Board of Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Okay, good afternoon. We are calling the Elko County Order. Welcome everybody here, either personally or via the internet. We welcome you all here. For the record, let the record show that all commissioners are present. At this time, I'd like to ask Commissioner Carr to lead us in the pledge.

Thanks, John.

Okay, we will move on to item number C, which is comments by the general public. Pursuant to NRS 241, this time is devoted to comments by the general public, if any, and discussion of those comments, no action may be taken upon a matter raised under this item on the agenda until the matter itself has been specifically included on a successive agenda and identified to be an action item. And just a couple of quick notes. I'm sorry, Scott. If you do speak or plan to speak today, we have a sign-in sheet in the back. If you'd be so kind as to sign that after or before you speak, that would be great. And then any item that we have on the agenda, there will be time for public comment. So this is just general public comment at this time. Go ahead, sir.

Oh, there we go. Scott Gavorski, Elko County Republican Party. Just wanted to remind everybody that we are in the midst of the primary election season. If you have not voted, please be sure to do so. Mail ballots should be going back in immediately to make sure they arrive. Early voting is going to go through Friday, June 5th. And then, of course, Election Day will be next Tuesday, June 9th. Currently, Elko County is running well behind the rest of the state in terms of turnout numbers. It would be really great if we could get those up. Of course, we've got information on our webpage about the various Republican candidates at ElkoMDGOP.org. But the big thing is really just to urge everybody, whatever political party, to get out and vote. One other additional item that's a little further down the road. Once again, I'm happy to speak on behalf of not only the Elko County Republican Party, but our friends across the aisle, the Elko County Dems, Democrat Party. We're going to be actually doing another joint event for Constitution Day. It'll be on Wednesday, September 16th. This year back at the Elko High School Performing Arts Center So look for some more exciting information as we move forward with that. Thank you very much.

Thank you Any other public comment? All righty, seeing none, we'll move on. Item D, recognition. D1, discussion and consideration of Proclamation 202606 celebrating the 40th Annual Mining Expo and recognizing the traditions and contributions of the mining industry in Elko County. This item is for possible action, and I do know that we have some The host events center is here, and the whole place, you can't drive down the road, but it's okay. It's a great problem to have. It's a wonderful thing. 40 years. Yeah, I would love to have.

John, would you please read the proclamation of the record? PROCLAMATION 2026-06, THIS IS CELEBRATING THE 40TH ANNUAL MINING EXPO AND RECOGNIZING THE GRAND TRADITIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE MINING INDUSTRY IN ELKO COUNTY. WHEREAS MINING HAS BEEN A CORNERSTONE OF ELKO COUNTY'S HISTORY, ECONOMY AND CULTURE FOR GENERATIONS, SHAPING OUR COMMUNITIES AND SUPPORTING THE LIVELIHOODS OF THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS And whereas the Mining Expo, now celebrating its 40th year, has become one of the region's most significant events, gathering industry leaders, workers, businesses, and community members to showcase innovation, technology, and the enduring strength of the mining sector. And whereas the mining industry continues to contribute greatly to Elko County through job creation, economic development, Infrastructure support, community partnerships, and responsible resource stewardships, and whereas the values of hard work, resilience, and dedication demonstrated by the mining workforce reflect the spirit of Elko County and remain central to the prosperity of our region. And whereas the Elko County Commissioners recognize the Mining Expo as an important celebration of our heritage and a testament to the vital role mining plays today and into our future. Now, therefore, be proclaimed that the Board of Elko County Commissioners do hereby proclaim June 2026 as a time of recognition and celebration of the 40th Annual Mining Expo and honors the mining industry for its lasting contribution to the strength and well-being of Elko. And it will hopefully be passed this third day of June 2026. And I'll make the motion to pass that.

Okay, I have a motion and a second. Any other comment? Any public comment? Go ahead, Annette.

Yes, sir. Thank you, commissioners. Annette Kerr, for the record, Elko Convention and Visitors Authority Executive Director. I brought with me probably the two most important people in our putting this event on, and that is Kim Longley, our events manager, and her coordinator, Selena Morales. These two ladies have been working year-round already and are already getting ready for the 41st. It's been 40 years. Kim has been here for 15 of them, putting this event on and organizing it. I just wanted to share we've already had our first two days of our golf tournament with 576 participants. And we will have a big reception tonight out at the golf course, which is sold out. The hotels are doing very, very well. Majority of them are sold out. The only reason there may not be is because of our rate. But again, I want to thank the commission for recognizing us with this resolution for 40 years of this event. and it is going gangbusters already. So get it. If you get a chance, come out and see it, see all the new equipment that's out there, the, the drills, the conveyor belts, the machinery. And I know deals are already being made because at the golf course, I saw about three handshakes and saying, come sign the contract tonight. So again, thank you again for a resolution and recognizing it. but these two ladies are the ones that are responsible.

Well, thank you. Thank you guys so much. And it is such a significant milestone. I mean, I, I can't hardly believe it's been 40 years. I mean, that doesn't seem like it. But I hope and pray it's another 40 and maybe another 80 on top of that. So I appreciate the mining industry who continue to promote this event here and continue to participate and welcome all the vendors and everybody here and give you a hearty Elko County welcome as they are here enjoying all the great amenities that we have. So with that, is there any other public comment? Seeing none, all those in favor, signify by saying aye.

Aye.

I vote aye. Also, motion carries. And we're going to come up and take a picture with you guys, all right? Is that all right?

All right.

Get Rex in there. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks, guys.

All right, moving on. We're going to item number E, Nevada Public Agency Insurance Pool or the Pool Pact E1 discussion consideration to approve the fiscal year 2027 renewal proposal from Pool Pact and authorization for payment. Elko County has received its annual renewal proposal from the pool for liability property insurance coverage. The total premium for fiscal year 2027 is $1,068,000. $527.81, representing an approximate 8% decrease from the, let me say that again, because that is good news. 8% decrease from last year. That's first. I'm glad you guys are here. Thanks for being here. Go ahead.

Thanks for having us. I'm Dane Uriarte with LP Insurance, and I also have Alan Kalt, who is the CFO of the Nevada Public Agency Insurance Pool. And Steven Romero, who is the broker slash member relations director. Alan has a bit of a presentation. So I'll let Alan take that. And then I'll be back.

So each one of you hopefully received one of our opportunity coins. The pool was established in 1987, 39 years ago. Your conventions went on 40 years. You hope it goes on another 40 and another 80. Well, from a fiscal responsibility standpoint, it's my responsibility to make sure that we go for a pool pack goes for another 40 and then hopefully another 80 into great longevity. But around the coin, there's words. There's seven different words that are principles that the pool, through our strategic planning retreat, members came up with for us to live by. And it's the same rules and words that you guys live by, proactive. accountability, responsibility, service, stability, strength. And that's what we strive for every day. Seven different words for seven days in a week. Maybe personally challenge ourselves to adopt one of those words and think about that word and what it means. And today, what I want to do is I want to think of the word proactive. And I want to talk about, I see the gentlemen and staff here from the sheriff's office. And the safety and the service they do for the community, but Many of them were proactive, involved in our four-month metabolic reset program. That program was innovative. We have doctors in the great state of Nevada as well as around the United States assisting in cardiac wellness for first responders, police and fire. This four-month program embraced a keto diet, a reduction in sugar, a reduction in carbs, and getting out and doing some exercise. But more importantly, we had Dr. Kevin Gilmartin, give a presentation in Fallon as well as in Reno on the emotional survivorship of law enforcement. And through their active involvement, they are taking responsibility and accountability for their personal health and well-being. Many of your folks are now even in greater health. They are definitely, hopefully, going to be fit for retirement and more than capable and fit for duty. And that's one of those proactive services that Pool Pact offers to its membership. And I hope someday that I get invited out. And we want to recognize some of those men and women from the department that participated in our pilot program. They lost weight. But more importantly, their blood chemistry and their health increased dramatically. Because blood doesn't lie. And a lot of times, in first responders, too many of them die young. And we don't want that to happen. They're great members of the community of Elko County. We want them to retire, be healthy and happy. and energetic into retirement as well as during their career. So again, that's a proactive program that Pool Pact offers to its membership. So that's the word that I thought of for today is proactive.

Thanks, Alan.

For the record, Steve Romero with Pool Pact. Actually, if we can, oh, I can scroll it up. Perfect. So I'm going to scroll it to our structure graph. So we actually made some changes to your program this year, and that came out of that strategic plan that Alan talked about. And again, it goes on to that proactive, being accountable and being responsible for not just Elko County, but for all 146 members of the pool. You are owners. You actually give us in Carson the orders as to what you want done. So you being a voting member, being on that board, having that say so, you're a part of the strategic planning that ended up happening in November that we had that meeting. With that, what we ended up doing is we re-evaluated, looking at, do we have enough limits if we need limits in the property program? This year, our current program has $300 million per occurrence limits is what we have for all members. It is an aggregate limit for any losses that we have. With that, we actually made an adjustment. When we were over in London this year, we renegotiated that. We were able to add an additional $200 million in coverage to your program for a whopping cost of $150,000. So now we have $500 million worth of coverage for our losses in our property program. With regards to our equipment breakdown, again, I had discussions with our equipment breakdown carrier. We've always had $100,000 worth of coverage in our equipment breakdown. I requested that they bump it up by an additional $50 million. They did that for us at zero rate increase. So at no cost whatsoever to you, we ended up with an additional $50 million in coverage for all members. We did make a little bit of an adjustment within our liability program. We had to make some adjustments there. One of the things that we looked at, though, was we've always kept at a $500,000 SIR. And when I say SIR, that's what the pool actually takes on. So you as the pool member and the rest of the 145 members take on that first $500,000 of every single loss. One thing that we ended up looking at this year was what would it be if we ended up changing that for just the municipalities? So the schools have always had kind of their own tower in that first 3 million. And so we kept that one at the 500,000 but looked at our municipalities to see what it would look like if we ended up increasing that to a million and what kind of savings we would end up having there. And what we decided was, and what, I shouldn't say we, I use the term we very broadly because we as the pool decided, you, your fellow members decided was, let's make this change. You know, we're going to end up saving some costs here, and we can take on that extra responsibility. So we ended up bumping up that to a million-dollar SIR. So every loss that you have or that the pool has is going to take on that first million dollars on the liability side. before the reinsurance ends up kicking in. The other big thing that we ended up having this year was our cyber coverage. So we ended up losing our cyber carrier this last year. They ended up deciding they no longer wanted to cover cyber. So I had to go out and I had to go find us alternates. So I ended up searching far and wide. I ended up coming up with an excellent program for us that the board voted on. And the way that this works, it's actually broadened your cyber coverage that you had. In prior years, what you had was you had a first party that only covered up to $250,000 and a third party liability that would cover up to a million. We now have a first and third party that cover up to a full million within your program. We still have your terrorism coverage. We still have your environmental coverage that are in place. And those are exactly how they were on the expiring side. So some of the other things that ended up happening within our program, and this is all outlined, of course, inside your program, but some of the other things we had to do, we had to put in the exclusion with regards to the PFAS exclusion. You know, we had a full... pollution exclusion within our coverage form, but we wanted to make sure that we outlined it correctly because all of our reinsurers outline it that they will not cover PFAS. So we wanted to make sure that we had that in our coverage form as well because it's a responsibility that obviously if all these insurance carriers are requesting for this to be excluded, including our environmental carrier, that we should probably also have that excluded within our policy because you can't really underwrite for it and charge the correct premium to be able to cover it. And then we had some just clarification so with regards to the agreed values for those for those specialty vehicles that we have on your on your Schedule that are as agreed value, so we just made Clarifications with regards to definition we also made additional requirements with regards to the salvage after a loss so one thing that we hadn't really talked about or done within our program was if you have a vehicle that ends up getting Damaged and ends up being a total loss You know do you want to keep it and if you want to keep it there's going to be requirements to keep that salvage vehicle now So you know it's just one of those extra little steps, but it allows you to be able to Potentially use equipment that's on that vehicle for another vehicle repair or any of that So it's but there is kind of you know won't be to be able to put that vehicle back into service But to be able to use it for potential repair purposes if that makes sense And then lastly, there was a change within the interlocal agreement, which was Article 22. And always, this Article 22 has always been in there where any member has to give a 120-day notification if they're going to withdraw from the pool. What this does is it actually takes out the requirement of the two-third vote of the entire board. So the entire board is made up of 46 members. Really hard to get all those 46 members together to be able to make that. We end up having the one annual meeting every single year. So instead, what we've done is by taking that out, it gets pushed over to your executive committee, which is built of seven people within your executive committee. And that's what that change ended up doing. Any questions with regards to anything that I've spoken about? And I want to thank Amanda for being on our exec committee as well.

All right, so there was an 8.72% decrease, a bunch of the coverage increased. That is not commonplace in the insurance world these days. I think you guys all are probably at least private insurance purchasers. The pool is a great program. I mean, he could go on for hours about all the things that are available, the risk services, the HR help, on and on and on. the pool is more than just insurance. So any questions for me?

