EPHRATA - Grant County PUD commissioners unanimously approved a five-year employment contract with General Manager Tim Culbertson.

The proposed contract includes a $15,000 bonus for the first three years "as an incentive for continued employment," and a year's severance pay if he is terminated, according to the contract.

The bonus is in addition to Culbertson's annual salary of $275,888, which does not increase.

Before he voted, commission President Randy Allred said he was "kind of the holdout."

A change to the contract's earlier version convinced Allred to vote for the new version, which doesn't allow Culbertson raises with other nonunion employees, Allred told the Columbia Basin Herald.

"After thinking about it hard, I decided there were enough benefits where he didn't feel like he had to get political in his decision making," Allred said. "I think it's best for the county, to not have any major changes of that nature."

During the meeting, commissioner Bob Bernd said it took quite a bit of compromise on all parties parts to reach this agreement.

"I would really hope it would be unanimous, that we could endorse this and the longer term leadership it could bring to our district," Bernd said.

Commissioner Terry Brewer said he has been a proponent of an agreement.

"We have expectations a manager is going to be here for a defined period," Brewer said.

From talking to recruiters, Brewer said people like Culbertson are being recruited all the time for their expertise.

"I think it is the right thing to do for stability, for the utility and for the things we have moving down the pike," commissioner Tom Flint said. "We're well served by Tim and it will give us added longevity to his services, which I think is the right thing to do."

The agreement also provides a $500 monthly vehicle allowance to Culbertson, which is "less costly" than providing him with an automobile, the contract states.

He has the option of using vehicles from the district's fleet, but chose not to because of district policies requiring he check the vehicle out and not take it overnight, Bernd told the Columbia Basin Herald.

Culbertson often attends evening meetings and it is faster for him to drive directly home.

During the day, "He often needs to leave his office and go somewhere from the PUD fairly regularly," Bernd said. "Our anticipation is that it will free up a car. We have a growing need for people in the natural resource area and some of our information folks to travel to hydro and to other offices."

When Culbertson travels outside Grant County, he is encouraged to take a district vehicle.