The impact of inflation has brought food costs up 6.3 percent from January 2022 to January of 2023 and is still set to increase, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This peril has not only affected homes, but other entities such as the Humboldt County Detention Center.
At the Humboldt County Board of Commissioners meeting on Feb. 21, Captain of the Detention Center Jeremy Peters, Sheriff Angel Cardenas, and Undersheriff Damon Kuskie were present to inform the Board (with Commissioner Tom Hoss absent) that the Detention Center is on track to expend their entire grocery budget before March (four months before the fiscal year concludes in June).
In July of 2022 (the beginning of the fiscal year), the Detention Center averaged 27 inmates, but currently, they are housing almost double the inmates, thus significantly raising food costs, according to Captain Peters.
The current grocery budget for the Detention Center totals $149,100, but the fiscal year does not end until June 2023, and the Center only has about $20,000 left in their budget. Between meeting regular and special dietary requirements for the inmates, the cost of food has more than doubled since the beginning of the fiscal year in July 2022.
Humboldt County Comptroller Gina Rackley informed the Commissioners that the budget would be augmented to accommodate the significant rise in the grocery budget in June, which will have an impact on the overall budget.
In other Commission news:
• The Board approved a one-time funding request for the National Center for Public
Lands Counties for $79,818.73. The Center will facilitate partnerships among “federal management agencies with all levels of government, private stakeholders, and other interested parties” “to meet the nation’s economic needs, improve local economies, reduce wildfire risks, enhance access to public lands, and conserve our lands and waters for future generations.”
Commissioners agreed that with the County’s need for awareness and say in important issues regarding public lands and intergovernmental partnership with federal management agencies is a resource that Humboldt County cannot pass up. The Center is requesting funding from each Nevada county, with a total goal of 15 million dollars over a three-year period.
• Commissioners approved a request by the Winnemucca Events Complex to purchase a dump truck in an amount not to exceed $28,500.
• A request to purchase a back-up generator for the 911 Dispatch Building was approved. According to officials, the backup generator (required by state law) will cost over $70,000, not including labor to have it installed.
• The Board approved a request by the Paradise Valley Fire Department to contract with a company out of Nampa, ID to install new playground equipment at the Paradise Valley Park. Both the installation and equipment will cost $99,995.
• The Board authorized County Manger Dave Mendiola to sign the Walmart Settlement Participation Form through the One Nevada Agreement concerning the ongoing litigation regarding opioids throughout the State of Nevada. The case is currently pending in the Sixth Judicial District Court and could award the County over $100,000 if drug manufacturers, wholesale distributors, detailers, pharmacies, health care providers, and other unnamed defendants are found at fault in the case.
• A request by the Moto Novo M/C (MRANN Racing Club) for an easement allowing motorcycle racers in the Awakening Grand Prix to race on a portion of County-owned road on Winnemucca Mountain March 4 through March 5. The event is expected to bring around 200 participants.
• The Commission heard an audit and financial report from Drake, Rose & Associates. According to the auditors, the County “is definitely financially stable for an auditors perspective” and has remained “fiscally responsible”.
• A tax roll reimbursement of $2.74 was approved.
• A request by the Public Works Department to purchase a water pump, costing $40,000, was approved.
• Public Works Director Don Kalkose gave an update regarding residential concerns about the condition of Lambert Drive (located off of Highway 95) and a petition requesting that Magnesium Chloride (an applicant with corrosive properties that is used to mitigate dust) not be applied to the road.
• Kalkose also expressed concern regarding the potential closure of the Humboldt Conservation Camp, which provides workers for numerous seasons and projects for the County. The loss of labor would mean a great fiscal impact to Humboldt County.
• A meeting of the Humboldt County Liquor Board was convened by Humboldt County Sheriff Angel Cardenas and 13 liquor licenses were approved, as was one removal (due to closure).
• The Board approved a request to pursue funding on behalf of the County through the Nevada Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant.
• The Commissioners approved the Military Sites and Operations Chapter of the Humboldt County Public Land Use Plan.
• The Commissioners reviewed legislative bills and bill draft requests that have the potential to significantly impact Humboldt County during the next legislative session.