Well, you know, I mean, you guys specialize in what you do. It's a very specialized and you, you, and like you said, it's just so much more than this. It's all the risk reduction. It's the availability to resources. And, you know, I'm trying to think back over the course of my career and I don't ever remember ever a price reduction ever. So, you know, I mean, you're, You're fiscally responsive and responsible. And, you know, we've all been there, whether it was an earthquake in Wells or that and everything in between. You guys have been there from scratch. personal injury accidents, all the way, the whole thing. And with us to be able to leverage this in a cooperative way with other governmental agencies really makes sense because the coverage is tailored for what we do. So anyway, I appreciate you guys always. I am extra especially delighted this time. I think I might have an extra pecan tonight. Okay, I will. So any questions or comments from the board? Is that part of that keto? Yeah, that's it. I don't know if that's keto friendly or not, but I'll let you know.

Yeah.

I'll let you know.

Are there any other questions or comments from the commission? I'd just like to say thank you for managing the risks and claims of Elko County, and even more importantly, being proactive in mitigating those risks and keeping our people and employees healthy. And we thank you for your good faith in reducing the burden on Elko County taxpayers to have this service. So thank you so much for your work that you do every day. Thank you.

Do we need to make a motion on this, or are we just approving? Well, then I'll make the motion to approve, sir.

Okay, have a motion to approve and a second, which includes that annual fee. Any other questions or comments? Seeing none, any public, go ahead, Justin, go ahead.

Under Sheriff Justin Ames, for the record, I am one of those people that participated in the Fit for Retirement, is what they originally called it, and then it's gone on to a metabolic reset. And just to share the success that that program brought to the sheriff's office, we averaged a weight loss of about 30 pounds per person. Wow. And some of the people that participated that are standing behind me. I don't know if they want me to throw them under the bus or not. But I was one of them. I'll throw myself under the bus. It's been something that's been really good. As you're all aware, Sheriff Narvesa, he spends some time at the gym occasionally. He was one of those that participated. He did really well in that. I did really well. I'm going to throw Lieutenant Fisher under the bus, whether he likes it or not. But I would also like to say we have one deputy that's continued this program, and he's down 100 pounds. And that's just incredible. And he's sticking with it. He has a goal weight. He's actually looking a little bit skinny for being a 6'3 guy. He knows who I'm talking about right now. And so I just wanted to publicly thank them that this has been something that not only did we do for four months, but we've continued it on. We have a lot of people. In fact, the gym, the Sheriff's Office was recognized as members of the month beginning of this year. You walk into the gyms, either in Spring Creek or in Elko, and there's a lot of deputies in there. So I'm proud of all of them and the commitment they've showed. And thank you guys for getting this program going up with us. It does work, and it's made a difference in the Sheriff's Office. So I just wanted to say thank you.

Thank you for that. Yeah, really. Thank you for that testimonial, Under Sheriff Ame.

Hank. Yes, sir. Hank Thurston for the record. Based on that, it sounds like the county is getting a pretty good deal out of this. I do have one question that maybe these gentlemen can answer for me.

Is based on the changes to the cyber coverage there, what is the value of that? What is the county paying for that coverage?

So with regards to your cyber coverage, it's actually built into the total liability cost. So at the annual board meeting, what we do is we look at the reinsurance costs. So the reinsurance cost for that coverage was $425,000. Now, that gets divided up through our actuary, through your actuary, that allocates that out to each one of the departments or each one of the entities that's out there. So there isn't an actual dollar amount because it's all built into that liability coverage. It's all part of the liability package. Okay.

All right. Thank you. Thanks. Thanks. Any other public comment? Okay. Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Aye. And I vote aye also. Motion carries.

Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you for your participation in Pool Impact and being a strong member for us. We greatly appreciate it.

We appreciate you too. Thanks. Safe travels. Okay, we are going to move now to Item F, Elko County Planning and Zoning F1. It is after the hearing time, so we're good to go there. Pursuant to notice number 202623, discussion and consideration of approval of resolution number 202611 regarding a right-of-way vacation application number right-of-way vacation 26001 submitted by Warren and Diana Russell requesting to vacate a portion of Thorpe Way application and application submitted by Warren and Diana Russell requesting to vacate a portion of Thorpe located at APN 007-08F-003, currently owned by the applicant. And it goes on to describe the location. Corey.

Amanda, could you open up my staff report, please? Good afternoon, Corey Rice, Elko County Surveyor and Senior Planner. So the Russells are requesting to vacate Thorpe Avenue where it goes through their parcel. This is actually a better map of it. They're not looking to cut off access to the north. The existing road that's there wavers in and out of this existing right-of-way. So they're asking to vacate this right-of-way. And in turn, they will create a new public access utility and drainage easement that actually overlays the actual improved roadway. The Planning Commission did recommend approval to this board with staffs recommendations findings and conditions I did have a meeting with Delmo today can regarding a Opposition letter that we'd received and went over that Delmo had some changes to my conditions, so I'll let him or had some recommended changes to my conditions I'll let him speak to that, but I also do believe that after we had this conversation about Mr. Andreozzi did speak with one of the representatives of the opposition, and it kind of got the feeling like things have gotten smoothed over, so everybody's happy. But with that being said, I'll let Delmo speak to the changes to my conditions.

Thank you, Corey. And I guess before we get there, there's been some correspondence. So there was an issue about procedural stuff. Have we verified that procedurally – We can proceed, or was there any validity with the procedural issues that were brought up?

Just very late in the morning this morning, there did appear to be some procedural issues. We sent out notice to the properties immediately adjacent to this right-of-way vacation. However, it's the Russells that own both sides of this right-of-way when they're where the vacation is happening. So I'll leave that to legal counsel on where we stand there.

Okay. So before I get too far down, Tyler, in your opinion, do we have the ability to go forward or do we have a procedural hiccup?

I do agree that there could be an argument for a procedural hiccup. However, if things have been smoothed over like we may have been and the parties waive those procedural defects, I think we're fine to proceed.

Okay. All right. So then with that, I would, and I did have a correspondence with a couple of different people the most recent person I spoke with this afternoon I don't see here but it's my understanding that she partners with the representation of the the people that are concerned with this this request so let me just tell you the three additional conditions that that I would like to add so I don't know if Amanda if you can go are you driving this if you can go back to the staff recommendations on the conditions it would be Yeah, right there. Go a little bit farther. A little bit farther. Staff comments. Keep going. Here we go. Right there. Right there. Thank you. So the additional request that I would have is I would direct your attention to item B. It talks about a 30-wide easement. I would recommend that we make that a 60-foot easement. and everything else stays the same, but the last sentence, added an additional sentence that says that this is to be recorded, this is to be recorded, or the new easement is to be recorded before this is, it's a conditional acceptance of this. So in other words, the new easement has to be recorded before this is recorded.

Vacation takes effect before before your resolution before there.

Yeah, everybody clear on that one So why the 60 versus the 30? You know, for me, the right-of-way right now, what's that? The old one was 60. Yeah, the right-of-way is 60 feet. For me, I don't necessarily like, you know, there are other properties behind this. It's hard to know what's going to happen in the future. An easement, people can use an easement. They just can't build on it, but they can be used, and I think it's just in our best interest since we really don't know what the future is to preserve the 60-foot easement. So I don't like to give up easement unless we unless we know it's not necessary. And in this case, you know, there are some properties that would access this property. So that would be the second one. And then the third condition that I would add is would be below item D. And that is. that no public access is denied either with physical barriers or other types of barriers. So those are the three conditions I have, and I know that the Russells, this is the first time they're hearing this too, so I don't know how we want to do this, and I don't know if the, I'm sorry if I'm going to say this wrong, but the Whiteheads represent it. Are they here? Okay, they're here. I'd just like to have an opportunity to kind of, throw those additional conditions on top of what we already have here, and see if folks are willing to move forward with those proposed additional conditions. And Bob, if you want to speak, I think you're representing the Russells.

I have one question maybe before we go.

Okay, okay. Stand by just one second. I'll call you in just a second.

And this is a question for Tyler. The White House attorneys have said that their consent is demanded. So do you agree with that? I think they said NRS 278.480.

That's the statute that you brought to my attention, Tyler.

If their consent is demanded and they're not giving it, Then that's kind of the end of this discussion, isn't it?

I got to pull up the letter. That's okay. I don't remember that part of the letter. I've got it. If you have it, I'll take it.

And let me just take care of one other. Yeah, just one second, Mr. Russell. I absolutely will get you on record. Just give me just a second. I just also wanted to make another disclosure. Kind of the standard disclosure is that my son works at High Desert with Mr. Tebow. However, there is no direct conflict with me. There's no pecuniary interest one way or the other, and I feel like I can fairly judge and make a decision on this case and don't see any conflict. I just want to make that disclosure. So we're just going to let the attorney look at this, and I'll be right with you if that's okay. Okay, give me just one second. We will recognize you.

So the consent that I think that they're talking about is in subsection 11 of NRS 278-480. Having not researched this before, I'm going off the fly here, so... It is for a governing body to establish a simplified procedure whereby if you are going through this process and you get the notarized signatures of the abutting property owners, you can do it without going through a meeting. So without any more context to what they're saying here, that's all I can come up with.

And so I guess it would be still your opinion that we could still kind of move forward and just kind of see where... Things play out?

Yeah, and I certainly reserve the right to change my mind after I hear from the parties.

I got you. I absolutely appreciate that. Okay, Mr. Williams, or I'm sorry, Warren, Russell, Mr. Russell, would you like to come in? Okay, very well. Yes, Mr. Thiebaud.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Commission members. My name is Bob Tebow, for the record, with High Desert Engineering. The Russells are here as well in attendance. I have reviewed the opposition letters. I think those concerns are being addressed. Most of them are about things that we're not doing that we are actually doing. We're having it properly surveyed. We are going to record a deed to dedicate the new easement. We are following all the right the steps in the process and and getting this done The biggest issue out there is that the existing road? Is not within the easement in fact the gate that the Russell's put up isn't even in the easement The actual easement goes through more of their landscaping and some of their nice trees That we don't you know really want to realign the road to go there, so we're trying to realign this easement right away to to fit the road that's actually built and allow people to keep using the road. We are not trying to cut off access to any of the parcels to the north. And in proposing a new easement, the planning department and myself saw really no need for a 60-foot wide easement. That's certainly excessive for what's only a 12-foot wide gravel road. And even if it becomes A two-lane road, maybe 24 feet wide at most, would ever be needed through there, in my opinion. So that's why we proposed a 30-foot easement. Mr. Andreozzi wanted to add the requirement that it be 60 foot. We just can't really see a need for that. And the Russells are going to push back a little bit on that. So I hope we can maybe discuss that a little bit more. The other condition you wanted to add, Mr. Andreozzi, was that the deed record before the vacation, the granting of the new easement?

Yes.

If the deed is signed by the Russells to grant the easement, they have to own the land first. So it has to record after the vacation. However, what we can do is provide that signed deed, signed by the Russells, to the staff. I believe it's the staff that generally records the Vacation resolutions whether it's Cory's office or it's the DA's office. I'm not sure usually Or admin its County staff that records those so as long as we present the signed deed to the staff They can record the vacation record the granting of the easement subsequently I think that's reasonable and that's really my expectation is just to secure the easement. Yeah, certainly certainly So we're all in agreement to that

And then the last one was not denying any access with the... Yeah, no, they're not trying to deny access.

They did, for a short while, have that gated. They get, you know, the Whitehead property is not developed. They essentially have no neighbors that use that. I understand maybe they were trying to show the property or use the property to some extent, you know, without the Russells realizing that the property was being used. But what they were trying to cut off was the cut-through traffic of the four-wheelers, the side-by-sides, and that kind of stuff that we all know goes on on a lot of those county roads. And that was the reason for the gate, not so much to cut off the neighbors. And the gate has been left open since the complaint from the neighbors, and I don't believe that's any longer an issue. The other complication here was that when that subdivision map was created, The county rejected that offer of dedication. There was a utility and drainage easement granted by that same map, but the county rejected the offer of dedication for public access. And the county has corrected that procedural matter since in that now you have a tendency to accept on behalf of the public but reject for maintenance. And you've made that clear. We've improved that practice, but that map They circled the word reject and crossed out the word accept, and the county commissioner signed that on that subdivision map. So there is a question as to whether there was even a proper legal access in the first place, and we're not trying to fight that. Again, we want to allow access, but this will correct that matter as well and clarify that in the future, that this new easement is for public access, even though it was a bit convoluted in the past. So we're really just trying to correct some things, clear up that matter, that county rejecting that dedication, and get the easement where the people are actually driving. That's our whole intention here.

Okay, thank you, Mr. Tebow. And I don't know if you're prepared to discuss your... Really carefully, you would notice there's a 60-foot easement, okay?

