The Churchill County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 4 approved an advanced step placement for a recommended candidate to serve as chief civil deputy district attorney at grade 83, step 12, after more than an hour of debate over recruitment, precedent and budget impacts.

County assistant manager Joe Sanford told commissioners the DA's office recommended the candidate and asked for the higher step placement to make the position competitive. "The fiscal impact of $51,540.52 is from step 1 to step 12," Sanford said while reviewing the budget figures, adding the net near-term effect would be partially offset by savings from the currently vacant position.

Lane, a representative of the district attorney's office, described the candidate's qualifications. "This individual has extensive civil litigation background," Lane said, citing private‑sector construction‑defect work and experience in a Washoe County civil division.

District Attorney Arthur Mallory urged the board to authorize the placement, arguing that without adequate civil capacity the county risks costlier litigation later. "By not providing us the resources that we need, then you're opening up the County to more costly litigation," Mallory said.

Several commissioners said they sympathized with the DA's office but voiced concern about setting a compensation precedent and the effect of an upcoming county compensation study. One commissioner noted the board has not historically placed new hires at step 12 and said the county could face "pay fatigue" or retention issues later.

Sanford and DA staff said the immediate fiscal effect for the current year would be small because of vacancy savings; Sanford presented specific figures showing a per‑year increase (between the prior step and the new step) of $29,866.20 and one‑time/current‑year adjustments based on timing of hire.

After discussion, a motion to approve the advanced step placement passed. The board did not identify the candidate's full hiring paperwork in the public debate but voted to authorize the placement to fill the critical civil‑division vacancy.

Next steps: the county will proceed with the appointment and incorporate the changed salary into next year’s budget cycle as required.