Douglas County manager resigns

By Kathryn Reed

Douglas County Manager Steve Mokrohisky has tendered his resignation, with his last day slated for April 11.

Like his predecessor, Mokrohisky is headed to Oregon. He will be the top guy in Lane County, whose county seat is Eugene. It’s much larger than Douglas County, with 350,000 residents and 2,100 employees and the county includes the University of Oregon. Douglas County has less than 50,000 residents.

Steve Mokrohisky’s last day as Douglas County manager is April 11. Photo/Provided

It’s also a county in need of some help. The budget has been hit because of lack of timber revenue and the last administrator was fired for inappropriate operations.

These are the types of challenges Mokrohisky embraces.

“They are enticing to me,” Mokrohisky said of the obstacles ahead of him. “I got into public service 15 years ago because I wanted to make communities better than they were.”

He told Lake Tahoe News, “Douglas County is in a good position. I felt it was an OK time to step away and the organization and community will continue to function well.”

Mokrohisky was hired in February 2009 as assistant county manager. He has been county manager since July 2011.

He is proud of the work he’s done in the last five years. He points to the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Regional Plan being adopted, Douglas County’s area plan at the lake, trails in the ground, a vision for the South Shore, the community center in the valley, transformation of the Minden airport and a balanced budget as some of the accomplishments during his tenure.

“It’s important for people to be reminded that transformative periods for communities or organizations are not the result of one person at the top,” Mokrohisky said.

County Commissioner Nancy McDermid said, “It’s a blow for us to lose him. He is at his peak.”

McDermid said Douglas was competitive with salary, but understands Mokrohisky wanting a bigger stage to work on.

Mokrohisky said he struggled with the decision to leave – for professional and personal reasons. He’s married with two young daughters. He and wife believe now would be a better time to move than later. Mokrohisky also knows city and county managers don’t often have longevity in a community.

“The people are what I will miss most. I’ve been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support in this community. I’ve made lifelong friends. We did not come here five years ago thinking that we would grow roots,” he said.

The scenery is the second thing he will miss. He was at Heavenly Mountain Resort on Sunday skiing with friends.

With the announcement of his departure just days’ old, the county has not decided what the transition will be.

McDermid said the commissioners will with work with Mokrohisky and county staff to figure out how best to go forward.