North Las Vegas hires city manager

By Aida Ahmed

Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011 | 5:29 p.m.

North Las Vegas officials announced today that Timothy Hacker will replace Acting City Manager Maryann Ustick.

Ustick, who has held her position since 2009, accepted an offer to be city manager of Destin, Fla., this week pending the negotiation of her contract. (Assistant to the City Manager Michelle Bailey-Hedgepeth left the city to pursue another job opportunity last week, and former City Attorney Nicholas Vaskov resigned in July citing the city’s “political environment.”)

Hacker was city manager of Mesquite, a city of 16,000, for five years until he was voted out by the City Council without cause in May. Before that he served as a city manager in Kewanee, Ill., for nine years.

The City Council plans to take action on Hacker’s appointment at its Sept. 21 regular meeting, pending final contract negotiations.

Mayor Shari Buck said in a news release today that she is confident Hacker will improve the city’s financial situation.

“Tim’s knowledge and experience in Nevada will serve us well as we build partnerships with other entities, policymakers and constituents to move forward on important issues in our community,” Buck said.

The change in city manager comes amid tough economic times for the city, where the council recently voted to impose more layoffs and to close recreation centers as it tries to close a $4.4 million budget deficit. The city manager position pays a base salary of $169,850.