Commission welcomes new and returning members for first meeting in the new year
Just three days into 2023, the Humboldt County Board of Commissioners met for their regular meeting and kicked off the New Year by welcoming Commissioner Ron Cerri back for a third and final term with the Commission and the Board’s newest elect, Mark Evatz, for his first term with the Commission.
The Board also designated former Vice Chair, Ken Tipton, as the new Chair of the Board, and Commissioner Jesse Hill as the new Vice Chair in unanimous votes. Both men are set to serve in these positions for the next year.
Chairman Tipton moved to designate Commissioner Cerri as the Chairman for the County Board of Equalization, having to do with property assessment, which was approved unanimously. All members of the Commision take on roles on multiple committees and in different organizations, which helps the Board reach thoughtful decisions.
In other County Commission news:
• The Board approved expenditures for Humboldt County from Dec. 12 of 2022 through Jan. 3 2023 unanimously.
• Hank Kershner was reappointed to Seat B on the McDermitt Fire District and Fortino Alvarez was appointed to Seat C.
• Pat Morris, Diana Lopez, Danica Lopez, and Martha Lopez were all reappointed to the Kings river General Improvement District (GID). The GID Seat E sits vacant.
• Josh Dufferena, John Peter, Michael Jefferies, Henry “Hank” Dufferena, and Stephen Egger were reappointed to the Pueblo Fire District.
• Humboldt County Comptroller, Gina rackley, presented an update to the Board regarding revenues and expenditures for the County for the 2023 fiscal year, including proposals for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.
According to Rackley, a proposal to use ARPA funds to replace playground equipment at the park in Paradise Valley is being evaluated.
• The Board unanimously accepted a request to approve a grant in the amount of $3,500 for cloud seeding, sponsored by the Humboldt River Water Basin Authority. For the past two years, the legislature has opted not to fund the operation of cloud seeding apparatuses, thus leaving the expenses to fall of each County.
Humboldt County is participating, along with other Nevada counties, in order to match a $60,000 contribution from the Willam N. Pennington Foundation to the Desert Research Institute to fund the cloud seeding (to supplement the loss of funding by the legislature).
• The Board approved a request by the Humboldt County Clerk’s Office to waive the attrition policy for an Administrative Clerk I,II,III position.
• The Board approved a request by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office to waive the attrition policy for a Administrative Clerk IV position to fill a clerical vacancy left following a promotion of a staff member and for three Deputy Sheriff positions to fill vacancies created by Deputy Angel Cardenas taking office as Humboldt County’s Sheriff, Deputy Damon Kuskie taking office as the Undersheriff and Deputy Jeremy Peters taking office as Seargant to the Captain.
• The Board also approved a request by the Public Works Department to waive the attrition policy in order to fill a vacancy in the Road Maintenance Equipment Operator position.
• Humboldt County Public Works Department Director, Don Kalkoske, presented an update to the Board regarding current road projects and explained that crews are currently working effectively to mitigate flooding and other weather conditions that may damage the roads.
• The Commissioners voted unanimously to accept a bid to replace a dishwasher at the Humboldt County Detention Center from local contractor, T.L. Snyder Enterprises.
• The Commissioners also accepted a request to enter into a contract with Advance Installations, Inc. for asbestos abatement at a County-owned rental, located on Melarkey St.
• The Board approved a memo of understanding between the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Humboldt County in regards to the BLM’s Environmental Assessment (EA) of the rerouting of Soldier Meadows Road. The memo will designate the County as a cooperating agency and allow for useful cooperation between both agencies.
Public Works Director Kalkoske explained that the rerouting of the road will provide better access to outdoorsmen and others who use the road for an assortment of purposes, as well as benefit the wildlife that currently live near the “swampy” portion of the road that will be rerouted.
• The Board approved comments to the United States Forest Service regarding the EA done on the Santa Rosa Rangeland project.
According to Commissioner Cerri, permittees for grazing rights in the Santa Rosa area are in support of the EA and its finding. The ability for Humboldt County to support the findings and give suggestions in the matter is very important.