All of the stuff that we're, or the alignment for it, for a 30-foot road would fit inside that 60-foot easement, except it would be moved over so it doesn't run down a row of walnut trees that we had planted a long time ago, and other trees too. This decision followed higher incorrect decision to close and lock a gate while we vacationed because of a theft on our property. The response by Mr. Whitehead was a cease and desist order instead of a neighborly conversation. We immediately opened the gate and removed the lock on the same day as Mr. Whitehead's letter arrived, December 5th, 2025. The gate and posts were removed in mid-January, so the issue is no longer existent. Following this action, we felt it necessary to obtain a legal survey of Thorpe Way, We consulted with High Desert Engineering and concluded that a slight adjustment to the road and the easement might prevent future conflict. At the Elko County Planning Commission meeting, our application was approved and forwarded to the Elko County Board of Commissioners for final approval. I know that you can make adjustments. You can help us negotiate. I appreciate, Mr. Andreozzi, what you're trying to do. And you have the right to do that. But it was approved by the Planning Commission. And that's a significant event. We have responded to the grounds for objections. And you can read through those on page three of my notes. In summary, because of Mr. Whitehead's immediate movement to legal remedies instead of a conversation between neighbors, Mrs. Russell and I took three steps. First, as mentioned before, we did a legal survey of Thorpe Way across Lot 3, and it was completed by High Desert Engineering. Second, we submitted a request to Elko County for a vacation of the existing easement and a subsequent 30-foot-wide public access, public utility, and drainage easement over and across a portion of the grantor's property. And you can see that on exhibit A. Third, we submitted a request to the Elko Planning Commission. And it was approved after due consideration and forwarded to this board on February 19, 2026. I think that I have included in your materials a letter from the Walters, who are the adjacent park, the owner on the south, and they are in agreement with what we're suggesting to do. We are anticipating your acceptance of the Elkwood County Planning Commission's decision and to move forward. We are not totally hostile to any of the provisions provided, except we We feel a little bit uncomfortable with a 60-foot easement, which seems to be a takings of our land and not necessary. If there's only two houses that can be built, two residents in the north section, lot one and two of that subdivision, why would you need a 60-foot easement to service those? You don't. That's the answer. You don't need it. But if you want to build a bunch of subdivisions with one-acre lots or some kind of provision like this, which I'm not suggesting they're doing, but if that were the intention, then you might need a 60-foot boulevard to run through all of those properties. This is the design from Elko County was to have a 40-acre parcel, agricultural parcel, that a family could go and homestead on, so to speak. in Elko County. That's the nature of what your predecessors established, and that's what we have done over these years. Mrs. Russell has some comments related to what our property exists and how it works. We try to be good neighbors. We did not write cease and desist orders to anyone, and we immediately took care of that issue. It no longer exists. Everything is out and everything is taken care of and we will continue it now that we know where the established boundaries are We will continue to make sure that Eastman is totally clear and accessible For public access and our access and egress ingress and egress in the future That's our commitment and we're willing to sign anything that would Establish it we are very concerned about a 60-foot and you would be too. I if that 60 foot ended up in your front yard.

Mr. Russell, thank you for your comments. And I just wanted to kind of clarify a couple of points that I've heard. So based on Mr. Thibault's presentation, what I understand is the recorded alignment for the right-of-way that exists on Thorpe is in a different location than where the actual Road is yes the intent of what you're trying to do is is to put the Easement over the top of the existing road so there would be no requirement of any other additional grading or any of those other things that that we've talked about and really just vacating this other piece that the road isn't even on and So that's what I understand. And then I think the other thing that's really important to mention is that when it's a right-of-way, which is you can create easements or right-of-way, but when it's a right-of-way, going through the Russell's property, they don't pay property taxes on that 60 foot by whatever long it is or anybody that's on that road. Converting it to an easement, you do pay property taxes on it. So there's actually a tax benefit or a tax increase to you guys as a result of what you're trying to accomplish here. We're not concerned about the cost of that. No, I'm just pointing out these things. And then the last thing I wanted to just say with respect to the 60-foot easement. When I'm saying reserve, it just is there in case you need it. I'm not saying that it would be built out the full width. It's just the easement would be there just like any other, you know, it's just like that's a 60 foot right away. The road wasn't, it wouldn't be 60 foot. It would just be reserved in case it was ever, it would still be your property. You could still use it. You just couldn't build on it. That's the difference.

Fort Halleck Road is, I'm not sure, maybe it's pretty close to 60 foot out there. So you're saying this thing's going to come through these properties. I consider it not necessary. That may not be the position of Mr. Whitehead or his future interests, but our interest is to keep those in 40-acre agricultural homesteads, so to speak, for people throughout Elko County not only for the past, but for years to come. We've been there 32 years, and we expect, we've even talked about whether we should be buried on that property because we're getting up in our 80s now. And that's our attachment to that land and our attachment to Nevada and our attachment to the spirit and the hopes and the dreams. We have other conflicts with people, but we never have any problems with them. We have ditches running through our property. We would not think of holding someone off from using their legal rights to that. That's not in our nature. But our nature, it seems like taking land from us by putting a 60 for these people.

As well as the necessity for it. Mr. Russell, there already is a 60-foot easement. Yes. So what we're being asked here to do is referee the dispute between two neighbors. And we're trying to be fair to both sides. There is an existing 60-foot easement. Let's just keep that as a 60-foot easement. And we'll try to talk the White House side into accepting the new easement that is, as you say, is on the existing road.

I understand that I may be, my wife and I might be forced back into that position. Everything else you've talked about, there's no problems. We're in agreement. We would have no problem with the stipulations put on by Mr. Whitehead's representatives, but we feel uncomfortable, and we may lose and feel uncomfortable too. You understand that? You don't always get everything you want. Of course. And I understand that, and I appreciate your consideration.

Thank you, Mr. Russell.

Mrs. Russell has some questions.

Sure, I'll recognize you, Mrs. Russell.

Unless there's other questions that I can answer or Bob can answer.

No, I'm not thank you

I'm Diana Russell, and I listen to legalese, and I've listened to facts, but I don't speak that way. I'm a storyteller. So turn to page one of your book that I just handed you, and I'm going to express my thanks, first of all, to Elko County Commissioners for giving me the opportunity to express my perspective. The story begins once upon a time, like all stories, in 1992 when, in good faith, a middle-aged couple purchased 40 acres of agricultural land and agricultural land all around them with an egress access, as we were told. In June 1994, the couple moved onto the property, forsaking high-paying jobs to have a new adventure. Picture number one. Mother came to see if they were OK or just crazy for moving to the middle of nowhere in an overhead camper with no facilities. And in December 1994, the couple received their mobile home in which they still happily abide. See picture two. As you've already known, that couple is us, Mr. Russell and myself. And we had big plans and many unexpected challenges. Between June and December, of 1994, Mr. Russell focused on the first of eight tasks we had set for ourselves for just five of the acres. Task number one, the clearing of sage. Picture two shows only some of the acreage he cleared by hand. He cleared all five that way. I was unable to help since I was an itinerant speech and language pathologist for Elko County School District. But as picture three indicates, Mr. Russell did have a little help That's right, our goat named Brush Limbaugh. A second task, replace wire fencing. So turn to page two, please. We're replacing wire fencing and posts around the majority of the 40 acres, and again, manually by Mr. Russell. Page two, picture four is an example of both private and pasture fencing and the access road. As you can see, it is well used. through our property. A third task, dig trenches by hand, Mr. Russell, and install a viable irrigation system, Mr. Russell again, and still working today, both of them, Mr. Russell and the irrigation system, with faucets and many overhead sprinklers. Look closely at picture five on page two, and you'll see one of those sprinklers. Now, if you're like I am, I can't find Waldo, so I'll give you a little hint. Look in the middle on the bottom of your photo and a little bit to the midline left and you'll find one of those sprinklers. Now, would you please turn to page three and you'll see where the fun really began. Planting greenery. Together we've planted, replanted, replaced 300 plus trees. fruit, nut, shade, conifers, and pines, as well as junipers and bushes. Photo number six is the walnut orchard along the axis. Number seven is just another view of our hard work. Oh, and when the cherry, apple, plum, and apricot fruit ripens, you're welcome to come out and pick up all you want. Well, page four has photos, so please turn to page four. For the fifth task, construct and maintain outbuildings and a greenhouse, photos eight and nine. The greenhouse on photo number nine is to your far right, and it's a 10 by 20 foot structure. Mr. Russell and I had a good system going. You build it, I'll paint it. Well, he stopped building, and I'm still painting. As you can see in your photo at the top by the little red shed, There are instead many outbuildings which still have to be maintained and painted. On page four are six tasks, cultivate, expand, and maintain, and produce gardens. It still takes both of us laboring to keep up with what's required for a plentiful bounty. That's photo number 10. You are also welcome and invited to come out if you'd like to help us, because if you come with lots of shovels and pickaxes and anything else you can work the ground, you're welcome to come out, and I'll give you a basket full of produce. Well, task number seven on page five, so please turn to five. Cement work. Much gravel work by shoveling it by hand between the two of us. onto pathways and vehicle access areas. During the mud season, you see, we got tired of leaving our boots behind us. So we did a lot of graveling. Now during more than, oh yes, that was funny too, more than one old pickup truck gave up carrying multiple loads of gravel over Elko Summit into our place. However, for a while, It was the best time of my life. I never had such good-looking biceps and abs. Neither did he. And photo number 11 shows where the private and access divide. Ours to the right and the access to the left. Photo 12 shows a portion of our driveway going out from our property. Task number 8. working on and maintaining the ingress-egress access, approximately a quarter mile. It seems much longer when my work is done manually, but Mr. Russell sure likes using his Kubota. Photo 13 on page 5. It places a double wide cattle guard installed by Mr. Russell, designating the start of our property line and the access into it, which leads out to in the Fort Halleck area. With Mr. Russell as a mover and shaker of snow, mud, dirt, clay, and rocks, and me as a bushwhacker with hedge clippers, we have been able to keep the access accessible. Well, as they say, that's my story, and I'm sticking to it. But I do have more to say, gentlemen. Please turn to page six. which I'll explain later. As you can see from my perspective, this has not just been 32 years of adventure and challenges, but it's been a fulfilling lifestyle. While focusing on the five acres and maintaining the other 35 for grazing, we have discovered four very important reasons to keep doing what we've been doing. Your decision will affect whether there will be future positives are possible negative consequences for the following. One, nourishing, maintaining, and protecting agricultural land. Two, encouraging wildlife onto a safe habitat. We have encountered poachers on the property when we first came. Three, living in a peaceful and pleasant environment. And four, raising produce not only for ourselves but for others and as a minimal future income. In the last 32 years, we have aspired to a quiet and peaceful life, to mind our own business, to work with our hands and to help others so that we may walk properly before those in our community. In the years of repairing and maintaining the land, we have lived frugally and labored hard. In the early years when time, energy, and finances came together all at the same time, because for years we were both fully employed professionals and active in the community. We were blessed, and still are by the grace and goodness of God. We are amazed and appreciative for the beauty which now surrounds us daily. Interestingly, we recently discovered something about our pleasant, peaceful homestead. Our egress access is like many other areas around Elko County. The access is not an access. It is one of Elko County's many unmaintained county roads. And I had been wondering why for years it was called Thorpe Way, and now I know. Now, Mr. Whitehead may complain all he wants about the county road. By the way, on page six, I'll explain that now. Those are two photos of Mr. Whitehead's access into his property. and the gate, which divides our property from his. If you'll note, he's never maintained his gate or his access, the very same county road about which he complains. And if you remember back in the page, oh, I think it was where I showed you the walnut grove in the orchard. That's the road that's being maintained up into just before his property. And by the way, the light-colored timber, can you see a light-colored timber in that photo? I finally gave up and said, I'm going to lug a timber over there and prop up the gate because I am tired of the cattle on his property stepping over the gate to get into ours. And it's been propped up that way since for the last few years. However, commissioners, I have no complaints about the road. I do have a request, though. Would you please, in order to protect agricultural land, not just ours, but that around us, and our life's work, number one, accept high desert engineering survey report as a valid and viable solution to maintain the land and not have to damage things like our walnut orchards. Two, accept the Elko County Planning Commission's approval to A, vacate the present 60-foot easement, and B, approve a 30-foot assessment. Non-approval of this request will create for us a potential damage both personally and professionally and financially. Being in our early 80s, we are too old to start over again and to lose possible income. If you have no questions, I'll just await for your approval.

Thanks, Mrs. Russell. Thank you for your time. Brian, I know you had a question. Go ahead.

Do you have a question?

I don't know who it's for, but go ahead.

Well, I don't know who knows best. The question that's before us is to vacate a right-of-way.

Mm-hmm.

And so that a new easement can be established over the existing road.

Exactly.

No road is going to change.

No, the road is going to be the same.

Okay. Correct. And we've been asked to change it from 60 feet right away to a 30-foot easement.

Because if we have to move it 60, it would be just the road and... Removal of all those walnut orchard trees.

Can you grow trees in a right-of-way or in a 60-foot easement?

Well, I'll give you a classic example. All the roads in Elko are 80 feet wide. The right-of-way is 80 feet wide, okay? So every road that has a tree in it in the tree streets is in the right-of-way, every single one. So... You can, but a right-of-way is different than an easement, though. A right-of-way is something that is dedicated to the local government. It actually comes off the tax roll and is dedicated to the government. An easement provides the same type of access, but it's an invisible line. The property lines still are matched up. When you have a right-of-way, the property... the property lines are separated by that right-of-way. Does that make sense? Yeah. Okay. Okay, so thank you. So I'm about ready to turn this over to the commission for discussion, but Mr. Carlson, I wanted to give you an opportunity. Is there any part of this testimony that's changed your opinion or thoughts regarding this? Otherwise, I'll turn it over to the commission for some discussion.

Just briefly, Mr. Chairman, Sev Carlson, for the record, I'm still concerned in that we're taking a legal right-of-way of 60 feet, which means something that these properties have enjoyed, and we're potentially reducing that. So it's not an equivalent right that the Whitehead's property has enjoyed from the time that Judge Whitehead bought it in the 80s. that's my biggest concern, that government would be in a position of not providing equivalent access that those properties have enjoyed since 1918 and then subject to the map in 1981.

