I must correct a statement I printed from the December 9th City Council meeting. Bruce Setterstrom said “ I abstain, I have a financial interest in the Pizza Factory.”
County Commission Meeting, Special Joint Fire Commission Meeting
Health Care Brokerage Services. H.R. Director to Advertise and Solicit.
Approved
County Commission to proceed with obtaining proposals for a Broker of Record for Property and Liability Insurance.
Richard Howe “The window is open for us to go out and make a better deal or better price.”
Approved.
Interim Inter-Local Agreement for Shared Fire/EMS with the City of Ely for a Six Month Period From 1-1-16 to 6-30-16 at a cost to the County of $6,000 per month while the city and county work toward a Unified Fire District to Service all County Residents, Based on the Framework Outlined by the Fire Chiefs and Elizabeth Frances.
Gary Perea “Is it legal for the city to go out of city limits?”
Ross Rovira “We are licensed to go any place in the state”
Richard Howe “The dispatch is to make sure the person on dispatch is aware of which response service to call.”
Carol McKenzie “The money is tight and the city gets the money if they go on a run or not. I would like to pay them every time they go on a run to make sure they are compensated”
Elizabeth Frances “This is for fire and EMS services, the city felt this is like an insurance policy “
Mike Coster “This isn’t a perfect agreement, Elizabeth worked hard and creatively with the city to get this. It is progress. I think it is too much money on a month by month basis.”
Approved
Discussion – Recommendation to support Restructuring White Pine Count Fire District and City of Ely Fire Department to combined services.
Dan Watts “As elected public officials we feel the budget needs to be balanced and stainable. This is needed not only to sustain services but to move forward into the future.”
Discussion to move forward with none, some, or all of recommendations from the Financial Strategic Planning Committee.
Revenue Sources
Taxes – Requires voter approval- November 2016.
Other items- .25 cent 911 surcharge, sale of County owned land, solar farm at airport, cannabis industry, park fees, EMS long distance transports, etc.
Restructuring/Expenditure Reduction
Hiring Delay Policy, add 3 lower steps to employees pay scale, employees start at lowest step, hire a County manager, reduce temporary hours, reduce overtime, reduce travel, reduction of half-time finance clerk, eliminate Economic Development (EDC), reduce ten hours per week from library, eliminate airport manager, reduce human recourse director to manager position, combine Senior Center and Social Services,etc.
Gary Perea “Take one at a time in future meeting. First take up fire department consolidation and EDC closure.”
Richard Howe “I would like to address County Manger”
Laurie Carson “I would like to study the County Manger further before voting.”
Richard Howe “We have to make cuts and the EDC is the first.”
Mike Coster “This is not to eliminate the function of EDC. I am hoping that with a private citizen offer and work in other departments suggested picking up some EDC duties.”
Richard Howe made motion to close EDC office.
3 no votes
Failed
Fire and EMS begin process to combine.
Approved
A motion was made to process with 911 surcharge and telecommunications franchise fee on next agenda.
Carol McKenzie second
Approved
Votes were as Fire Commission and voted again as County Commissioners. Same result.
Assign administrative duties supporting County Commission to office of County Clerk.
Passed 4-1 (Richard Howe -no)
County final audit report.
General fund is steadily dropping, county needs to slow pace.
Revenues were up, expenses were only up 1,000.
Overall a good audit.
Jet center owner would like to rent the vacant lot for their U Haul business. A lease will need to be amended.
Prepare a draft to allow this and bring it back.
Approved
White Pine Treasure- Catherine Bakaric
To proceed with ordering titles for up coming tax sale.
Approximately 70 properties, some land and mines.
Approved
Catherine Bakaric reported the Treasures office can take on additional duties.
____
Special “Joint” White Pine County- City of Ely Fire Protection
City would like to meet with out the public seeing. County does not like this. All meetings should be open to public. Attorneys need to look into the open meeting laws. We have to do this right.
Mike Wheable confirmed County ordinance 421 states that we can not reorganize the Fire District for 10 years. Last reorganization was in 2008.
Bruce Setterstrom “I don’t want to negotiate now. I want to negotiate with a new negotiation team.”
Gary Perea “ This should be done in a open meeting.”
Laurie Carson “There is no comparison in costs for City services and County services. The county has a larger area to cover and has 9 stations.”
Form a new committee, not chosen by officials, but containing two from each governing body. Special meeting in March. Negotiating teams can meet in January.
I hope everybody had a great Christmas
The Best of New Years to all of White Pine.
Coming events:
Monday’s – Celebrate Recovery, 16 Shoshone Circle – 7pm (775-410-1341)
Party Night – First Tuesday of every month.
Democrats meet at the library 5:30.
GOP meet at Prospector Hotel 7:00 pm
EVFD Annual New Years Eve Ball
Jan. 15 VFW Conference
Jan. 16 – Fire and Ice
Jan. 16 – Lincoln Day Breakfast – 8:00 to noon – call – 977-692-7322 Price $26.00 before 12-31 and $30.00 after
Jan. 30 – Rotary Fishing Derby
