In the regular County Commission meeting last week, Commissioners heard a nuisance complaint brought by Conrad Lowry against his neighbor on Benson Lane, Ken Garcia related to damage to the easement on the Lowry property. After lengthy testimony by both parties as well as several neighbors, commissioners found that there was no nuisance and advised the neighbors to stay away from each other.
Chairman Pete Olsen said because Benson Lane is not a county-maintained road, residents bear the responsibility to privately maintain the road and they do an exemplary job compared to many similar neighborhoods and roads throughout the county, in spite of not getting along.
“You folks have to stay out of each other’s way,” he said. “I don’t ever want to see you people in here again. Continue the good work, keep the road up, but stay away from each other.”
In other business, commissioners agreed to give County Manager Jim Barbee the authority to identify alternate locations for the potential new water treatment plant to better service future development within the community.
Originally, on December 2 of 2021 commissioners approved proceeding with a preliminary engineering report for the new treatment plant to be located at the county-owned property at the corner of Moody and Rice Road. Since that time, according to Chris Spross, public works director, “We’ve come to some unfortunate roadblocks and we thought it might behoove us to look at some alternative areas that would best support our continued growth without more roadblocks.”
Once a location is determined, the preliminary engineering report can then be completed, and that report will then be used to pursue funding to build the treatment plant.
Commissioner Greg Koenig was opposed to the wording giving county manager the authority “to determine the best location of the new water treatment plant.”
Civil Deputy District Attorney assured the board that there would be several steps and agenda items before a site for the treatment plant was actually located, giving commissioners ample opportunity to provide input on the ultimate location of the plant. Language was ultimately suggested by Barbee who explained that once a location is identified the PER is used to pursue funding opportunities through grant programs through federal infrastructure funding. “We did get an earmark in the appropriations bill for $300,000 to pay for the PER,” said Barbee.
Commissioners also approved a renewal of the contract between the county and Strategies 360, the consulting company that has represented the county for the past four years at the Nevada Legislature. Barbee said they have had much success working with the company, represented by Fallon native John Oceguera, including working through some flexibility on enterprise accounts as well as geothermal issues. The contract will run through December 2023 at the rate of $3,500 per month, increasing during the legislative session to $4,000 per month.
Jorge Guerrero, director of Parks and Recreation reported to commissioners that his department is Rebranding the Fairgrounds and Regional Park to name all the facilities and make it easier for the public to book events and meetings, as well as enhance marketing efforts. He said that many of the names were taken from the Churchill County Museum “In Focus Millennial Issue” publication and honor founding members of the community.
The facility grounds have been divided with the Fairgrounds becoming the 3C Events Complex and the Regional Park becoming Oser Regional Park. Alex Oser and his wife Margaret were the original benefactors of the museum, donating the property where it now sits. Other names include Buckland Room, Fairview Arena, Buckmaster Field, along with a tip of the hat to former county manager Eleanor Lockwood, an avid tennis player, by naming the tennis courts on the west side of the Oser Regional Park the Lockwood Tennis Courts.
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