I'm going to ask you a real tough question here. If your clients use the road that's established right now and it's not on any easement, are they trespassing on the Russell's property? No. No.

I'd have to think about that.

I don't think the Russells are understanding what I'm saying. That road is not covered by an easement or right-of-way. If someone is driving on that road, they're on your property. They're on your property. So I'm just trying to figure out a way for us all to either get there or not get there. It doesn't matter. This is all just part of the process.

The other flip of that coin is the Russells built on an easement and planted things on an easement, and they shouldn't have, and the road is not in the right spot. There's always a flip to this coin.

Well, I don't know who built the road.

They already said they did. They put the Kubota and started building the road, put gravel and everything else in there.

Let me ask a question before you leave. Do you think your clients would accept with an explanation that this new easement that they're proposing is going to be on what is on the ground right now, on the existing road?

I don't know. My clients were intending on being here themselves, but they retained me partially because of their unavailability. I've sent them a A text message? I don't have an answer, but I have presented not only...

It seems to me that they would be, just logically. The road that they've been using was outside the existing easement, and if the new easement follows what they've been driving on, then I can't see anybody logically opposing that.

Without the authority to answer, I personally agree with your rationale. I am still concerned about diminishing the 60-foot right-of-way legal rate that's been tied to this property.

And our chairman's suggestion is to add that to the conditions from the staff, that it remains a 60-foot easement.

And I guess that becomes a technical question on, is the easement equivalent of a right-of-way under the map?

Give me a chance, Mr. Oshawa.

The Corey Rice, Elko County Surveyor again. So the condition in there requiring the new easement be put in place is that easement has to be specifically spelled out as a public access, public utility, and public drainage easement. So yes, it would have these same rights essentially for public use as if it remained as county right-of-way.

The only difference... The only difference is if you create a right-of-way, you create the right-of-way and dedicate it to the local government. An easement stays to the properties.

That's correct. Yeah, a right-of-way actually becomes in fee the property of the government, the property of the county, whereas an easement does not. An easement just burdens the property with the use of that access, utilities, and drainage.

So should we be making this a right-of-way, not an easement?

I'm perfectly fine with making it. There's some problems with keeping it as a right-of-way.

What's your preference?

My preference is to have it easement. Okay. And the reason being, if it's right-of-way, it could potentially automatically split off this weird-shaped piece along the east side there, which would create a completely non-conforming parcel.

Mm-hmm. Would it be a public easement, or would it just simply be a pertinent to the parcels that use it? Pardon? If it's an easement that's granted rather than a right-of-way, would it be an easement for the public, or would it be just a pertinent to the easement?

That's the condition, that it be a public access utility and drainage easement to act just as if it was a county right-of-way.

And that's the same as exists now.

It exists as county right-of-way now, but, yes, it essentially would have the same rights to it.

Again, you know, I feel this is an argument between two property owners, and I kind of resent the fact that we're here to try to solve that. In my opinion, we ought to continue it until you two can come to an agreement and come back to us.

I guess I'm going to kind of slightly disagree because I – I don't see how who you're representing could say no to this. You're gonna have the easement, it's gonna be there. I think Dan will put the right wording in. The 60 foot was not, well the road's not built where it's supposed to be, and this is a way to fix all of it. So I would prefer us to make that motion and go forward, but. Yeah, I'm okay with that.

The way I see it, there's two ways to resolve this, and that is either through vacating, through NRS 278, or if the parties had done a private cause of action under NRS 111A, which is specific to relocating easements, a court can realign an easement under NRS 111A if the vacation will not substantially impair access to any owner of property and it's not materially going to increase the burden of the dominant easement holder. In this case, it's clear that the best solution here is to realign the easement to the existing road because then trees don't have to be torn down. It's not going to cost any more money for the dominant holder to improve the easement because it's already improved. So I don't have any problem realigning the easement. The only question in my mind, and I have no problem with a public easement rather than a public right-of-way, You know, the taxation is not an issue here. The only issue in my mind is can it be reduced to a 30-foot easement without impairing the rights of those other users? And on a country road like this, it doesn't appear to be servicing a large number of parcels. These are very rural parcels. I mean, theoretically, you could have a rezone and a subdivision go in behind this. even in that situation a 30 foot may be adequate for that because most county roads are no more than 26 feet wide even when they're fully improved plus utilities so 60 feet would definitely be an exact exchange you just move the 60 foot from here to there that's no problem and and i'm fine with that i think that would be the appropriate decision for the council today so that we're not diminishing the existing easement. We're just relocating it, and there's really no objection to the relocation. So that would be my vote is to just exchange the 60-foot here to realign it with the road.

Sure, and I have no objections to that. I do think I need to make clear, though, that a 30-foot easement is more than enough to accommodate the minimum county rural road. which is a 20-foot wide travel way with borrowed inches.

I don't want to beat a horse to death, but it doesn't matter if it's a 5-foot easement, a 100-foot easement, the property line stays exactly where it is. It can be used for any purpose except for building a structure on it. It can be used for... agriculture purpose tree, whatever. You just can't build a structure on it. So not being able to know what happens in the future, I'm just, again, I'm just one person. I'm trying to maintain the easement just in case something happens that I'm not envisioning down there. That's it. That's the only reason why I said 60 feet.

Well, I think that's the same thing Travis was saying.

Oh, is that what you're saying? I'm sorry. I misunderstood you. I apologize.

Can we make a motion now? Are we legally fine? We're good? Your pleasure. Well, I move we approve the easement where the road is currently located with the recommendation of my chairman here, Mr. Delmo, of the 60-foot instead of the 30-foot, so it's an actual... equal to equal parcel. And with the staff recommendations and conditions as presented, the only difference would have been the answer to 30 to 60, as Delmo recommended, is my motion. Can they be recorded? I don't know if Mr. Warren's right or not, but either way, the point was being that it has to be recorded to make sure this goes through. That was the point of that, and that's still the point of my motion on this finding and condition as well.

Okay, I have a motion. Go ahead. Let me get a second.

I'll second.

I have a second.

Go ahead. So mr. Tebow did make a really good point He won't be able to that easement will not be able to be created until the resolution for the vacation is done But if staff does those will do them Simultaneously do the vacation the resolution for the vacation and then the recordation of the easement immediately thereafter sure that's the point I said on the motion that

The point is it gets done.

Yep. So for clarification, the vacation would be contingent on the Russell's Deeding and Easement to realign with the existing road?

Yes. Okay. Okay, so we have a motion, we have a second. Any other Commission discussion, comment, question?

Yes, so... I can't imagine. So this road services two properties past the property in question. And I'm just trying to imagine. Of course, I don't have a crystal ball either. I'm trying to imagine. what contraption would need 60 feet of clearance to get through there? I mean, is it a spaceship or something? I mean, that's quite a bit of room. I don't have any problem making it a 30-footer, but I'm also fine going along with 60 foot because it doesn't impede anything except for structure. If you were planning on putting up a Brick chicken coop in that 60 feet.

I'm real sorry So that'll be 15 feet more than what I mean on either side of the 30 feet and I appreciate what you say But I think Corey let me ask you I think the general standard for an easement or right away is 60 feet That's kind of why I landed on that Yeah, if there's being a parcel map or a subdivision being created a county code the minimum width is 60 feet.

I

And as we've mentioned, there's no bulldozer going down to chop down the old walnut trees now. This does not affect that. It's not a structure. They're still staying there.

Yeah, there's no intent to do additional construction on that road. It's just putting the easement where the road is.

Okay. Any other questions or concerns? Travis, I'm terribly sorry I misunderstood what you were saying. I apologize. Please accept my apology.

Might have cost me a pecan.

Okay, we're moving into public comment period on this. We have a motion. We have a second. We'll accept public comment. Yes, Mr. Tebow.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Again, Bob Tebow, High Desert Engineering. I just wanted to respond to a couple questions and make one point of clarification. First of all, no, there would not be any road construction requirements, as the question was posed by the legal counsel for the neighborhood of the north. And second of all, the point of clarification I wanted to make is at times this road is within the existing easement. At times it is not. We felt it much cleaner to vacate the whole thing and describe as one clean right-of-way coming through there rather than trying to add pieces and subtract pieces and move pieces. It's much cleaner to do the whole thing. So I just wanted to be clear about that. At times the road is within the right-of-way. At times it's not. As you can see, well, there was that sketch that was up there. Yeah, at the south end of this, we're widening out. That's the existing easement. The other one, yeah, at the south end there, we're widening out to match the existing easement. That's probably one of the worst spots where that road is well outside of the easement. And going south into the Walters property, they're a client of mine as well. I helped them do some design there. That road is all over the place in comparison to the easement. It's well outside the easement at times. I tried to get them to correct the matter as well. They weren't interested in pursuing it. So anyhow, yeah, someone just, maybe it was an existing road that the surveyor didn't, I don't know. I don't know how it happened, but that existing road's all over the place out there. That third way is not within its right of way significantly at times. The other question posed was, does the road continue to the north? Yes, it does continue. It hasn't been maintained or used as much as those properties are not developed, but there is at least kind of an overgrown two track, if nothing else, going up there. The road does continue up to the north.

Thank you, Mr. Trebow. Do we have any other public comments before we take action? Mr. Russell.

I would just like to make sure that the road at the 64th East is aligned on the west side.

It's on the current alignment of the built road.

Okay, if it lands on the middle, then that's a different story. But if it comes from

From the west side from your fence over and not So it stays as far away from your row of trees as possible you know as far as that's a concern if it can be as far away from that section and

then we've already stipulated, I hope you heard me, that the other conditions, the other two conditions, we've already stipulated we would agree to those. There's no problem. We want to do it at the same time so both things are accomplished, and the other one too. So that's just, if this works out so that that 60 foot, if you can imagine a 30, you know, on this map, the 30 foot there, is it's always going to be on it the rest of the sixty-fifths could be on the west side and if that's so We'll go with it, and we won't make any further objections to what's happening. Thank you, Mr. Ross. And it's settled outside of the commission, maybe. I'm sorry, Mr. Stensher.

That's all right. If I understand, the realignment would put the measurement of the 60 feet from the center line of the existing roadway. That's what the motion is. Mr.. Russell suggesting that would be 60 feet from the I guess that would be the Eastern property line 65 I'm perfect.

I'm perfectly fine with the way you describe it from the center line of the Existing roadway 60 feet to the west that would just be perfect well, but that can't be though because I

If you measure from the center line, it's going to be 30 feet to the left of the road and 30 feet from the center line to the right.

Okay, however you describe it. You understand what I want.

So the easement is going to follow that road. It's not going to be in line with the property lines. It's going to follow the existing roadway.

I'm concerned with the easement.

Okay.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you. Corey, did you have something else? Yeah. Go ahead.

So as far as the location of the improved roadway within the new easement, as long as those improvements are within that easement, that is perfectly fine. It's common that there is a difference between right-of-way center line and construction center line. You see that often where they're two offset things. So just so long as all the improvements are in that road, in that all the improvements are within the new easement, That's all we're concerned about. So whether they use one side of this 30-foot easement and go 60 feet all the way across, or they use the center line and go 30 feet on either side, I really have no preference on either way.

Sounds good. It just needs to be 60 foot. You guys will work out the fine line detail.

So in other words, the new easement, as stated, Because there's going to have to be a new survey, or at least this one's going to have to be changed. The road will be within the 60 feet. It doesn't have to be on the center line. Yeah. And I'm fine with that.

Okay. Me too. Any other last public comment before we vote? Seeing none, all those in favor, signify by saying aye. Aye. And I vote aye also. Motion carries. Thank you all for being here and for your testimony. We appreciate your time today. Okay, let's see. It's well past 1.36. We'll move into notice number 2026.26, discussion and consideration of an approval of resolution number 2026.12 regarding a right-of-way vacation application from Gary Sampley in Mountain City, Nevada. Application discusses a right-of-way application and the location. Mr. Rice.

Good afternoon. Cory Rice, Elko County Surveyor and Senior Planner again. This is up in Mountain City. The applicant owns this entire... Oops. Wrong one here, Amanda?

Yeah. It's another one.

Okay, that's fine. We can do this one first. Okay. Um... So the applicant owns this entire block that you see outlined here in the town of Mountain City. And what he's asking to do is vacate all of the alleyway that bisects that block and then half of the right-of-way of C Street and half of the right-of-way of First Street. When they first approached me and asked if I would support this, They were asking for the full 80 foot width to abandon all that road. We do use that right of way for a fire break. So I asked them, let's keep it down to the half width so we can still maintain our fire break in the other 40 feet. Again, the Elko County Planning Commission did recommend approval with our conditions, recommendations, and findings. I did have a few questions in the very early process of this from some of the residents up there. Once I explained what was going on, nobody had any problems, did not get any opposition. Mr. Andreozzi did suggest that maybe we add another condition requiring that all of these individual lots within Block 13 be merged together by either a parcel map or by a reversion to acreage. to create it all just one parcel and eliminate each individual lot to prevent any just arbitrarily deeding off one lot at a time in the future. And I would support that. Yeah, I like that.

Make a motion to approve the vacation as presented.

