Commissioners Conclude Term with Key Decisions and Farewells

In a full meeting last week, Commissioners Bus Scharmann and Justin Heath made their last decisions as commissioners, as their terms come to a close. The next commission meeting will see newly elected Matt Hyde and Eric Blakey seated as new commissioners.

Heath thanked the staff for their hard work and urged the incoming commissioners to focus on bringing affordable housing to the community.

Scharmann commended County Manager Jim Barbee for his work, “Jim is a good county manager, he’s brought a lot of money into this community.”

Barbee expressed his gratitude, saying the commissioners have the lowest paying jobs at the county. “Thank you for believing in the county, this is not the shiniest, most glorious gig in public elected service, and I commend you for your service to the community.”

In other business, commissioners reallocated $500,000 in funds to renovate the Dry Gulch Building at the fairgrounds. Previously, in August 2022, the commission had approved $529,125 to construct a 60-space RV park at the fairgrounds property on Miners Road. However, because the county is now eligible for the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act funding, the county submitted an application to that program for a fairground rehabilitation project and was approved for $32 million.

The SNPLMA funding will cover the cost of the RV park, freeing that funding to make renovations to the Dry Gulch.

As the fairground rehabilitation project under the SNPLMA funding gets underway, there will be limited access to the facilities under renovation, including the Multi-Purpose Building and the Miners Road facilities, but by then the renovated Dry Gulch will be able to absorb many of the activities that are currently scheduled. It is anticipated that the revenue generated by providing a venue during construction will help offset the cost of the project.

Barbee said that there are currently 430 events booked for the 2025 calendar year at the fairgrounds facility. He said that original projections for economic activity into the community this year from the fairgrounds was set at $5 million. “We’re at roughly $12 million this year and estimate that we’ll close at $15 million,” Barbee said.

“We want to get the construction done on the Dry Gulch before June and send events there while the other construction begins. We want to keep events here and not take a chance of losing them to other communities,” he said.

Additionally, there was a revision to the scope of work and budget for the new position of Juvenile Outreach Specialist at Juvenile Probation. Under the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Program and the Attorney General’s office, there was some additional funding in the amount of $24,932 that will be awarded to support this position, which will do juvenile outreach and is a partnership between JPO and the school district.

The county commission meets on the first Thursday at 8:15 a.m. and the third Wednesday at 1:15 p.m. in the commission chambers at 155 N. Taylor Street. Agendas can be found at churchillcountynv.gov/1081/Agendas-Minutes.