Flies are buzzing, mosquitoes are stinging and crickets are marching in Humboldt County and the Humboldt County Board of Commissioners discussed abatement efforts at their most recent meeting on June 5 with all members present.
State Entomologist Jeff Knight updated the Commission on local cricket mitigation.
According to Knight, there is an aerial flight tentatively set for June 19 to spray the crickets and ground applications started just a few weeks ago, but the weather and intermittent rain storms have been a challenge. Approximately 20,000 acres will be treated, including Winnemucca Mountain.
Environmental Protection Agency regulations only allow the crickets to be treated by the state once, despite any recommendations of the chemicals used or the preference of the public. Nevada also competes for cricket abatement funding with all of the other western states, Knight explained.
Commissioner Ron Cerri asked Knight about the possibility of the state providing bait to private landowners who are licensed to apply the bait.
“[The crickets] are coming off of federal land and affect us private landowners,” explained Cerri.
Knight in turn explained internal problems that administering bait to private landowners caused in the past, such as fiscal shortfalls and misuse, which Cerri pointed out were not the fault of the landowners.
Knight did assure that the Environmental Assessment that is mandated for mitigation is complete, so there is no hold up with paperwork which was a previous challenge.
Jason Williams of Vector Disease Control International (VDCI) updated the Board regarding local black fly and mosquito abatement as well.
According to Williams, applications to mosquito and black fly larvae started in March but applications to adult insects are taking place on the ground. An aerial application is set to take place pending the arrangement of a pilot.
The Board pointed out that people are seeing many adult mosquitoes, but Williams explained that the adults are migratory and can travel great distances, but VDCI will respond directly to service requests for ground application.
Under the Community tab on the County website, https://www.humboldtcountynv.gov/, is information about how to contact VDCI or service calls.
In other Commission news:
• The Board approved an amendment to a contract with the Division of
Public and Behavioral Health Community Health Services Program for the Community
Health Nurse and services, adding two additional years to the contract.
• Humboldt County Emergency
Manager Carol Lynn presented a request for the Board to approve of the Community Wildfire Protection Plan, which was unanimously approved.
The plan has been evaluated by many different entities, such as local committees, the Bureau of Land Management, the Nevada Department of Forestry, as well as the local rural and city fire chiefs.
According to Lynn, Humboldt County is the only County in Nevada to have their plan completed, which allows for Lynn to apply for grants, mitigation funds, and maintenance projects, which can all be contracted locally, a great advantage to the County.
• Lynn presented a request to update the privacy policy for the County’s Wildfire Protection Plan and Emergency app, which Lynn explained was just updated to more specific terms.
The Board approved the request in a split vote with Commissioner Tom Hoss in opposition.
When Chairman Ken Tipton asked Hoss why he opposed the motion he said he does not like receiving app notifications.
• The Board approved augments to the 2022-2023 fiscal year budget in the amount of $720,500.
According to Humboldt County Comptroller Gina Rackley, much of these costs were due to increases in insurance rates in different departments.
• The Board voted unanimously to split the Public Employees Retirement Services (PERS) increase rather than covering the full rate increase for Administrative and Appointed positions, presented by Comptroller Rackley.
Rackley explained that the PERS increase, which is increasing from 29.75% to 33.5% and Police Fire Employer Rate is increasing from 44% to 50%, is the largest increase she has ever seen in over 30 years.
Rackley did advise the Board to vote to split the increase, with the County paying part of the increase and the employee paying the other part of the increase, stating that “That’s a lot of money to ask the taxpayers to absorb 100 percent of if there’s already a mechanism in place to support it.”
Chairman Ken Tipton and Humboldt County Manager Dave Mendiola agreed with Rackley that the increases, if absorbed by the County, are not sustainable.
Assistant County Manager and Human Resources Director Abel del Real-Nava explained that splitting the increase does make employees go “backwards” and pointed out that the County is “already behind significantly in raising salaries,” which might encourage unionization.
• Rackley presented a financial report to the Board, explaining that the County has received the Consolidated Tax Distributions (CTX) for March, which are down by 1.9 percent (one percent from last year), with 10 other Counties in Nevada also reporting that their CTX numbers are down.