Okay, I have a motion. Oh, did you want to get that additional condition in there? I'm sorry. Combining lots one through 16 on block 15.

And combining lots one through... 16 yeah, thank you.

Thanks second that motion motion a second any other discussion Amanda. Can you call up the resolution? I have a note that it's got a wrong date in it But I didn't print it out so I Recall it says June 1st instead of June there. I don't know if that's important.

That's the application I

That would be my mistake Travis do you mind making you made a motion on that one would you mind make an amendment to change that date to whatever needs to be To change the date to where it says June first day of June what's it supposed to be Corey today the third day June and also to amend the The date to the third day of June 2026 second stands yes, sir any other questions comments concerns Any public comment on this item seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye aye aye vote aye also motion carries I was a lot easier We had some practice better at these vacations are sounding better all the time Okay 137. We're after 137. So pursuant to notice number 202627, discussion consideration of resolution 202613 regarding the right-of-way vacation application submitted by Isaac Levanos, I believe, and I apologize if I'm saying that wrong, and Dave Roberson. Application is on Montrose Way and Antimony in a section of an unnamed street. This is an area of BLM historically patented areas up there by Adobe Middle School, and it goes on to describe the application.

Mr. Rice. Again, Corey Rice, Helper County Surveyor and Senior Planner. This is a right-of-way vacation up in what we call the government tracks. Neither one of these roads are currently developed nor being used to access any parcels other than The two application applicants.

I had a question on that, Corey. I mean, it's definitely going to affect that property to the west, to the right there.

To the right? No, to the east here? Yeah, to the east. That parcel is bound by right way on the east side. Is owned by what? It's bound by right way, which is a dedicated right of way. Oh, on the other side of the road, okay. And an improved road. So no it will not affect will not affect those parcels At first I thought the city might have some concerns with it If they ever were to annex it I did have conversations with Kathy Laughlin over at city planning She never did respond back with any objections, so I'm guessing that the city's fine with it as well and Elko County Planning Commission did

Recommend approval with staffs recommendations findings conditions, and I did I met with Cory about this one And I haven't can you go back to that map? Sorry, so I did something something else that I asked Cory about today So I'm gonna say on that southern border there that tea I think that we should we should create an easement drainage easement of 10 feet drainage utility easement and then in the top of the tea there and where it says Montrose Way. You know, since this is an urban area, I think we need an easement for some type of turnaround there, whether it's a garbage truck or FedEx truck or whatever goes up in there. So that would be two additional areas Thoughts that I'd like to add to this one, so you'd be you'd be fine with either a cul-de-sac or Whatever just so a garbage truck an ambulance a fire truck what whatever gets in there can get back out sure Can I make a motion we approve resolution number?

20 20 20 26 that's 13 when the staffs conditions and demos Second that sir cap motion a second any other discussion comment concern

Seeing none is there any public comment on this item? Seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye aye And I vote aye also motion carries. Thank you.

Thank you gentlemen. Have a good afternoon.

Thanks Cory Let's see here Kind of thinking about jockeying some stuff around a lot of people have been in the back back there. I'm sorry happen Sorry Matt So I'm not sure where I'm wanting to go here. Excuse me. Although I'm really excited about H. Is that the one we're doing? Make H happen.

Woo-hoo! Yeah, let's do H. I'm excited about H. All right.

H, Elko County Sheriff's Office.

Wow. Wait a minute.

Wait a minute. Can we just take a moment of silence? Can we just do that? Can we do that? H1 discussion and consideration to approve the purchase and placement of a headstone for Shafter Jane in recognition of the conclusion of the Elko County Sheriff's Office cold case investigation and identification efforts. the Sheriff's Office recently concluded a decades-long cold case investigation involving the unidentified female known as Shafter Jane. Through investigative efforts and advancements in forensic technology, the Sheriff's Office was able to bring resolution to the case, restoring this person's identity. Sheriff's Office is requesting approval to purchase and place a headstone at the individual's grave site to appropriately recognize her identity and memorialize the successful resolution of the case. This item is for possible action.

Under Sheriff Justin Ames, for the record. I just wanted to cover a couple of things. Shafter Jane, the name comes from, obviously, when we have a female victim that we can't identify. Jane Doe has kind of been the standard through law enforcement long before I came around. And Shafter was the exit that she was found on. This is a cold case that predates not only my career, Lieutenant Fisher's career, but everybody who's recently worked on this to bring it to conclusion. When I first took over as the undersheriff, we started going through some of these cases. And I was told that just to the length of this and the complicated cases, it likely may not ever come to conclusion. And I'm super proud of the team that worked on this. So at this point in time, I'd like to have them come up and stand behind me. And Lieutenant Fisher is going to read the conclusion of this case. So I'd like to have, for starters, Lieutenant Fisher come up behind me. And we brought in a couple of people from the Sheriff's Office that came out of Nye County that have been phenomenal additions to the Sheriff's Office. And one of them is Detective Sergeant Crystal Cox and Sergeant Alex Cox to come up and stand with me as well. And alas, we can't forget our friends at the FBI, retired FBI agent Brian Fry. If he could come up here as well, that would be great. Lieutenant Fisher is going to take a little bit of time, and he's going to read the conclusion of this. And just to give them some additional kudos, they did go out, and they did have a chance to interview the suspect. And there was a lot of really good police work that went into this in addition to the forensics and stuff that we collected. And I'd like to say thank you to Tyler as well. Tyler was very instrumental in helping us navigate and negotiate through this and kind of help keep us in the right direction. Pointed us through this process, and he's always a good partner for the sheriff's office And his guidance is what really helped us with this as well so at that point in time I'm gonna let lieutenant fisher sort of read our Press release and and he has any information you guys need on the case and I just one more time like to reiterate They did a phenomenal job, and I'm super proud of them.

Thank you Mr.. Fisher

Thank you. Lieutenant Doug Fisher from the Sheriff's Office. This might get a little emotional because there's a lot into it and I'm still working with the family to accomplish their wishes. So bear with me. In November 1993, the Elko County Sheriff's Office initiated a homicide investigation after responding to the Shafter exit on Interstate 80 in Elko County. On the north side of the Interstate 80, deputies and detectives found a nude female with limited evidence of a crime. After an autopsy, was completed, detectives learned the deceased female was shot twice by a small caliber firearm. One wound track entered from the back of the torso towards the front of the body. The second wound track entered the front of the torso and went upwards towards the back of the body. Due to the condition of the body at autopsy, investigators could only secure one thumb, it was a right thumbprint, for identification purposes. For 32 years, there were many attempts to identify the unknown female through latent fingerprint identification databases with no luck. In effort to entice a suspect response, detectives announced a funeral for the unknown female who was given the name Shafter Jane. The investigation gained some traction and was covered by hard copy. The funeral for Shafter Jane produced no leads. Detectives have attempted several alternative investigation methods to identify Shafter Jane. This included national broadcasts, dental records, stable isotope racial analysis, forensic facial reconstruction, media releases. However, each avenue produced no viable leads nor an identity for Shafter Jane. The homicide investigation went cold, and detectives were unable to identify Shafter Jane or any potential suspects. For many years, several detectives continued to investigate Shafter Jane's death, and despite their efforts, the case went unsolved. April of 2019. With the advancement of DNA and familial genealogy, the Elko County Sheriff's Office requested assistance from the Washoe County Cribe Lab in reprocessing the evidence secured at autopsy. During the reprocessing of the evidence, male semen was found on vaginal swabs. After further testing and analysis, the male semen yielded a full DNA profile. The DNA profile was run through CODIS and there was no matches. Shafter Jane's DNA profile was run through genetic DNA databases with no matches. Considering DNA had not produced any identities for the unknown female victim, Shafter Jane, or unknown male semen contributor, the Elko County Sheriff's Office contracted with Identifinders International to create a forensic genetic genealogy analysis for both Shafter Jane and the unknown male contributor. In January of 2022, the Elko County Sheriff's Office received a forensic genetic genealogy analysis and investigation report from Identifinders International. Their report identified Roger Lee Durkee, born in 1947, as a proposed suspect and potential foreign male DNA contributor. Subsequently, records searches indicated Roger Lee Durkee lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. With the help of the Milwaukee FBI field office surveillance units observed Roger Lee Durkee through numerous items of garbage into a dumpster outside of an apartment building. The garbage from the dumpster was collected and subsequently sent to the Washoe County Crime Lab for DNA comparison. A Washoe County Crime Lab report indicated Roger Lee Durkee's DNA could not be excluded from the foreign unknown male DNA profile. determined from the vaginal swabs, and they were collected at autopsy. August of 2024. In August of 2024, with the assistance of the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office, the Elko County Sheriff's Office detectives, and the FBI agent made contact with Durkee. Durkee was arrested on Wisconsin charges for being in possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Subsequent individuals conducted by Lieutenant Fisher and Detective Alex Cox, with Durkee, revealed information that led detectives to believe that Durkee had searched his digital devices for information on Shafter James' investigation, and he possessed certain details specific to the investigation that was not commonly known to the public. Durkee claimed he liked to watch crime shows and was well-versed in criminal investigations because he found it fascinating. Detectives believed Durkee was monitoring information on Shafter Jane's investigation so they could avoid law enforcement contact and arrest. Durkee admitted to possibly knowing the identity of the female from the 1993 homicide. Durkee provided two names, Mary Alexander and Mary Washington. Durkee indicated he knew the information because he remembered having intimate relationships with a female with the name around the same time of an unidentified female homicide victim being found. Durkee told the detectives the last time he saw Mary, he dropped her off at a blue residence and never saw her again. Detectives thought it was beyond coincidental It's beyond coincidental that Durkee, while living in Salt Lake City, had knowledge of a female that was killed along Interstate 80 in Elko County, Nevada, and remembered the name 30-plus years later. Detectives served a search warrant on Durkee's residence, and all of Durkee's digital devices were seized. The evidence seized pursuant to the search warrant provided our best opportunity to gather any remaining evidence that could link Durkee to Shafter Jane's murder. With the help of the Rocky Mountain Information Network, an analysis report on Durkee's digital devices was received by the Elko County Sheriff's Office in May of 2026. The report indicated Durkee had searched the internet and specific websites for Shafter Jane. Portions of her name and Elko County News. The internet searches for Shafter Jane located on Durkee's computer started in 2020. A significant discovery found that Durkee searched his devices immediately after The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office, the detectives went to Durkee's house in June of 2024, just prior to our trip out there in August. And they questioned him about an unrelated female that was missing in Milwaukee. Durkee spontaneously began searching the internet for specific information on Shafter Jane. During our interviews, he noted that and admitted he thought that was really odd that the detectives were asking him about that missing person in Wisconsin. Digital data indicated that Durkee was not a crime buff. As he claimed, he searched for information on one specific case. Shafter Jane. The digital data was a vital link between Durkee and Shafter Jane and confirmed suspicions Durkee was monitoring information on Shafter Jane's investigation. As detectives began to dig deeper into Durkee's background, they learned Durkee had moved several times during the 1990s in the early 2000s using several aliases. When detectives interviewed Durkee in August of 2024, he admitted using aliases over the years, which included Carol T. Heil and James W. Kennedy, detectives that also discovered that he used the alias of James Fenimore. When detectives was questioned, when Durkee was questioned about using the aliases of Carol T. Heil during an arrest in April of 2008, he indicated there was a time during my bad decisions in life, I decided to kind of disappear. And he wanted not to be known as Roger Durkee. And those were his words. October of 2025, the Washoe County Medical Examiner's Office advised that after digitally enhancing enhancing the deteriorated single right thumbprint, the identity of Marion Hertha Alexander was produced through the FBI latent fingerprints comparison. This was a pivotal point in the investigation because detectives had not disclosed the name Durkee provided during the interview. Detectives learned a U.S. serviceman was serving in Germany in the 1970s. While serving overseas, the serviceman met and married a German-born lady that had two siblings from a previous marriage. And approximately in 1972, Mary Alexander immigrated to the United States with her family. Detectives were able to locate Marion's family and met with her in January of 2026. Detectives learned Marion left her California residence in approximately the ages of 18 to 19 years old. Marion was known to be free-spirited, individual who became estranged from her family. Her family questioned where Marion had gone, where she was living, but considering she was known to be free-spirited and drifted around, she never was reported as missing to law enforcement. After detectives had uncovered that Marion was born in Germany, had two biological family members and a half-sister in the United States, and the fact that she never was reported missing, it became apparent why there had been so many roadblocks in law enforcement's attempt and efforts to identify Mary. Armed with the significant new information and evidence that linked Durkee to Marion, detectives believed there was enough information and evidence to charge Durkee for homicide. and issue an arrest warrant. Detectives felt it would be beneficial and best if they were able to interview Durkee and see if he would confess to Marion's murder. Detectives began planning a trip to Wisconsin so they could interview Durkee and arrest him for the death of Marion. While planning the trip to Wisconsin, detectives learned Turkey had died on November 13, 2025. Turkey's death was confirmed through the Milwaukee county vital records. What I can say is on October 29, 2025 is the day that I learned of her identity, and 14 days later, he passed away. Very small gap. With that, the information in the continued investigation I think we would have prevailed that trial. That's my personal opinion and what evidence we were able to get. So I say thanks to everybody that helped in this, but specifically, The Elko County Sheriff's Office would like to say thank you to many of our partners for all their assistance with this investigations We could not have solved this case without their help and assistance specifically the Elko County District Attorney's Office Tyler and your crew gave us a lot of wise and wisdom to continue the Washoe County crime lab they were stayed with us this whole time the Washoe County medical examiner's office Sarah and her crew and We want to have the identity if she didn't continue to work on that stuff. Identifinders International did a great job in actually connecting me with the family and putting me in contact or where I needed to look as far as once we figured out Marion's identity, they helped us out greatly there. The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office, huge. The Wisconsin FBI Federal, the field office out there, the FBI VICAP, the Violent Criminal Apprehension Program, FBI CART, their computer analysis response, and RIMEN, which is Rocky Mountain Information Network. So a couple others. I'd like to say thanks to the commission because I know you guys dedicated, and I've always been asking about this, and I want to say thank you for their support in our endeavors to solve this case and bring it forward. Last, retired FBI agent, thank you for being the person that pulled us together provided some technical support that we definitely needed from FBI, FICAP, and the CART, and you helped set us our goals. Sergeant Alex Cox, you were the wild card on the team. You stepped in very short notice. He literally got like a two-week notice and said, you're going to Wisconsin with us. I need you to saddle up and get this going. He played the huge role. Being the street cop that you are, you identified the fact that Durkee was in possession of a firearm within minutes of your contact, which became our gateway to continued investigation with Durkee and his involvement with Marion's death. The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office, there's a specific detective, which is Detective Ryan Richards and his team for his assistance. We could not have solved this case without them. We asked for their assistance, and for the days that we were out there, every day they were on it. I mean, they dedicated to it and made it happen. And Sergeant Cox, you're the glue that's been with our detectives division. You bring our team together and keep us on track. So I want to say thanks for being the leader that you are. And like I said, we're still in contact with the family. I just spoke with her in person on Sunday, text message yesterday and today. And we're trying to help her because she's not in a position to come out here due to her health issue, health and where she's at in life. She's also well into her 80s and so.

