Churchill County Commissioners met last week in a regular meeting and approved a plan to provide work to improve wells and pumps at the county-owned Wild Goose Ranch. According to Chris Mahannah, consultant to the county on water issues, the wells provided the original water that was transferred to Sand Creek and became the start of the county municipal water system. The existing irrigation pivots use a network of wells that may at some time in the future become an important part of the potential municipal and industrial water supply for the community.
The existing lease requires the county to pay for all capital improvements which includes the wells and pumps. Some of the wells/pumps have not been performing to proper standards during the past irrigation season which prompted an investigation into their condition. This investigation disclosed several issues which were presented by Chris Mahannah, with a plan to perform rehabilitate or replace certain wells. Commissioners authorized the improvements to the wells and pumps. The plan will require authorization of the expenditure of no more than $90,000.
Commissioners heard a presentation from Valerie Serpa regarding a support request for the Arts Council in the amount of $8,000 . The commissioners will notify her after the budgeting process as to what amount of support will be available.
Marie Henson, county building official made a presentation regarding the need for multi-family housing throughout the community. The county has purchased 26 acres on Coleman Road with the purpose of attracting development to help alleviate the current housing shortage in this area. One of the barriers expressed by developers to building on this parcel is the fact that any housing built on this property would require service from both the County Water and Wastewater Systems.
`To determine the feasibility and cost of constructing water and wastewater lines to this parcel, Churchill County has solicited a proposal from Shaw Engineering. Shaw Engineering is under contract with the County to act as the Churchill County Engineer of Record. Depending on the cost of the construction, Churchill County may be submitting applications to various State and Federal agencies for grant or loan funding, but those agencies require a Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) and Environmental Report (ER) as part of their funding process and consideration.
The Shaw Engineering proposal was available and detailed the scope of work that will be performed including a full needs assessment, identifying the best alternatives for the infrastructure, determining future costs to maintain the infrastructure, preparing the PER, completing an Environmental Review of the project area and preparing an ER report consistent with funding agency requirements.
Commission Chairman, Pete Olsen added that this parcel also allows the county to have a transportation corridor that would funnel traffic in a safer manner.
County Manager Jim Barbee said the county has applied for a build grant through the Department of Transportation for $8.5 million to fund the entire project. Having this report would facilitate future funding possibilities to receive outside funding for the project, addressing the need for workforce housing. Commissioners approved Shaw Engineering's Proposal to provide the engineering services to develop a Preliminary Engineering Report for the county-owned Coleman Road property offsite water and wastewater infrastructure for $55,000.
Jim Barbee presented information regarding the COVID response and the county transition from a focus on community testing to providing vaccines. The county is working on the Tier 1 requirements and moving into the Tier 2 vaccines including a drive-thru vaccine clinic for those age 70 and over. To date the county has vaccinated 582 individuals, in addition to the vaccines provided at Banner Hospital and NAS Fallon.
The county continues to receive grant funding from the state in the amount of $836,000 which is supplying money for personnel to meet the community needs in response to COVID. Barbee said the county has also purchased a van, SUV, and a car to provide COVID services. The van is a fully stocked testing and vaccination pod in itself and will be mobilized to serve those who cannot get to Banner or the fairgrounds on their own for services.
Additionally, staff is waiting on the final equipment for the new state extension laboratory located in the County Annex building.
Commissioners also approved the request to authorize Sheriff Richard Hickox to dispose of firearms which were confiscated under NRS 202.340. Ben Shawcroft, Civil District Attorney explained in the absence of the Sheriff that Hickox normally destroys the firearms. Olsen said in the past the firearms are in poor condition and are not marketable, which was confirmed by Under-Sheriff Bill Lawry. “Our major concern is if we sell those and they’re used in a crime again, it’s a moral thing. Some of them were used in suicides and people don’t want them back, we’ve always just destroys them,” he said.
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