By Jon Ralston

Monday, Sept. 19, 2011 | 2:41 p.m.

So why would Clark County Commissioner Larry Brown want his colleagues to look at employment contracts for Manager Don Burnette, finance director George Stevens and airport boss Randy Walker?

He isn't saying -- I called but no luck. (UPDATE: Larry Brown called back, said he wants to eliminate all automatic renewals and hopes all three will agree to adjust current contracts. Brown said he wants all contracts to come back to the board for a vote before they can be renewed. makes sense, eh? It's a new world.)

But my intel says this is generally about automatic renewal provisions in the contracts -- they roll over at the end unless commissioners take action -- and about Walker in particular because his automatic renewal would kick in next month. (Burnette's contract expires in January 2014 and Stevens' in December 2013.)

Walker had been expected to retire soon -- he has 32 years of service -- and perhaps after the Terminal 3 project is done next year. My guess is some of the commissioners may want him to agree -- along with the others -- to have the automatic rollover provision taken out. That actually may make sense in these austere times, but make no mistake: Walker has clashed with some of the board members -- remember Steve Sisolak sued the airport and Chris Giunchigliani also has not been Walker-friendly. And could there still be fallout from walker pushing back on that Billy Walters lease deal? Perhaps I am just the suspicious type.

The agenda item

The three contracts

Watch this one tomorrow.