Lieutenant, would you do me a favor and introduce each one of these people behind you so I put a face with the name, please?

Was Detective Alex Cox, now Sergeant Alex Cox. Hi, Alex. Thank you. FBI retired agent Brian Fry. Brian. And Sergeant Crystal Cox, our detective, current detective sergeant.

Wow.

Awesome.

Don't go anywhere. I'm looking for a motion to pay for a headstone.

Make that motion, sir.

Have a motion.

Got a few seconds anybody want to third it I was just thinking do we need to identify where this money's coming from?

It can come out of contingency, huh? All right, so motion a second and any other discussion from the Commission Just great job and just it's disgusting.

He didn't at least confess before he passed away so you'd know all the details, but you guys kicked butt and I just hope something went through his mind of what a disgusting decision he had made and personally is, but who knows?

Sheriff. Sheriff, I call Narvesa. For many years, I heard this case was unsolvable. Some said they were solvable, some said not. These guys really picked up the case two years ago. That's when everything just started running wild two years ago. I came to you guys six years ago and asked for $10,000, if you remember, for the DNA. I just want to tell you guys that $10,000 really paid off. Very successful case. These guys worked hard. So I come to you guys for the $1,500. Sorry. You're okay. This case has been with me for 30 years. I made some promises to Coach before he passed it. We would always solve this case, and we have.

So the Sheriff's Department did their job.

These individuals did their job. They worked hard. So... I'd take a minute to thank everybody. I know Sergeant Schultz is listed in Washington. I called him today. He's the only one that's left in the original case. Of course, he passed away. Dennis Jernigan passed away. Schultz is retired. We've had many people work on this case. He's retired. And we still kept this case moving forward. So I want to tell these guys kudos to everybody involved. Commission for For the money they gave us to move forward with this case and You can give her this lady Mary chapter She's been dug up three four times Her body's been sent all over the United States. So it's now it's time to put her to rest She could move forward in the next life and I just want to thank everybody for your guys' help, the DA, staff, Brian at the FBI. Brian's the only FBI guy that comes in my office, puts his legs up, has a candy bar, says, you know, we can just talk. That's what you get from Brian. You get straight up answers. He's a good guy. Anytime we've asked Brian to do anything, help us with the FBI, he was always there. So Brian's been really solid in this case. Brian, you want to say anything?

Yes, my name is Brian Fry, a retired special agent with the FBI. I've been an agent for over 20 years, half my career in Los Angeles division working down there. And I've worked nationally, overseas, and done many investigations from not just the criminal world, from other worlds. 10 years ago, I intentionally came out to Elko. I came out here. I knew there was an opening out here. I flew out, checked it out. And what I wanted to do was contribute to the local law enforcement and feel like I'm a part of a community. And that's the proudest moment of my career. You guys have great law enforcement entities here, both at the city. with the state and with the counties. These are good cops. They work very hard. Not like I'm a judge or anything, but this has really solidified my 20-year career as an FBI agent to come out here and work with these guys and with the DA's office. When I got this case, I immediately opened a full investigation where I have access to all of the abilities that the FBI has, the United States government can put on here. There was behavioral analysis unit, there was computer forensic units, surveillance units, different divisions. And I want to say, make this clear and then I'll stop. When I presented this case to the executive management in Las Vegas, in Milwaukee, at Quantico, back in DC when I had the criminal divisions and these cold case task force that we have, that the FBI does have, the very first slide on my presentation was the headstone that's right now. I don't know, have you seen it? It says, Schaffner Jane, who am I? With a question mark. And that was the motivation to be involved in this case, was just to answer that question. Ironically, I think we solved the other one first. And then I ended with that. And that was powerful. Executive management in Las Vegas, Milwaukee, Quantico, DC, and other entities It was on their tickler for your little weekly meetings to make sure that things got dialed in. I knew that if executive management would get on board, nothing would fall through the tracks, and that was proven. I just want to thank Las Vegas Division, too, as well. The executive management at the time who really made this a priority. Milwaukee Division of the FBI made it a priority with their assessing their resources in order to handle this case from another division. Quantico, Washington DC, the criminal division, computer forensics division, behavioral analysis unit, just the support I got. And I want you to know, I hope it continues, it was my honor to help as much as I can as a federal agent to support these local investigations. But once again, all of their work, all the Elko County cops did a wonderful job. And thank you for your support in this case.

Are there any other public comments?

I want to say, I know Chief Ward hasn't been involved much in this case, but what he knows about it, he's been very instrumental. So I want to say thanks, Chief, always being here to help us. With that, I think I'd just like to say thanks for all you guys' hard work. This is pretty exciting news for everybody, especially me, because this case started just as I started in the department over 33 years ago. So it was the first one we went to, and it's great to know that we're done with it. I wish we had a suspect to take with us back here. I was even going to deputize Brian to go again in Wisconsin. Thank you all for everything.

So I just want to say one final thing, and this is on the behalf of her tenacity, dedication, For all the right reasons, you've given her her name back and her dignity. Amen, brothers and sister, for what you have done. Thank you for what you've done. We have a motion on the floor. Let me take a quick vote, and then we want to do a photo op. Can we do that? Do you have something else to say?

One last thing. Yes, sir. For the people that are listening right now that are still waiting for closure on homicides, I have full confidence in the team standing behind me right now. And I know that their dedication that we have some more work to do. So this is something for us to celebrate, certainly. But anybody who's listening that still has loved ones that that need that closure and need that finality that they will continue to work. They put in a lot of hours, and they're one of the best, most dedicated teams I've ever been around. So if anybody's listening, they're going to continue on the ones that we have open as well. So just wanted to put that on the record.

Thank you. I appreciate that, Under Sheriff. Okay, we have a motion and a second.

All those in favor, signify by saying aye.

Aye.

I vote aye also.

Can we get a photo op with you guys? I'd like to shake your hands, first of all, and then maybe we can censor. And Chief Ward, if you join us, we'd love to have you. Tyler, please. Amanda, this is everybody, please. Maybe you guys could stand right in front of us, right here, if that's all right. Stand up, gentlemen.

And just because I conquered this goal, he can't.

Why did I get to stand behind Justin? Get on your knees, boy. Hey, you guys, thank you again so much from the bottom of my heart. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. Thanks. Whoa, I might need a recess after that one. Okay. Let's go back. Is everybody all right? We've been kind of at this a while. Does anybody need a quick break? Okay. Detective Chief Peterson still here. Elko County Fire Protection District. G1. Discussion consideration to award to Spring Creek Sanitation Station number 28. Remodel project. Public Works Project DL 202635. to CAP Mechanical as the most responsive and responsible bidder. Elko County solicited proposals for the project, which includes remodeling improvements to the existing fire station facility and associated work as identified in the solicitation documents. And there's some bid breakouts here below. One bid from Legion Construction and the other bid from CAP Mechanical. Chief.

I'm going to defer to Amanda with some help on this one. Public works projects are not my wheelhouse as much as I don't want them to be. I'll still continue to learn them. But Amanda, chime in at any point. Going through the bids and the bid packets and verifying subcontractors and the scope of work, CAP Mechanical is the most thorough and most responsive bidder.

OK. So recommendation is to go with CAP. deeming them responsible and best interest of Elko County. Question?

Yeah, is it anticipated that we'll use all three alternates, the electrical plumbing and kitchen finish?

Yes.

But we'd prefer to go with cap because they were more responsive. Yes.

They're actually, when you add that extra $9,000 to the legion that comes in over caps to it,

Oh Yeah, I didn't realize that $9,000 would put it over the Cap yeah, and so that's included the HVAC is included in caps bid then yes, okay Well I moved to accept the bid for a cap mechanical Right here that we're discussing

Okay, I have a motion and a second. And again, just for clarification, responsiveness is deemed a reason for selecting this company. Okay, any other discussion, comment? Any public comment on this item? Seeing none, all those in favor, signify by saying aye.

Aye. And I vote aye also, motion carries. Thanks, Chief. It's still me, I'm up next.

All right. You're up, you're on deck, you're in the hole.

All right. Third string, second string. Okay.

Discussion consideration to approve purchase of a used 2009 HME custom pumper, uh, declare the existing 2007 HME type one engine surplus and authorize its sale. Uh, there's quite a bit of detail here. I'll suspense with that. You've got a proposal saves the County $140,000 chief.

And last year's infrastructure plan. Uh, we slated to have one of our engines that's in the wells there and, uh, which brings it back to almost new condition. When we were having a construction meeting and getting some quotes built from Fire Trucks Unlimited, they had a truck that they had just received from another department that had lower miles in immaculate shape. Our mechanics inspected it. Very minimal work for us to put it into service as us. The refurb cost, if we sent our truck down there, was $379,000. is 239,000 and that comes out of infrastructure.

I think the way it was worded that the 2009 also needs some refurbishment.

We need to add a foam unit to it and the graphics and markings and that's about it. Any additional work is already budgeted under our maintenance plan, and that would be covered. One of them is probably added discharge on the bumper, but that's very minimal work.

All right, that's all. So, well, I've got a question.

Go ahead. So Matt, do we anticipate being able to sell the 2007 for anything?

I mean, if it's- So if approved, it does say on the bottom, approve purchase through Fire Trucks Unlimited, if you make your motion to include through approved processes. We're going to list it for probably $90,000 to $125,000, right in that range. And so that money will go back into this pot and offset that cost as well.

Questions, comments, concerns? I'll move to approve G2 with surplus sale. Okay, I have a motion.

Second that. Keep us informed on how it goes. Will do.

Thanks. Any other comments, questions?

Do you need a low and high bid to try if somebody low balls like 50, we agree, or is it? What's your thoughts?

Put a minimum.

Should we put a floor or you'll be on the old one?

Yeah. My intent is it's one truck coming in, one truck going out. I don't have a recommendation on a minimum bid. I don't need it on my second. Okay. Just last thought.

No, that's good. Thank you. Any other comments from the public on this item? Seeing none, all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

I vote aye also. Motion carries. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks, Chief. Okay, we'll move over to I, Elko County Treasurer's Office. I want discussion consideration to approve the updated Elko County Investment Policy pursuant to NRS 355-165. Hi. How are you? Good. Great. Good to see you. Good to see you.

Cheryl Paul, Elko County Treasurer. This is just standard procedure. We update the policy annually. There were two small changes. I don't know if you want to go over them. Page 7, under municipal bonds, we've added the word effective, maximum effective, which just means capability versus utility. We're basically the highest limit versus a factor of constraints and Page 10 down at the bottom state and local government bonds we removed obligation For federal tax exempt this change will allow one of our advisors to invest invest in municipal housing bonds Those were the only two changes, okay?

I'll move that we approve the updated Elko County investment policy.

Second. A motion and a second. Any other discussion? Any public comment on this item? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. I vote aye also. Motion carries. Aye too. Discussion consideration to approve the annual report for the Treasurer's Technology Fund for fiscal year 2027 pursuant to NRS 361. Yes, Paul.

This, again, is for something procedural that we do annually. This is the first time I've had to do this because we've never had a tech fund laid out pretty much the way all of the other tech funds are. For fiscal year 2026, our 5% portion was $25,704.17. I've also included a Simpro custodial download proposal that's with this that will be a one-time payment of $10,000. I'm also requesting $2,000 to be designated for related training for this module. Basically, what this is going to do is I will be able to go to our custodial bank, which is US Bank Pivot. I'll be able to download interest payments, buys, sells. I'll be able to upload that back into our Simpro program, which tracks the entire investment portfolio.

