#The Humboldt County Board of Commissioners and the Winnemucca City Council met for a joint meeting to discuss a shared cost agreement for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. The proposal was unanimously approved by both the Board and the council as a part of the Commission's regular meeting on July 24 (with all members present).
#The cost share agreement, originally implemented in 2002, allows for the City and the County to split costs for public services by utilizing the same facilities et al, which saves significant taxpayer money.
#The costs for the planning department, economic development, animal control services, the building inspector, dispatch, the airport, the cemetery, the pool, parks and other recreation facilities, and insect control are split into respective shares and paid out at the end of the fiscal year.
#For the 2023 to 2024 fiscal year, according to the agreement, the County owes $572,890 and the City owes $404,047.
#In other Commission news:
#• The Board discussed a nuisance complaint regarding a parcel on East Donald Lane. It was determined by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) deputy handling the case and the Commission that there have been significant efforts to abate the issue by the property owner, including removal of debris and trash and equipment. Commissioner Evatz made a motion directing the property owner to have the property completely up to County Code by mid November.
#According to the property owner, who lives out of state, he has been battling vandalism, trespassing and stealing on the property, as well as illegal dumping and is pursuing efforts with the HCSO to address these issues.
#• Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) Director Tracy Larkin Thomason presented an informational update to the Board after visiting state roads considered to be of concern locally with Commission Chair Ken Tipton and Commissioner Ron Cerri the day prior.
#According to Larkin Thomason, NDOT is conducting studies and visiting sites and projects but is still struggling to complete projects with staffing down 45 to 75 percent for construction and maintenance crews across the state and Humboldt County staffing down 50 percent.
#NDOT has started a program for students aged 16 or older who can begin working for the department and build a foundation for a career, although Larkin Thomason explained that recent studies identified that NDOT is 42 percent behind in pay compared to other entities.
#• Discussion regarding recruitment for a new County Manager pending the retirement of current County Manager Dave Mendiola in March of 2024 took place with P & C Recruiting and HR and Commissioner Jesse Hill directed staff to find two other recruiting firms to provide service options for the Commission in a motion that was approved unanimously.
#• The Commissioners approved an updated job description for a Human Resources Director, currently a vacant position, in a split vote with Commissioner Tom Hoss in opposition, but approved the salary range for the position, $81,000 to $120,000 unanimously.
#According to County Manager Mendiola, the outline of the job description is based upon
#Elko County’s description with changes specific to Humboldt County and was evaluated by the Nevada Public Agency Insurance Pool as well.
#Hoss stated that he opposed the motion because he thought the job description needed more work and had counsel about the description with an “expert” but did not share the information.
#• The Board heard a presentation by Humboldt Telephone regarding the broadband services they offer to the rural areas of Humboldt County.
#• Humboldt County Comptroller Gina Rackley presented the annual Debt Management Policy and Capital Improvement Plan Resolution, which were both approved unanimously.
#According to Rackley, the County’s only current debt is with a fleet management company.
#• Action regarding the award of a bid for the design, build and installment of an HVAC system in the Orovada Community Hall was tabled until the Board’s next meeting in August due to missing information within the bid.
#• A request by the Humboldt County Public Works Department to purchase a motor grader for $364,448.00 for general road projects was unanimously approved.
#• Approval to reappoint Denni Byrd to the Nevada Local Justice Reinvestment Coordinating Council for a two-year term as a representative of Humboldt County was unanimously approved.
#• Humboldt County Sheriff Angel Cardenas convened the Humboldt County Liquor Board and a special liquor license the Thirteenth Annual Rope for Hope event on July 15 was approved in conjunction with Sheriff Cardenas’s original approval which was granted because the application came in too late for the previous meeting.
#• The Commission unanimously granted the request of the District Attorney’s Office to waive the attrition policy to hire for a Caseworker I/II position in the Child Support Division due to the importance of the position.
#• A request by the Winnemucca events complex to purchase and install stall mat kits in the barns was unanimously approved. The total cost for 150 mats will be $50,179.50 according to officials.