Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Entsminger wins official appointment as Water District general manager

Las Vegas Valley Water District Meeting

Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun

John Entsminger talks to the media after being named the new general manager for the Las Vegas Valley Water District Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014.

John Entsminger has been hired officially as the next general manager of the Las Vegas Valley Water District after Clark County commissioners approved an employment contract today.

Entsminger, who was tapped last month to replace outgoing water czar Pat Mulroy, will receive $260,000 per year in base salary plus health, longevity and other benefits under the terms of the contract.

Entsminger will receive an annual review each January, at which time he’ll be eligible for a 5 percent raise, according to the contract.

Commissioners, sitting as the Las Vegas Valley Water District board, unanimously approved the contract this morning.

Entsminger’s contract with the Las Vegas Valley Water District will also cover his role serving as general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority. Although the two agencies are separate entities with their own staffs, budgets and governance, Mulroy has held the top job at both since the SNWA was formed in 1991, a practice that Entsminger will continue.

Entsminger joined the Water District’s legal department in 1999 after graduating from the University of Colorado Law School and has spent his entire career with the district.

His early work covered everything from human resources to purchasing contracts. Eventually he found himself dealing with complex Colorado River water laws, including several landmark agreements completed in the latter part of the decade.

Mulroy, who had a contract that paid her $310,134 annually in salary and benefits, had supported Entsminger as her preferred successor since announcing her retirement in September.

Today also marked the last meeting with Mulroy serving as general manager, a post she’s had for 25 years. Her official retirement date is Thursday.

“I’ve been incredibly blessed having had the opportunity to serve you and to serve the community,” Mulroy told commissioners. “With that, as the little German girl who made this her home, I just want to say thank you.”

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