Ely council expands fire‑chief pay range and raises chief, judge and treasurer salaries

The Ely City Council on Aug. 22 approved changes to municipal pay that city leaders said are aimed at retaining experienced staff and aligning local compensation with comparable Nevada jurisdictions.

The council unanimously adopted Resolution 2024‑10 to set the official salary range for the City Fire Chief at $80,000 to $160,000 and later voted unanimously to raise longtime Fire Chief Pat Stork’s salary to $130,000 a year. Councilmembers described the change as necessary to help recruit and retain qualified candidates for a demanding, geographically large emergency‑response area.

"We need to up this salary considerably," Councilwoman Jem‑Lynn Williams‑Harper said during the discussion, arguing the job covers a broad territory and requires skills that merit competitive pay. Councilwoman Samantha Elliott urged a higher top range during debate, saying the area covered by the department supports a more expansive maximum.

Chief Pat Stork told the council he has served the city for decades and noted he is approaching a point at which retirement would be financially feasible. "I probably have two more full years and I'll be maxed out completely on my retirement," Stork said, adding that the city historically has undercompensated many positions.

The council also approved two other personnel pay actions. Councilwoman Elliott moved, and the council unanimously approved, a $2,000 annual increase for Municipal Court Judge Michael Coster (raising his salary from $30,000 to $32,000). Separately, following an annual performance evaluation and debate over workplace conduct and hiring practices, the council endorsed a 3% pay increase for City Treasurer/HR Director Janette Trask; the motion passed 4‑aye with one abstention (Councilman Terrill Trask).

City Treasurer Trask explained the budget can accommodate the increases. During discussion she referenced contingencies and prior negotiations used to determine recommended raises. "I budget contingencies," Trask said when asked whether the increases could be found in the current budget.

City officials cited a survey of other Nevada jurisdictions that showed substantially higher fire‑chief pay in several counties and municipalities. Treasurer Trask provided a salary survey in the meeting packet showing sample ranges including Storey County, Elko County and Elko City.

All actions were taken in open session. The council’s resolution explicitly suspended a code provision limiting salary changes until an ordinance can be adopted, allowing the newly adopted salary range to take effect pending further ordinance action.

The council left other employee compensation questions and union contract provisions for future consideration; some council members urged continued attention to hourly workers’ pay and the city’s overall compensation strategy.