EPHRATA — Grant County PUD commissioners agreed today to extend the paid administrative leave of General Manager Tim Culbertson by a week to July 10.

Culbertson is under investigation for an unspecified, personnel-related matter.

He was placed on administrative leave Sunday, June 17, after commissioners met in executive session in Seattle, where three of the five were attending a public power conference.

Executive sessions are closed to the public.

According to the minutes of the meeting, the three adjourned the session at 4:30 p.m.

When they reconvened at 8 p.m., the two absent commissioners were looped in by teleconference. They all participated in a series of executive sessions separated by short breaks until 9:35 p.m., when they unanimously agreed to put Culbertson on leave.

The original leave was set to expire July 3. An outside investigator is reviewing the matter.

Commission President Tom Flint has declined to comment until after the investigation is over on whether the matter could cost Culbertson his job.

Culbertson, 61, was hired in 2000 as manager of power marketing and operations. He became interim general manager in 2004, when former general manager Don Goddard resigned. Culbertson was appointed general manager in March 2004.

Christine Pratt: 665-1173

pratt@wenatcheeworld.com