The Winnemucca City Council approved a proposal to rent a city-owned apartment above the old fire station to the Family Support Center (FSC) in order to house traveling mental health professionals, also discussed at the Council’s previous meeting. Three hundred dollars was the amount the Council agreed upon for the monthly rental fee for the apartment, which is currently empty. The Council agreed that the amount would pose significant cost savings—approximately 15,000 dollars— to the FSC who is currently housing mental health professionals in hotels and is a nonprofit organization. The cost is mostly to cover utilities and such that is required to keep the apartment up and running, according to officials.
“Their services provide a great benefit to the community,” said Mayor Rich Stone.
In other news from the Oct. 4 city council meeting:
• The Council discussed lease terms and conditions for a 30-year lease for Airport lease tracts 3, 5 and 14. The City typically negotiates 15-year terms with the condition to renew for 15 more years, so the special conditions require approval from the Council as do the conditions for new lessees. Under City law, the Winnemucca Municipal Airport Board does have the first right of refusal which allows the City to purchase the improvements before entering into a new lease agreement.
According to Winnemucca City Manager, Alicia Heiser, Dixie Air, who currently own the hangars on tracts 3, 5, and 14, are asking for the Council’s approval to sell the hangars to a new lessee who is working to secure financing and the 30-year agreement is a stipulation of financing.
The Airport Board voted unanimously to waive their first right of refusal to purchase the hangars, according to Airport Board Chairman, Wayne Smith, who was present at the meeting.
Terms for a new lease were discussed but no final decision was made as of yet. The Council directed City Manager Heiser and Attorney Maher to gather more information before an official decision is made.
• The Council reviewed proposals to implement more traffic management measures at the Kluncy Canyon Road and Great Basin Avenue intersection after safety concerns were expressed by a Winnemucca resident at a previous meeting. The Council agreed that their first measure would be to have flashing lights installed on the stop sign at the intersection.
• Regulations and policies for the connection fees for water and sewer services were discussed by the Council. Proposals to defer payments for connections that meet certain cost thresholds were viewed favorably by the Council.
The potential change in policy will require an ordinance change by the City, according to City Attorney Kent Maher.
Minimum thresholds of 50,000 to 75,000 dollars in connection fees were discussed as the new ordinance qualification for deferral, but the amount was not finalized.
• Tuesday, Nov. 1 was declared Extra Mile Day in which the positive impacts of making personal contributions to the community are recognized.
• City Manager Heiser was presented a service award for five years with the City.
• The Council approved minutes from previous meetings, expenditures and warrants.