Commissioners set a hearing for a bill that would reduce costs for developers to build multifamily housing in an effort to encourage development of needed housing in the community. The ordinance would change the water right dedication requirement from 1.12 acre feet to .56 on unit density, along with reducing the water connection fees based on unit density. A public hearing on the bill was set for November 18th.
Chris Rogne presented information regarding two insurance policies necessary for the construction of the new Civic Center. The premium for the general liability policy for the cost of the project is $52,489, and the cost of the premium for the course of construction policy will be $12,715. Chris Rogne from E.H. Hursh presented information on the two policies.
Owners of a 30-acre development project, Duane R. South were granted an extension of their time to file a final map for the development of one-acre lots in the area of Thornbird Drive, of five years.
Jorge Guerrero, director of facilities, parks, and recreation director asked commissioners to advise the Parks and Recreation Commission on the issue of establishing a noise curfew in the rental contracts in the Facility Rental Guidelines for the facilities at the Regional Park. Currently there are no requirements in the agreements that prevent noise, and neighbors are directed to make complaints to the Sheriff’s office. Commissioners directed Guerrero to lead the Parks and Recreation Commission in adding this language to the rental contracts.
Commissioners agreed to contract with JNA Consulting Group, LLC to manage the issuance of bonds through a competitive process to fund the Civic Center. JNA Consulting will provide oversight, obtain bids, and work with bond counsel to issue revenue bonds to finance approximately $6 million. The bid process is intended to result in better interest rate than going directly through a bank.
County Manager Jim Barbee presented the county response to COVID, saying there has been a significant uptick over the past two weeks in the number of positive cases. During the week of October 26th there had been 206 positives since March, “a week and a half later we’re sitting at 350 positives almost a doubling of our number entirely,” he said. Four people are currently hospitalized, and one is in the Intensive Care Unit. “Because we have been doing a significant volume of testing we are able to keep our positivity rate down, but this is not unique to our community, all across the state we’re seeing an increase in numbers.”
The county is still providing community testing Tuesday afternoons and Thursday mornings. Barbee said they are working to create heating for staff who are working at the fairgrounds doing the testing. He will meet with the Governor’s Task Force next week, and could potentially see some directives out of the governor’s office restricting some of the activities we’ve seen in the past.
Chairman Pete Olsen expressed concerned for staff who are out in the elements during the community testing. Commissioner Carl Erquiaga suggested the use of a splicing tent that CC Communications uses which may provide cover for staff to warm up. According to Barbee, heaters are set to arrive next week, and walls were installed this week on the overhead shade facility. They are also looking at using RVs to keep staff warm.
The contract for the civil work to get the Civic Center project started was awarded to A&K Earth Movers in the amount of $1,750,000. This will allow concrete to be poured by February. Lumos and Associates has been working on the design and civil portion of the project, and the bidding process for the civil work was recently opened up, with A&K Earth Movers submitting the lowest bid.
Commissioners considered and approved the issuance of tax-exempt obligation bonds to reimburse the county from proceeds of the bonds as a financing tool to help fund the construction of the Civic Center.
They also heard a presentation regarding an application to the State from Ormat for an abatement on the sales and use tax as well as the property tax on the Dixie Meadows Power Plant. Ben Shawcroft, chief civil deputy district attorney, said that although by NRS the county does not have the legal basis to deny the applications nor the approval authority, the recommendation of “no action” was made. Although the application does technically meet the criteria for the abatement, by taking “no action” in effect that is a protest because the state generally approves these applications.
“We have always tried to protest these types of applications because of the significant impact it has on our local revenue and economy,” said Shawcroft, “if you decide to take no action that is a way of not approving it, but it will be approved anyway at the state level.”
Commissioners denied the request by Ormat.
Geof Stark presented information regarding, and commissioners approved the conversion of two part-time custodians into one full-time custodian for the facility and grounds department. The main reason for this is to provide flexibility due to the increase in COVID requirements with the addition of the Northside Center and the new public defender’s office.
The next meeting of the commission will be November 18th at 1:15 p.m.
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