Elko County Board of Commissioners
Commissioners
Sheri Eklund-Brown
John Ellison
Charlie Myers
Mike Nannini
Warren Russell Elko County Manager Robert K. Stokes
STATE OF NEVADA, )
COUNTY OF ELKO. ) ss. JULY 11, 2007
The Board of Elko County Commissioners met on Wednesday, July 11, 2007, at 1:30 p.m., in Room 105 of the Elko County Courthouse at 571 Idaho Street, Elko, Nevada.
There were present: County Commissioners John Ellison, Chair
ABSENT Mike Nannini
Charlie Myers
Sheri Eklund-Brown
Warren Russell
Elko Co. Manager Robert Stokes
Deputy Comptroller Debbie Armuth
Deputy District Attorney Kristin McQueary
Deputy County Clerk Marilyn Tipton
Sheriff Dale Lotspeich
Sheriff’s Dept. Doug Gailey
Library Director Jeanette Hammons
District Attorney Gary Woodbury
DA Office Manager Liz Watson
Public Works Dir. Lynn Forsberg
Planning & Zoning Dir. Randy Brown
Road Supervisor Otis Tipton
Juvenile Probation Michael Pedersen
NDF Sam Hicks
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The proceedings were as follows:
CALL TO ORDER:
Chairman Ellison called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m.
Commissioner Ellison noted for the record that Commissioner Nannini was absent today.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Commissioner Russell led the meeting participants in the Pledge of Allegiance.
I. COMMENTS BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC:
Commissioner Ellison publicly thanked Commissioner Myers and his wife, Tammy, for their work during the 4th of July event. He acknowledged that they were $13,000 in debt the week before the show. He thanked Mr. Dale White who contributed $1,000.00 along with other businesses who pledged money toward the fire works.
Bill Paxton, Information Officer for the Great Basin Incident Management Team, stated he and Greg Nordyke were assigned to the Highway 93 Complex near Jackpot. He commented upon the fire season in 1999 throughout Elko County. He explained they were one of the six national management teams. Bill Paxton stated they worked for a lot of different agencies and the federal government. He noted that most of the large fires in the west were in the Great Basin. He stated that on the 7th of July the acreage went from 50,000 to 239,000 acres in a 24 hour period and most of the action was in Southern Idaho, Nevada, and Southern Wyoming. Bill Paxton noted that there were bad fuels and for the last several years they had been in drought conditions. Bill Paxton reported the Jackpot Complex was 79,000 acres, the fire was 40% contained. He stated there were 150 people not counting the dozers and assigned air tankers. Bill Paxton stated the Eccles Fire at one time had a 125 miles fire line. He believed there remained 71 miles of fire line to close. He displayed maps showing where the fires have been since January of 2007. Commissioner Ellison noted that a congressional representative had contacted him concerning the acreage burned in Elko and Humboldt Counties. Bill Paxton commented that they handled five or six incidents a year. He noted the average management years on the team were 25 years. He stated they were the closest Type I team and they were dealing with communities. He reported that all helicopters in the country were committed. He stated there were 42 large fires going on the same day. He noted the Type II Incident Management Teams were on the less complex incidents but they were competing for resources. Commissioner Myers thanked him and his team for coming to Elko County and helping them. He acknowledged that fire was a national problem. He noted they held a meeting with Sam Hicks yesterday and Elko County made a commitment to be a partner. Commissioner Myers asked about the 1,500 head of cattle that had been threatened. Bill Paxton noted that they had flown the ranchers yesterday in the helicopter. He stated they had to move the cattle several times to stay ahead of the fire. Commissioner Eklund-Brown inquired if they found a rancher liaison and received an affirmative response. Bill Paxton stated Greg Nordyke worked with the ranchers’ liaison and publicly thanked Robert Stokes for getting them the school building which helped them.
