Tragedies have hit the Humboldt County community hard in the past several weeks and the Humboldt County Board of Commissioners heard from county officials about ideas on how to help the community deal with things in the wake of grief at their latest meeting on Nov. 7.
Officials were able to present the resources available to the community to the Commission and a possible policy of Critical Incident Stress Management protocol that would help the County address widespread tragedies more effectively and immediately was discussed.
Many of these tragedies have impacted the law enforcement community and Deputy District Attorney, Wendy Maddox, has taken the lead to advocate for those who may need access to resources that can help them deal with grief.
“We want to make sure that we are reaching everyone we can with resources,” Humboldt County Commissioner, Jesse Hill.
According to Maddox, Dr. Laura Nielsen, a licensed clinical psychologist from Reno, NV who works in and around Winnemucca and with the Family Support Center, has offered her services to full and part-time county and city employees who find themselves needing help to deal with their grief.
Dr. Nielsen explained the challenges and unpredictability of the grieving process and the importance of exploring those feelings in a letter to the community.
“The amount of love and support this town has for each other is truly distinct,” it said.
The Family Support Center can be reached at 775-623-1888 and Dr. Nielsen can be reached at 775-303-3287 with questions or to take advantage of services.
In other County Commission news:
• Humboldt County Comptroller, Gina Rackley, presented a financial update to the Board in regards to revenue and expenditures.
Comptroller Rackley had good news for the Commissioners, as Humboldt County received Consolidated Tax (CTX) from Aug. and is up 17 percent for the fiscal year in revenues, which is up 4.3 percent from last year for this time.
Rackley also informed the Commissioners that Humboldt County has received the first tranche—$3,990,936.32— of money from the Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund (LATCF), appropriated to the Treasurer’s Office through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
The second half, according to Rackley, will be received in 2023, but the State Treasurer’s Office has not given an exact date.
The Commissioners had previously discussed earmarking the money for the major projects that the County has looming.
“It’s [the taxpayer’s] money and we need to put it into something that has intrinsic value to the community,” said Commission Chair, Jim French.
• The Humboldt County Treasurer, Rhona, Lecumberry, presented an update regarding the county’s investments.
According to Lecumberry, the county’s investments are up thanks to the rising interest rates, but because the interest rates have risen so quickly, the market value of the investments is affected and the County’s money managers are responding.
• A public hearing was held in regards to zone change requests by the Humboldt County Regional Planning Committee.
Multiple zone changes for parcels were approved with no opposition from the public or the Commission.
• The Board approved a request to waive development standards for parcels on Ada Vista Drive. The requirement for paving, curbing, gutters and sidewalks was waived for a 300 foot portion of Ada Vista, which the Commission agreed was appropriate as the rest of Ada Vista also does not have them, and the request allows for additional lots to be developed for housing.
• The Board approved costs for a request by the Humboldt County Public Works Department to fix guardrails on Jungo Road that were damaged in an unreported vehicular accident.
• The Board tabled a request by the Public Works Department Director, Don Kalkoske, which would allow the Dept. to fix Norma Drive from Delaney Drive to Shirley Lane with the use of ARPA funds for the Humboldt County School District (HCSD).
Norma Drive is not maintained by the county and HCSD Superintendent, Dr. Dave Jensen, was present to explain to the Board that the handicap-accessible buses that pick up students who live on the road have a hard time driving on the road due to its degraded condition.
The Board agreed that it is very important that the students have access to transportation to and from school and the maintenance to fix the road is necessary, as are the use of ARPA funds, but the Board directed Dr. Jensen to seek a private contractor to complete the repairs with the use of ARPA funds.
• The Humboldt County Liquor Board convened to approve 14 Liquor Licenses.
• Humboldt County’s District Attorney, Mike MacDonald, presented an update to the Board regarding restitution fees that have accumulated over past years.
It became apparent that there was a large sum—approximately $80,000 — of restitution fees that had accumulated with the DA’s office that had not been paid from several years in the past.
According to District Attorney, Mike MacDonald, through the tracking of receipts and old records, the sum has been reduced to around $30,000 presently, with all current restitution fees vouchered and distributed.
MacDonald said that the office discovered cases dating back to as far as 2005 that had not had restitution fees paid out and that his office has identified flaws in procedure that caused the backup. Procedures have since kept the office up to date with the distribution from current cases due to the identification of the flaws.
MacDonald said he expects to give the final report for the restitution fees at the Commission meeting on Dec. 12.
• The Board approved a request by the Winnemucca Events Complex to upgrade the lighting to increase visibility for events.
According to the Director of the Winnemucca Convention and Visitors Authority (WCVA), Kim Petersen, the cost for the lights will not exceed $40,000, with the County splitting the cost with the WCVA.
• The Board approved a request by the Humboldt County Library to waive the attrition policy in order to hire a Community Library Specialist at the Denio branch.
The Board and Humboldt County Librarian, Jessica Anderson, agreeing that the position must be filled as soon as possible.
• The Commissioners rejected a bid that would replace the intake shower at the Humboldt County Detention Center.
Accessible design is a major problem for the Humboldt County Detention Center and both the Sheriff’s Office and the Commissioners have been working to address these problems in order to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The Commissioners rejected a single bid that was $98,000 over the estimated price to renovate one of the three bathrooms at the jail that must be brought up to ADA compliance and agreed to send the project out for bid again so they would have more prices to compare.
• The Commissioners approved a bid proposal by CTR Roofing to replace the roof on the library building in McDermitt, NV.
• The Board approved a letter that confirms their status as a cooperating agency with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for an Environmental Assessment (EA).
The BLM is working on an EA in order to analyze a possible re-route of a road in the Soldier Meadows area that is commonly used by hunters and other outdoor recreationalists.
As a cooperating agency, Humboldt County can be a part of the discussion for the EA moving forward.
• The Board approved the Wildfire Prevention & Management Public Land Use chapter as a part of the Humboldt County Public Land Use Management Plan.