Hawkes leaves library board

Jeff Schweers

Friday, March 27, 1998 | 10:05 a.m.

Earl Hawkes resigned this week from the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District Board of Trustees after moving into another library jurisdiction.

Although the move was only a few blocks from his former house, it placed him in the Henderson library district, making him ineligible to serve on the Las Vegas-Clark County board.

"Our legal counsel said to be appointed you have to reside in the district," Hawkes, the director of general services for Clark County, said. "He read the intent to be that you also have to be within the district to serve on the board."

Hawkes resigned Monday after getting the legal opinion from library counsel.

Hawkes said his decision had nothing to do with recent turmoil at the district that led to the departure of executive director Darrell Batson and a vote of no-confidence delivered by disgruntled employees.

"Most of that stuff is over with," Hawkes said.

The board hired an outside management firm of Fair, Anderson and Langerman to manage the district while conducting a search for a new executive director.

"I am not leaving under pressure from anyone," he said. "We did the right thing for the district, and I will miss it."

The library board must place a vacancy on the April 9 agenda to fill the remainder of Hawkes' term, which expires March 1999. The board then will provide a list of recommendations for the County Commission to consider at its April 21 meeting.

The County Commission appoints half the board and the Las Vegas City Council appoints the other half.

Hawkes was appointed to the board in 1993 to finish the unexpired term of Prime Cable General Manager Steve Schorr. Hawkes was reappointed in 1995.

Trustees are appointed to four-year terms and receive a $40 per diem for each meeting they attend.