Clark Public Utilities CEO gets salary bump

The Clark Public Utilities Board of Commissioners voted to raise General Manager Wayne Nelson’s salary from $263,000 to $270,000, a 2.66 percent increase that was effective July 1.

According to a news release from the utility, commissioners use multiple surveys of executive salaries at comparable utilities regionally and nationally to set a salary range. Even after the salary increase, Nelson’s salary is below the midpoint of his position’s salary range, the utility said.

In the news release, Nancy Barnes, president of the Clark Public Utilities Board of Commissioners, said Nelson has a reputation within the utility for doing what’s right for customers and operating efficiently with a lean staff.

“Those things don’t happen by accident. They’re a reflection of solid, effective leadership by Mr. Nelson and his consistently high standards,” she said.

Aside from the raise, the board also approved 100 hours of Nelson’s accumulated sick leave be converted to annual leave. His $400 monthly car allowance was unchanged.

Nelson has been the utility’s general manager since January 1999. The commissioners have voted to raise his compensation effective in July annually since 2011 after a voluntary wage freeze. His last salary increase was effective July 2015.