Pete Anderson, State Forester of the Nevada Division of Forestry, thanked them for their partnership. He commented upon the magnitude of the fire conditions. He noted last year they lost huge amounts of acreage to fire and that had a negative impact upon the citizens and tourists that visited Nevada. He stated that they need to focus upon vegetation management and pre-suppression methods. He believed that it would need their combined efforts, state and locally, to convince the federal partners to do landscape treatment to turn around the rangeland health. Commissioner Ellison felt there should be more livestock. Pete Anderson agreed livestock was one of the tools in the toolbox. He stated they could also do fuel breaks and work off of existing roads. He commented that their Fire Fair was coming up and they want to get the message to the public. Commissioner Ellison noted that they had regular meetings at dispatch which Robert Stokes attended and kept the Commission updated by e-mail. Pete Anderson noted there were no national aviation resources available now. He stated the Air National Guard had two available. He felt they would be on their own by the end of the fire season. Commissioner Ellison stated funding was drying up. Pete Anderson noted the 2008-2009 budgets were looking bad from the BLM and Forest Service perspective, who were their partners. He stated there were other demands upon the Washington people. He believed it was a huge challenge over the next five years to turn this around. Commissioner Ellison noted the comments in Chicago pertaining to the wildfires. He had informed them it was destroying wildlife, businesses, etc., but they felt fire was a natural process. Pete Anderson noted the amount of dollars that went to rehab. He reported that east of the West Basin Fire had been rehabilitated but a large amount of that had burned again. Pete Anderson stressed that they could not keep repeating these burns or they would lose the native vegetation. Commissioner Russell agreed there was a need for medium term and long range solutions. He stated in their budget they invested in staffing for fire personnel. Commissioner Eklund-Brown noted on the Utah news the City Fire Departments were not being allowed to participate in the efforts because they were not trained in wildfire. She inquired if Nevada sometimes used the City Fire Departments. Pete Anderson stated in 1999 and 2000 there was an effort to work with the local governments. He reported they established a statewide mutual aid response. Pete Anderson noted in this State there were countless strike teams from local government that work together. Commissioner Eklund-Brown noted yesterday Ed Monnig had called and spoke about the Open Space Conservation Strategy which was a planning effort through the Forest Service about coordinated planning regarding open space, defensible space, and federal public land issues which have not gone to the extent it should have. Commissioner Eklund-Brown noted there was a comment period and asked that the State submit comments. Pete Anderson stated they were reviewing that document. He felt they need to look at the wilderness establishment process through the County Land Bills. He stated they had been pushing for the rangeland and woodlands to be addressed before it was transferred into Wilderness and they could no longer deal with it. Commissioner Eklund-Brown thanked Pete Anderson for participating on the radio program with her.
Carrie Howard, representing Governor Bill Richardson, stated he would be campaigning on Friday in Elko. She personally invited everyone to meet with him at 1:30 p.m. at the old Airport Terminal. Commissioner Ellison commented that he would not be present on Friday but had previously met with the candidate. Commissioner Russell stated on Friday afternoon he had a social occasion and could not meet with him.
Matt McCarty, Elko Chamber of Commerce, stated they would hold their dinner and auction on the 28th of July. He publicly invited all the Commissioners to the auction at the Chamber of Commerce. He noted this was their 100th year.
Chairman Ellison stated they would address agenda items XII and XIII at the same time.
XIII. NORTHEASTERN NEVADA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT:
Discussion and consideration of meetings with various land management and resource management agencies and organizations to discuss options to address range and habitat rehabilitation actions to help mitigate the destruction caused by the 2006 Wildfire Season and preparations for the 2007 Wildfire Season.
Sam Hicks explained that Winnemucca was below Elko’s prioritization so they would get the resources before Winnemucca. Commissioner Ellison noted that Congressman Dean Heller was concerned with what information was going to Washington, DC. Senator Heller believed they were leaving Elko County out of the information going to Washington DC. Sam Hicks stated information to the public was vital. He noted they were number two in prioritization in the Western Great Basin Area for tech support. Sam Hicks stated there was a lot of rehab that needed to be done. He commented that they not only spent money on this fire but they were burning up rehab funding they put in 1999, 2000, and 2001. Sam Hicks stated nationally there was a lot of activity and tomorrow they would go to number five nationwide with regards to prioritization. He stated they hoped to have the resources they need to deal with the incidents.
