Posted on21 September 2011.
Since his appointment, the shameless Pahrump Town Manager William Kohbarger, has routinely demonstrated laziness, exhibited suspicious decision making and poor leadership.
It is long past due that someone bring the matters to light and hold Mr. Kohbarger accountable. Since the town board appears unwilling or unable to do so, I will.
In this instance, I will highlight the management deficiencies exhibited by Mr. Kohbarger regarding the $900,000 theme park study:
• Failure to require bidding or a request for proposals.
• Failure to ask other agencies for samples of theme park RFPs or bid documents.
• Failure to investigate optional theme park consultants.
• Failure to perform “due diligence” with Don Holbrook, which would have revealed terminations and litigation at previous positions.
• Failure to ask Holbrook for references or work product samples.
• Failure to ask Holbrook if he had experience with theme park studies.
• Failure to report the Eco Park Project Holbrook touts, which is broke and floundering.
• Failure to report that the $7M public bond issue for the Eco Park Project is spent, but Holbrook apparently got his incentive while the project is floundering.
• Failure to determine risks or benefits of hiring Holbrook and to report it to the town board.
• Failure to provide a written recommendation to the town board regarding Holbrook.
• Failure to inform the town board or the community of the $35,000 to 45,000 termination clause.
• Failure to advise the town board of the risk apparent in the “money back guarantee.”
• Failure to post the preliminary theme park report on the town’s website, after pressure from the community was put there.
• Refusal to allow the public release of the preliminary report.
• Failure to schedule workshops for public review and input into the preliminary report.
• Failure to ask for professional input on the preliminary report assumptions and findings.
• Premature release of payment to Holbrook before the report was even reviewed.
• Failure to recognize the report is not complete or worthy of payment.
• Failure to recognize $30M in infrastructure improvements required for the site.
• Failure to recognize the BLM use restrictions in place for the site, but can be changed, which would take three to five years.
• Failure to recognize the absence of adequate water rights for the proposed use.
• Failure to advise the town board of Holbrook’s investment incentives that will bias his opinion of continuing with the project.
• Failure to report that neither the town or Nye County has the where-with-all or the inclination to issue bonds to fund any theme park.
• Failure to report NDOT may never fund improvements on 160 for any project.
While Mr. Kohbarger enjoys his membership with the ICMA, his laziness and miserable management and lack of leadership are obvious to any one paying the least attention.
Mr. Kohbarger has an obligation to employees and residents alike, to perform professionally. There are numerable examples of poor leadership, and even poorer management by Mr. Kohbarger, all of which will be detailed in the immediate future.
However, at this point on these matters alone, Mr. Kohbarger’s continued employment is reckless, unwarranted and disrespectful to the town’s employees, residents and the ICMA.
Moreover, it announces to the town its nightmare with Kohbarger is almost over.
Frank Maurizo
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