The Humboldt County Board of Commissioners met for their regular meeting on Aug. 22 (with Commissioner Tom Hoss absent and Commissioner Ken Tipton present for items one through thirteen on the meeting agenda) at which:
• Humboldt County Comptroller, Gina Rackley, presented a financial report to the Board for fiscal year 2023 (July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023).
According to Rackley, the County’s expenditures are exceeding revenues by approximately $1.1 millions dollars and her projections estimate that the number will go down to a “couple hundred thousand dollars after the County receives consolidated taxes from June” by the end of the fiscal year.
“Given the prices of everything… I don’t think this is a bad financial position to be in to end our fiscal year,” said Rackley.
• The Commissioners approved a request to appoint Tim Grady as Acting County Surveyor to review a Certificate of Amendment for Desert Mountain Surveying, as the County utilizes Desert Mountain Surveying services in place of a County Surveyor.
In order to make corrections on a recorded map, a professional surveyor must file a Certificate of Amendment to be approved by the County Surveyor, so one must be temporarily appointed to approve amendments.
• A request was put forth by the Humboldt County Hospital District to take on debt in conjunction with the purchase of magnetic resonance imaging equipment used for patient diagnostic procedures and robotic arm equipment used for orthopedic surgical procedures.
The Board approved the requests; the first in an amount not to exceed $1.66 million and the second not to exceed $1.3 million.
Due to taxation regulations and the fact that the equipment will be paid off in installments, the Hospital District must regard the purchases as “assumed indebtedness”, but the payments will come from existing hospital revenue, according to legal counsel.
• The Humboldt County Liquor Board convened to approve liquor licenses for 14 entities and two special events, with Humboldt County Sheriff, Mike Allen, as head of the Liquor Board.
• Public Works Department Director, Don Kalkoske, presented an update to the Board regarding general road projects and explained general maintenance the department is doing in parts of the County.
• The Board approved a request by the Humboldt County Library to amend their hours at the main branch. The new hours will take effect after Labor Day weekend, on Sept. 6. The new hours are:
Monday- 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesday- 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday- 9a.m. to 7 p.m.
Thursday- 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday- 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday- 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sunday- Closed
The Library will also be closed from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 30 and Friday, Oct. 14 for staff development training.
• The Board heard a request by the Ag. Dist. #3 to reappoint Tom Brown to the Rodeo Board to serve a four-year term, expiring in 2026, which was approved unanimously.
• The Board also approved the request by Ag. Dist. #3 to accept a proposal from CXT Precast to build a restroom and shower facility at the Winnemucca Events Complex. Remaining American Rescue Plan Act funds— $261,330— will be used for the project, with remaining costs not to exceed $95,070, according to the motion.
• A request by the Humboldt County Human Resources Department and Comptroller to enter into an agreement with GovInvest to use their labor cost software died for a lack of motion.
• The Board approved a Custom & Culture element of the County’s Public Lands Use Plan as a part of the County’s Master Plan, which addresses traditions and values of the County.
• The Board approved a memo of understanding between the U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Land Management and Humboldt County to prepare a Recreation and Public Purposes Environmental Assessment which will consider the impact of a new public school in Orovada on the environment.
• The Board heard public comment in regards to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) concerns from concerned citizen, Lorne Lyon.
• The Board approved expenditures for Humboldt County for Aug. 8 through Aug. 22.
• No minutes were available for approval.