In the Town of Mammoth Lakes, government moves on. When the Town Council meets Wednesday night, they will introduce their new Interim Town Manager Dan Holler, who comes to work for Mammoth after mostly undisclosed differences with his former City, Grass Valley.
Holler worked as Grass Valley City Administrator for more than five years, which was a time of extremely difficult financial problems. News reports in Grass Valley say that Holler resigned recently after an employee evaluation in closed session. City officials said they and Holler moved in different directions. Mr. Holler spoke with Sierra Wave Media and said only that it was a mutual choice and time to move on.
His comment echoes some Mammoth Town Council members remarks after the resignation of former Town Manager Marianna Marysheva-Martinez. While change seems to be going around, the issue of Mr. Holler’s former employment did not impact the Mammoth Town Council’s selection of him as Interim Manager.
Councilman Matthew Lehman said of all the candidates the Council interviewed, Mr. Holler “fits the bill.” Lehman said the first step for the Interim Manager is to stabilize Town government and then find out what the community and Council want in a permanent Town Manager. He called that a priority after stabilization.
Councilwoman Jo Bacon said that Mr. Holler’s previous employment was discussed during the interview. As a personnel matter, she said, she would not comment further. Bacon said Mr. Holler’s agreement up for approval tonight is month-to-month. She said recruitment for a permanent Town Manager would begin soon. Bacon said, “Council will first look closely at what our needs are, how the community will be involved in the selection and how to run the recruitment.”
Mr. Holler said he expects to meet with Council members and department heads to develop a plan. He said building a “solid team” is important. Holler acknowledged that most communities have gone through hard economic times. He has experience dealing with that. Holler said the Grass Valley budget was around $12 million when he arrived, and he was able to reduce it to just over $10 million. Again, an echo of Mammoth’s recent experience. Holler will work full-time for $158,000 per year. He is living in the Town condo. His wife, Claudia, remains in Grass Valley where she works as a teacher’s aide.
The Council’s agenda says they will introduce Mr. Holler early in the meeting and then under Policy Matters actually appoint him.
A ten million dollar budget for a town of only twelve thousand isn’t bad. Ridgecrest has about the same general fund budget with more than double the population of Grass Valley.
Also, how about the Inyo County budget of $80 million for a population of a static 18,000.
Benett Kessler
Apples and oranges. Counties have a different tax base than cities and receive different transfer funds from state and Federal sources than cities do. Ridgecrest largest employer pays no property taxes nor do they generate any other form of tax revenues for the city, leaving the city relatively under funded… Read more »
Also have to compare costs such as roads and bridges, courthouses, jails, parks, and other services.