Okay. Thanks. Questions? Yeah, I had a question. At the bottom of that Simpro management software proposal, you have a little asterisk, and it says to be completed after...

7-1.

7-1.

I had to budget for that. Mary can attest to that. It is part of my budget.

Any other questions? Entertain a motion.

I move to approve as presented.

I have a motion. Second. And a second. Any other discussion? Any public comment? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. I vote aye also. Thank you. Thanks for being here. It's good to see you. Item J, Elko County Natural Resources, J1 discussion consideration of applications received for a vacant position on the Natural Resource Management Advisory Commission, NIRMAC, and possible appointment of a member to serve for a four-year term ending on December 31st, 2029. This item is for possible action. Curtis. Curtis.

Thanks. So back in February, we lost. We didn't lose him. We know where he is. But Commissioner Gensil resigned from the board just because he ran out of time for various things. And so we advertised since March, and we've gotten two applications. My biggest hole in the board right now is for folks with public land experience. a few people with mining experience, a few people with engineering experience, a few people with water experience. And so that's kind of what we're looking at. We've got two applications here, one from Mr. Coolidge, who does have some public land experience, one from Ms. Hill, who is enthusiastic but doesn't have as much experience. Those are our applicants.

Yeah, I was concerned. I think we're really weak on that board for grazers, ranchers. And you did specify that you wanted somebody with grazing experience, didn't you?

Yeah.

Yeah, I've. I think that's a big part of that board.

Yeah, and Commissioner Voth is the one right now who has the most grazing experience on there. Well, Steve Boyce is a rancher. Yeah, he's not on there anymore. Oh, he's not? No. I looked this morning on their website. I'll make sure it's updated. Okay.

No, like I said. Is that possible to keep advertising? I think so.

Yeah, we can.

You guys know. Maybe directly contact the Nevada Cattlemen's Association or something and try to get somebody on there to represent the ranchers.

Yeah, I've shaken as many trees, you know, when I meet folks. I've tried to bully them into joining a few of our boards. And so we can keep looking and waiting.

Maybe we could inform the conservation districts. Do you have any interaction with them, Curtis?

Yeah, and I've been harassing them as well. Oh, very good. Just about every time I talk to one, I'll get, yeah, I know somebody who might apply.

I think it's important to have that represented. I don't know Dave Voth. I've seen the name, but what's he do for a living?

He used to work for the Department of Ag, and then he was the Nevada Gold Mines Ranch Manager for a bit, and now he owns kind of a ranching consulting business.

Yeah, that's what I'd recommend.

Just leave it. No action for now? Give it another month. Pleasure of the commission. The commission's okay with that?

That's what I was leaning towards also. Okay.

Let's take no action on this and just direct staff to shake a few more trees, I guess, right? Thank you. J2, discussion consideration of an application for land use Recreation of public purpose to submit to the Bureau of Land Management for Section 26, Township 34 North, Range 54 East to support the expansion of the Elko County Shooting Range and construction of a dedicated law enforcement training range. Assignments for possible action. Curtis.

Thanks. So this is pretty much just what it says on the tin. Right now we've got the section to the east of this. There's sort of demand and room to expand to the west. There's groups that would like to put in 1,000-yard range or 1,000-yard-plus range to try to have a facility for that. We've got pretty full usage of this thing on the weekends, and then having some space to do a dedicated law enforcement range would help with their training requirements, and it will also help reduce some conflicts on the reserve range.

Okay. How big is it? We're adding a section, but is it just one section now?

Yeah, just a section. So about a square mile.

I'll move to approve. I have a motion.

Second.

Any other discussion? Any public comment on this item? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Vote aye, all motion carries. Thank you. Discussion and consideration of an application of the National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program. This program would provide technical assistance to Elko County to help draft an open space plan. There is no financial match required beyond the staff time and use of county facilities to hold stakeholder meetings. Any draft plan would need to come back before the county commission for final approval. Item is for possible action. Curtis.

Thanks and so this is kind it's a part of the the natural resource management advisory commissions goal of these last couple years has been to update a few of our plans. And so this is similar to the current. The current effort we've got with Desert Research Institute to update our water resources plan. They provide technical assistance as far as demographics and economic impact and things like that. And this is what that department does. And so they've got some experience with leading stakeholder meetings and drafting these plans. And so if that's something that you guys are interested in, then we'd like to go forward with that.

I'll move to approve that one, too. Okay, I have a motion and a second. Any other discussion? Any public comment on this item? Do you have a comment? Oh, no comment. Okay. All those in favor, signify by saying aye. Aye. I vote aye also. Motion carries. Item K, Lamoille Grove use policy. K1, discussion consideration to approve revisions to the Lamoille Grove use policy in response to renter inquiries and event-related concerns with no changes proposed to the current fee schedule. Staff is proposing revisions to the Lamoille Grove use policy to address renter inquiries, clarify facility use requirements, and respond to concerns identified through recent events. The recommended changes are intended to improve administration of the facility while maintaining consistency for users and event organizers. Amanda? Is this you?

Me or Louie?

Oh, hey, hi, Louie.

So this is something actually that Chase and Michelle worked on together. And really, it just memorializes our current practice so that we have a policy before you. And it's something that you guys have had an opportunity to adopt so that we're kind of on the up and up.

OK. Makes sense. I didn't see any problems with this. I'll make the motion.

A motion. Second. Any other discussion? Any public comment on this item? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries. Thank you. Elko County Human Resources, L1, discussion and consideration to approve the labor agreement between Elko County and the Elko County Deputies Sheriff's Association for the term of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027. Amanda.

All right. It took us a little bit to get through this contract. We had a couple of new members on the negotiations team. So I'm just working through what that looks like, how things work, talking about budgets. Ultimately, we did come to a tentative agreement, which is before you for approval for a two-year agreement. Kind of the highlights of that is you may recall in the previous agreement, which is a two-year agreement, there was a cost of living adjustment, which was based on meeting a certain CPI unfortunately similar to the sergeant's agreement and In neither of those two years did we, I shouldn't say we, but in neither of those two years did CPI reach the level, which would have required us to open the contract to renegotiate a potential cost of living adjustment. So for in those two years, there was not a cost of living adjustment. In one of those years, as you all know, there was a PERS adjustment. And so we typically share that 50-50 with the employee. And so Anyways for the previous two fiscal years. They did not receive an increase in fact they would have had a salary decrease in the year that we had the pers increase and so what we have Tentatively agreed to do is increase salaries 6% for fiscal year 26 that makes up for fiscal years 24 25 and now for 26 which we're getting ready to close out it also includes an increase for fiscal 27 and It also includes like we have done with the rest of our County employees covering the cost of the pers increase for the contract period There are a couple of other small adjustments Probably most importantly is we have had an MOU related to 12-hour shift schedule since 2013 which we have not Historically incorporated into the agreement that is now in the agreement as well as we had some Disagreements over the interpretation of the contract language in regard to sick leave accrual that has now been incorporated into the agreement And I believe has been resolved so there was a lot of work that went into this contract and I appreciate the patience of the association and Working with us to get those issues resolved and looking forward to putting this behind us.

Okay Does the association have I don't know if anybody's here if I don't know if you want to say anything you're sure welcome to

Trey Bauters, for the record.

Good afternoon, Commission members. I'm a member of the Elko County Deputy Sheriff Association. Thank you for the opportunity to address you. Public safety should be a top priority in Elko County. For a long time, the Elko County deputies have been underpaid in comparison to neighboring and comparable jurisdictions in Nevada. Despite this, the deputies in this department have never wavered from their mission of keeping the community safe. This new contract takes steps to fix that problem, and we are very appreciative of the commission and county manager for their efforts in this regard. We recognize that contracts are difficult to negotiate, and we thank Amanda Osborne for her hard work. We hope that moving forward, we can continue to work together to bring the Elko Sheriff's Department salary structure in line with other agencies while we continue to make Elko a great place to live and work.

That's all I have for you guys. Thank you. Any comments or questions anybody has?

I personally love the emails that we should quit, we should resign, sheriff's officer, tree-like janitors. That was fantastic, I loved them all. I didn't really appreciate that in our negotiating, but I'm glad we came to a resolution on it.

I'd like to just say something, too, just because I don't think we got enough time to speak. But, you know, there are... there are guidelines that are set for fair labor practices, you know, and everybody works in good faith, and we hope that we move forward in that. And, you know, some of those other tactics that kind of took place, you know, I think to John's point, you know, it kind of put us in a bad spot. We really couldn't say anything because, you know, we would have been charged with unfair labor practice. I probably am right now. I don't know, but I just, I want you to know that we care about you. We care about the Sheriff's Office. We have for years. We support law enforcement. We support all 400 professional men and women that work for this county. We support them. We went through a comprehensive salary update that we implemented that cost us millions of dollars to implement. I mean, we did a proclamation right back there supporting law enforcement. But we respect and value you and the work that you do. And I think it's unfortunate that it devolved into anything beyond that. And you're right, negotiations can be difficult. But I think if everybody goes by, there's a process that ultimately plays out. I hope this meets everybody's requirements and needs, but I felt like it's really important for me to tell you, and I mean it, that I care about you. I care about the work that you do and your other brothers and sisters that are doing that work. I really do. You know, I had my truck stolen, right? Here, ITOR remembers that. I had the frickin' Calvary out getting that truck back for me. And, you know, I felt important and valued as a citizen, not as a commissioner, as a citizen of this great county. So that whole part was a little bit offensive to me, and I hope you're taking this in a good light. I don't mean it to be derogatory, but it's an opportunity for me to just clear the air from my perspective, if that makes sense.

I appreciate that, sir.

Yeah. I'll add to that, Delmo. Ten years ago, we started the fire district to give the county some money because when I got on here, we were debating if we hired the secretary at the front desk for saving $10,000. It was dire straits. We implemented our capital, and I believe it was only a year or two, to give some capital money to the sheriff's office to buy vehicles so they could take vehicles out of their general fund. So I think we're practicing what we preach and trying to fiscally do these things. And I'm more of a disappointment on, before we went into negotiations, if there's issues that we should know about. While I can definitely be emotional, hot-headed, and opinionated, I'd like to think I'm open to the public to hearing what problems we have in this community and which problems we have in our departments and how do we fix them. And I don't know if anybody was ever approached on the commission. Now, once again, during our negotiations, we can't. That's how it is. I get it. But throughout the years since we've now hit this, I hope in the future we can have them more open if there's issues going on. over the sheriff by any means but we definitely participate in the budgeting process and how that what works so those are just my last thoughts okay any other comments

I have one, if I may. Go ahead. I just wanted to highlight something the deputy batter said about appreciation for Amanda. I was exposed to a fraction of what Amanda had to do for this negotiation. And the time commitment that she put into this is extraordinary. I'm talking all hours of the night, all hours of the morning. She's working on it. And while they may not have always agreed on some things, rest assured that she worked her tail off to get this done. So much appreciated from my standpoint.

Thanks for that context. Okay. Any other questions or comments, concerns? Any public comment on this? Okay. Did you have one? Yes. Go ahead, please.

Vice President Logan Gibbs of the Elko County Deputy Sheriff's Association. I just want to address the emails. There was no concerted effort from the executive board or its members. No vote took place to send any emails.

I was made aware of those after the fact, but we were not directly involved with any emails. Well, it wasn't email. Well, we received emails, but it was based on, I don't know, it was a Facebook post or something to, whatever, it's irrelevant. The points have been said and we can move forward. Okay, sounds good, thank you.

Yeah, so what I'd like to, before you leave, I'm sorry, I don't mean to belabor this for you at all, but I want to take a motion, or we have a motion, I want to take a vote, and then all those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. I vote aye also.

Thank you. Please.

All righty. M great base and children's advocacy center and one discussion consideration of the status of repairs related to the ongoing H back and hot water system issues at the facility including potential. Corrective action and direction for staff for possible action.

Hey, is this Louie? I know, but I'll first discuss this. I went in that building, I don't know, three months ago or whatever it was, and they were still having problems with the fan running too high, so it was extremely loud. You couldn't hear in one section, but yet it wasn't maintaining temp. I'll just talk more into my mic, sorry. Okay. I brought this in because of some HVAC problems. We had a section that wasn't hitting temp. We had some other ones that the fan was not set correctly, so extremely loud. So interviews to the children that are being interviewed and those kind of things couldn't take place. But yeah, it's a brand new facility, so I kind of cheerleaded or threw a fit, however you want to look at it, and wanted to get fixed. So there was some contact to the contractor to... hopefully make some corrective action and fix the problems. Um, there was also one that's an engineering problem, I believe, but that's why I want Louie now to tell us, can we talk in that building now? And do we have hot water in the showers before? Um, if, uh, I don't want to call him a patient, but, uh, a person there that, uh, looked at and needed to go shower. You'd have to run the mop sink, a couple other sinks to get the hot water in-demand system to turn on because a pressure drop would be enough to finally get hot water to the shower. Needless to say, some poor victim that now gets to stand there for five minutes waiting for hot water, it just didn't sound very appealing to me that they should suffer through that. So that's where the background is on this.