XII. GREAT BASIN WILDFIRE AND VEGETATION MANAGEMENT FAIR:
Discussion and consideration of the upcoming Wildfire Conference to be held here at the GBC Greenhaw Technical Arts Building on July 12 to 14, 2007 in which the public is encouraged to attend. The Fire Fair is a free public event aimed at letting people know how to protect their homes and property from wildfire and providing information about the community resources available to help them. Presentations on “defensible space” for landowners in the rural-urban interface (July 12), as well as technical sessions on wildland fire ecology and management (July 13), will be held in Room 130 of the Greenhaw Technical Arts Building. A free picnic the evening of July 12 will be held on campus outside the Greenhaw Building.
Sam Hicks stated tomorrow at 2:00 p.m., they would discuss items with the general public at the Fire Fair. He noted their “Living with Fire” program dealt with defensible space. He commented in the Palisade area Friday night they lost 8 structures. The one residence which survived the fire was surrounded by green grass which saved that house. He stated people were hunkering in small spots to keep safe. Sam Hicks stated the key to home survival was defensible space. He noted that 8 to 11 of the western states were competing for national fire resources. He noted the fires were prioritized with life and property being the number one priority. He reported at the fair they would give power point demonstrations on the importance of defensible space. Commissioner Ellison asked for copies of their fair information and commented that Commissioners Eklund-Brown and Russell would attend the Fire Fair. He noted on the radio they spoke about the weather affect on the fire conditions. Sam Hicks stated there were scattered thunderstorms on Friday night and Saturday. Commissioner Myers commended Sam Hicks and the fire personnel. He stated the haze on Friday created another accident. Sam Hicks cautioned that with the current fire conditions they may be in the field rather than at the Fire Fair.
XVII. NATIONAL NIGHT OUT PROCLAMATION:
Discussion and consideration of approval of Proclamation 2007-O entitled, A PROCLAMATION BY THE ELKO COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS PROCLAIMING AUGUST 7, 2007 AS NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, which encourages cooperative police / community crime prevention efforts in our area.
MOTION: Commissioner Myers moved to approve PROCLAMATION NO. 2007-O, entitled: A PROCLAMATION BY THE ELKO COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS PROCLAIMING AUGUST 7, 2007 AS NATIONAL NIGHT OUT. Commissioner Eklund-Brown seconded the motion. The motion was passed unanimously.
Commissioner Myers read the proclamation into the record. He noted that Michael Smith, City of Elko Chief of Police, was present to accept the Proclamation.
Elko Chief of Police, Michael Smith, commented that Randy Brown put this program together through the PAL Program and voiced his appreciation to Mr. Brown. He stated this was an effort for the community to come together. He noted NHP, Elko Ambulance, the Police Department, and the Sheriff’s Department would participate. Chief Smith stated that the event would be held around 5:00 p.m. in the park until 10:00 p.m. on August 7, 2007. He hoped the community enjoyed the public servants’ company and they were trying to build a partnership with the community.
II. CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION:
Discussion and consideration of approval of Certificate of Appreciation to Diane Reitmeier on her retirement from the Elko County District Attorney’s Office with almost 29 years of County Service.
Commissioner Ellison stated this agenda item has been tabled and would be placed on the next meeting agenda. Robert Stokes believed it would be on the October meeting agenda.
III. CARLIN JUSTICE COURT:
Discussion and consideration of the acceptance of the retirement notice of Barbara J. Nethery, long time Justice Court Judge from the Carlin Justice Court, including Commission direction regarding the appointment procedure for her successor.
MOTION: Commissioner Russell moved to go through the normal process; advertise, accepting applications for temporary appointment until the next election. Commissioner Myers seconded the motion with the caveat that they hate to see the Judge go.
Robert Stokes stated Barbara Nethery expressed her appreciation and apologized for such a short notice. He stated the advertisement was prepared and with the approval of this motion it would go to the media for publication. He stated they have already received one letter of interest. He stated at their first meeting in August they would come back with a list of candidates.
The motion was passed unanimously.
Commissioner Ellison noted James Black was retiring and wished to submit his name for a plaque of recognition. Sheriff Lotspeich stated he had several officers who were retiring and would submit a list later for recognition.