziest decisions I’ve ever seen from this board,” he said. “Don’t forget that what they’re doing is spending $260,000 plus of taxpayer money just to satisfy their own desires.”
Despite a majority of the board not in favor of Walrack, several members of the public still arrived to voice their support for Walrack and to oppose his termination.
Jim Lyon called the move “sheer madness and in direct contradiction to you [the board’s] campaign promises to bring about normality to the board.” Lyon additionally praised Walrack’s performance during his term.
Trustees floated an offer of an 18-month contract with a salary of $250,000 and a maximum of a six-month severance. IVGID staff is set to return with a new contract agreement on or before January 29.

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