Yes, all of the stuff has been resolved. Went through, walked through there. Everybody says it's nice and cool in there now. Your interview rooms have, they made it to where you can go in and shut your thermostats in there, and it kills it to where it's quiet in there. The hot water does work. I went over and checked it. I go over and check it randomly and just turn on the shower, and everything seems to be working. I went through and asked the ladies how everything is, and they said it's been great.

I also want to make this clear. I don't believe it was our personal county maintenance staff was not the issue. It was the facility had been put in and then not given to them turned over properly, but then also finalized and tuned properly. So I hope now we're past that. You have an operating manual now? You know what you guys have to do?

It's on my laptop.

You're not running both pumps? One's the backup, one's the... There we go. It's all fixed. I'm a happy man now. We're good. I don't think we need to take any action because I think it's been solved.

Very good. Thanks for that, John. I got one for you, too, at the library. Can I pick your brain about it? I'm serious. I'm serious. An hour later. No, I'm going to be giving you a call. Oh, okay. I said library. I'm at the museum.

I think this meeting is long enough. I hope we don't do it now.

We're going to do it at the museum. All right. Let's see. So no action on that one. Move on to N, legislation. N1, discussion, consideration. Potential bill drafts, BDRs for the upcoming 2027 Nevada legislative session, including the identification of policy priorities, potential BDR concepts, and they're all attached to the agenda. Tick-tock. We've got to make some decisions, fellas.

Amanda, don't we need to... You know, one thing I was pondering...

I thought we had to do it by July. Well, NACO's is due on, what did I tell you, June 5th?

That's an internal deadline for them. Ours is due to LCB by September 1st.

Okay. Right, but I think you said at the last meeting that we need to make a decision earlier in that so we can flush it out properly, right?

So we have to hold a public hearing to review these considerations. You guys make a selection. I'd like to do that public hearing on July 1st so that we get two months essentially to get the final version Form completed what we're looking for to be to LCB by September 1st Another one that came upon mine is my personal Well, I'm expanding

So talking to Curtis, I'm still on the, I don't know, on the podium complaining about Elko's under the TV district, and not our TV district, the district of Washoe, or, excuse me, Salt Lake City.

Media market areas.

Yes, Salt Lake City, so we get their news. Sick name. So Curtis has done quite a bit, partially me, keep prodding him, but him on his own, and basically... We're to stand still that, okay, the FCC said, yes, you can do it, but you have to get the providers to go ahead and approve it. And the providers are going, well, we don't really want to lose you as a Salt Lake group. And the Reno group, well, we don't really care if you come or not, but we don't want to stir the pot in case somebody then gets mad at, because we just now got you. Does that mean we need to lose somebody? So really it's a hem and a ha and piece of garbage. I almost wonder if we need to make it a BDR that now Elko County be in that, but I'd like to add it to the list and then we'll decide later, but it's extremely frustrating to me, but that's where we're at. I'm gonna keep looking at other avenues of how we can make this happen, but I'd like to throw it on the list as a possible option going through a BDR.

I've got no way of putting that in words.

Well, there you go. But you guys get what I'm leading at.

Well, first of all, you've got to translate it.

That was in Yiddish, so you should understand.

All right. Are we taking any action on this? I need a vacation, and I'm not talking about a right-of-way vacation.

I will work with John to bring that back.

Not on easement, huh? Okay. I guess we're not going to take any action on this one at this point. It's not necessary for today. All right. Okay, okay. NACO's deadline. Tick, tick, tick. I mean, because we get one, so we can tell them what we want them to consider. Commission meeting calendar.

Well, I got a question on that before I moved to approve. I was told earlier you weren't going to be here until June 17th.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to be here. You're going to be here now.

Okay. So we're going to Wells first then jackpot are going to jackpot then back to Wells or which one is it? We will stop in walls on the way do the meeting there have the meeting in jackpot and then just drive all the way back Yes, because last time we drove to jackpot and then stopped and Wells came back correct. I

Yeah, it's more difficult for us to catch jackpot advisory board members in the middle of the day since we've done that kind of flip-flop before. We figured we would flip-flop this time and do earlier in Wells and do late in jackpot.

Either way, that's fine. Okay. So we're going to get a little late. I'll make a motion to approve the calendar as presented under item O. Okay.

I'll second. Motion second. Any other discussion? Any public comment on this item? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying aye. I also motion carries consent agenda approved have a motion saying and a second any other discussion any public comment Seeing none all those in favor signify by saying aye All righty Commission and committee reports.

Mr. Gail No, nothing since the last two weeks ago, okay, mr. Carr I

I tried to congratulate more to Annette and her crew on the expo, working with them at the golf course. They're on the ball, very organized. It went extremely well. So now another shout out to the staff of Kerr and her group. I really think the expo is really running well. The other part is I went to the opening of the outdoor pool, and Rusty Barr and his group Once again, resurrecting this dead pool that was not fixable. Might as well fill it full of the next garbage dump and all the other whatever. No, it looks beautiful. Great job around it. They built some parts for not picnicking, but to basically picnic around the pool. It looks fantastic. That's the whole point of this conversation. So another shout out. And in my mind, kudos to Rusty and his whole group. It turned out fantastic. Very good. Highmark Construction, I forgot his name off the top of my head.

Lynch, Brad Lynch.

Brad Lynch and his wife, big, big contributors in that group that took care of that. Just once again, I'm so proud of our community and that facility. It is truly, everybody should go enjoy it or take a look at it.

Okay, thank you. Let's see, Mr. Gerber.

Just like to mention, Rex and I attended the tree planting at the Lamar Grove last night. It was well attended, and a total of six trees have been planted that were donated by Rotary. And I was happy to hear that the Elko County Fire Department has a stump grinder, so we'll see if that is effective in removing those stumps and can continue to improve the park. Great. Thank you, Rex, for all your work on that, and also Amanda and Curtis.

And I apologize, I couldn't be there. I had a hospital board meeting, Travis, but thanks for the invitation. Appreciate it.

I've got a question about that. What species did they plant? You said no comment. It's not a comment, it's a question.

What species did they plant? There was, I don't know all my trees, but there was... Was it a choke cherry?

London plane? I've never got those to work. Choke cherries live through everything.

And all the trees that came down were cottonwood, right? I told you I need a vacation Mr. Steninger, okay I heard from my fellow commissioner, Mr. Carr, that we haven't been updating you on the fan progress. But Amanda and I are both on that fan board, and I apologize. I just figured that we knew what we were doing. Anyhow, they will come forward with a presentation to tell you guys. But we did go to Lander County after hearing that they've been giving us $250,000 a year. We heard from Burt Ramos that during her budget discussions, they were going to discontinue that, which would have been devastating to our efforts. So we went down there, and they agreed to give us that $250,000 again this year. And another thing I want to talk about is I was really looking forward to the Summit Engineering's presentation on secondary access, what happened to that.

Well, Curtis and I actually met with Sam Bell today. We're closer. We need to scrub it a little bit more. And then after that, do some public engagement. And Curtis and Tom, that's why I was late. Curtis and Tom, we kind of looked at some of the data and kind of make sure that the data is kind of what we're looking for. And Curtis went over the deliverables and kind of reorganized those. So I don't know if we got, I left early, so I don't know if you guys got any more hammered out as far as the timeline goes, but we're planning on getting together again and kind of just reviewing it and kind of setting up a stakeholder engagement meeting.

Yeah, we moved around some of those deliverables, and they're supposed to get back to me with a document here in the next few days that will have an updated timeline.

That's the reason I was asking this a month or so ago. I said, hey, you need to call Tom Gallagher and stir things up and get things going. Has that worked? Are things going now?

I think so. I can't remember. We spent like $200,000 or $200,000. And it's like two years. I would like to. I mean, there are decisions that we need to make. So has it been two years since we put that contract? Not quite. We're 18 months, 18 months. I mean, it's just like, let's just wrap it up, you know, because I think I think once we have that document, it's going to it's going to help us in terms of future planning and addressing concerns that the community has. I mean, I think it's just important. So.

And then the final thing is that we got the notification that somebody turned a ski lodge Corps of Engineers and are worried about the waters of the United States. We need to really keep our eye on that. We can't let that happen. I'd love to sue over that. How in the hell can we be the waters of the United States when we're in the Great Basin?

Hear, hear.

It's ridiculous. We should never be considered for any application to

It depends on what your definition of navigable is, right?

You didn't see the cruise ship from Love Lock to Elko through? They're just like the European ones.

Yeah. Is that all, sir? Yep. Okay. And I just have three little quick updates. So Spring Creek Association is having their community barbecue event. this weekend and I'm pretty sure Rex is going to be there. I'm going to be there. I'm going to kind of give a little bit of a county update, kind of recap on, you know, some of the things that we've done and just some of the things that are pending, kind of like this road plan and talk about crickets and, you know, just all things Elko County. So I'm going to be there. And then I already told you about Sandbell. And then the last thing is kind of a really unique opportunity for me that I'm really excited to share with you guys. Um, so, uh, I, I've never really gone to national NACO because I never really could justify the expense to go. I just never really considered going. And, um, so I don't even really pay attention to what's on the agenda or whatever, whatever. And so, um, there is a discussion on there about counties that, that have, um, mining impacts and mining stuff and neighboring County, yada, yada, yada. And Marilyn Kirkpatrick told me at the national level, says, you need Delmo Andreozzi here as a panelist. So I've been asked by National NACO to be a panelist. And it's an amazing opportunity for me to speak on behalf of mining. I mean, I've already given this a lot of thought about what I'd like to cover. But I get to go. I don't know about going to New Orleans in the middle of summer. It doesn't sound overly appealing. But it's a huge honor for me to be able to speak on a national stage and hopefully help. you know, make people aware about these natural resource issues that we have out here. I find it a great honor, and I think it's a great way for me to kind of sail off into the sunset with the end of my career. So anyway, I'm just really excited about that, and that's about all I got.

It's extremely important that you have legal counsel in New Orleans.

Yeah. Yes, sir. I do. I need someone to hold my hurricane or something. I can't drink hurricanes. They have rum in them. So I'll stick to pecans. All right.

One more thing, Delmo. Yes, sir. For the celebration of America 250, Curtis and I are participating at the trail center this weekend, driving the covered wagon, giving free rides, and also going to do a handoff for the Pony Express. So that's all a major celebration of America 250 for Elko County.

Awesome. Thank you, Travis. I appreciate that.

So, Delmo, can I add something real quick? Yeah, of course. Since you guys talked about the study on the roads, I'm not near as optimistic as you are. Tell us anything. I would rather request Curtis or somebody talk to the city and go, hey, what's the ballpark on finishing the air cart expansion, and what does it look like, and where is it ending?

It's $18 million.

$18 million more?

No.

No, that was the final number that we received from them is 18 million dollars to finish it So once again, they've already spent their 10 million or whatever we need 18 million more to to now finish it pave it make it the whole Okay, and that and that really will that that item is going to be part of that study I Okay, well, I think as a project of the whole community, I think that's what we need to look at, because I don't think a secondary accident's ever gonna happen in our lifetime. But there you go, my last words. It's been a long meeting. Thanks.

Any staff comments?

Yeah, I just wanted to talk really quick about the America 250. The county obviously made a donation to complete the piece that's going in the downtown corridor. We were looking at the afternoon of June 25th for that dedication. We're working on kind of coordinating schedules and making sure everything gets put together. But I'll send an email to you all with a reminder. I'll give you a tentative at just so you get it on your calendar. But that's something that you'd asked about a little bit ago. So I'll get it on your calendar.

I heard there's a really cool MC that they've picked out for that.

I heard about that. Late afternoon, most likely. Probably four-ish, but I don't know.

Any other staff comments? Anything else? Okay. Very good. Last opportunity for public comment. Is there any public comment? Hello.

Hello.

How are you? I'm good. Ryan Riley. I'm sorry we made you wait for the whole meeting, but thanks for being here.

It's okay. I'm running for County Commissioner. And when I signed up to run for County Commissioner, I did not know who my commissioner was and actually barely knew who any of you were. And by running, I have learned how our commission works, what is going on. And I'm ashamed that I haven't been more involved in the past. But I have talked to people about Travis. I've seen Travis. I've seen him speak, and I've heard his lineage. And elections are to find the best person for the job. And in my opinion, I think Travis is the best person. Although I would love to work for my county and do things for my county, but I am going to find another outlet to do it. I don't want to take away from Travis's running at this point. I don't want to waste his time because he is the best candidate and actually one of the better candidates because he was born here. His family's from here. So I would like to stop running for commission and allow anybody who thought of voting for me to vote for him, although now he probably doesn't even need to be voted for because he won't be on there. But I thought it was important for me as a gentleman to concede to someone who is a better candidate than me. And that's all I had to say.

Wow. That's very honorable. That is very honorable. And I would just say that civic engagement piece is so important. But there are ways for you. We have openings in our planning commission. We have openings in, we have a number of boards. And the city does too. And civic engagement is so important. And, you know, throwing your hat in the ring is no small feat. So you're a gentleman among gentlemen. So thank you very much for your comments today.

Oh, you're welcome. And I will find a new spot to help my community because that's what I want to do.

Fantastic.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

I'd just like to say thank you for your words. I don't know if I consider myself a better person. person obviously I have no pride in that I have no animosity toward anyone who would want to run for office even against me so I commend you for putting your hat in the ring and anybody else that wants to run in the future I commend them for that and I asked I asked you to continue your service for the county and for the state and