Rackley also reported that Humboldt County’s Net Proceeds of Minerals distribution has been allocated from the state ($,148, 832) and is down approximately 10 million dollars under the last payment.
• The Board voted to set a zone change for the parcel identified as RH-23-22 to public hearing, with Commissioner Hoss abstaining as it was his request.
• The Board voted to set a nuisance complaint filed against property located at 3200 E. Donald Lane to public hearing.
• The Board approved a request from the Winnemucca Convention & Visitors Authority to waive the attrition policy in order to hire for the position of Administrative Clerk I, II, III.
• The Board approved a request to designate areas at County buildings as under the control of the County Commission with signatures.
According to Humboldt County Clerk Tami Rae Spero, the Nevada Secretary of State’s Office has requested updated designations.
• The Board approved updates to the Winnemucca Events Complex Handbook, Rules, Regulations & Fees, as well as a proposal for Magana and Sons to replace the walk-way in the outdoor grandstands at the Complex.
• A request by the Public Works Department to purchase a semi tractor was approved.
• Humboldt County Public Works Director Don Kalkoske presented an update to the Board regarding current and ongoing projects the department is conducting.
According to Kalkoske, projects such as the pouring of salt and sand pads in one of the department’s yards is complete, dust control measures should be completed soon, flooding control measures are underway, and culverts designated for Lambert Drive will be installed pending preparatory work.
• The Board approved an addendum to a contract with Lexis-Nexis, an online legal research system, for the District Attorney’s Office in order to access a new feature.
• The Humboldt County Liquor Board conceived and approved a special liquor license for the Paradise Valley Fire Department for the Father’s Day BBQ.
• A request by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) to contract with Dr. Robbie Grant to
provide medical services and oversight at the detention center to replace a vacated contract with Humboldt General Hospital was approved.
According to Captain of the Detention Center Jeremy Peters, the previous contract asked for a payment of $80 per patient and the new contract asks for $85 per patient.
• The HCSO also requested additional funding for bulletproof vests that was previously approved in March.
Captain of the Patrol Division Sean Wilkin explained a discrepancy, or surprise cost, in the Department of Justice (DOJ) grant that had initially allowed for the purchase of the vests, stating that the DOJ did not advertise that the grant would only cover a certain amount of the funds to purchase the vests.
• Dr. Don Schutt, Senior Project Consultant with the Institute for Public Sector
Employee Engagement presented the results of an employee survey that Humboldt County conducted, primarily assessing engagement.
According to Schutt, 64 percent of County employees participated in the survey and the results were essentially positive and with the comprehensive results, the County can implement or expand upon areas to improve or maintain.
• The Commission approved the purchase of a lactation pod for the Humboldt County Courthouse, which will be placed near court security and will be available to both County employees and the public, including those with disabilities.
According to Chief Deputy District Attorney Mike Macdonald, the pod will align with the requirements of Nevada Revised Statute 1.095.
• The Commission tabled the possible approval of three new job descriptions for the
positions of Assistant County Manager, County Manager, and Human Resources
Director.
• A request by the Lander County Board of Commissioners to support a resolution to declare a State of Emergency on public lands due to overpopulation of wild horses and burros was approved.
The Board agreed that action needs to be taken in order to encourage action at the state and federal level.
Former Humboldt County Commissioner Jim French, who currently sits on the National Wild Horse & Burro Task Force, was present in support of the resolution.
French explained some of the dangers of doing nothing in regards to the wildhorse population, which doubles every four years, including the damage to topsoil in densely horse-populated areas that takes at least 100 years to build back up, animal welfare, and many other factors.
Commissioner Ron Cerri affirmed the need for action and directed DA Macdonald and Humboldt County Manager Dave Mendiola to work with French to work on an Emergency Declaration, hopefully sparking action amongst other countries as well as the governor in his motion.
• A request by the Facilities Maintenance Department to repair County parking lots with a slurry-seal material and repair the roofing of the Courthouse, the Winnemucca Mountain building and Veterans Building were all unanimously approved.
• The Commissioners approved a petition that will convert the Pueblo Fire District Board from an elected board to an appointed board to address the difficulty of filling the board in a small community.
• A request by Age and Dementia Friendly Winnemucca to place banners on the front of the Humboldt County Courthouse for Dementia and Alzheimers Awareness Month was approved.