Philosopher Camus wrote “Always go too far, because that’s where you will find the truth.”
County Commission Meeting and Special Fire Commission Agenda
February 24 2016
Public comment:
Bruce Holthus – Pinyon Pine Lane is a unmaintained road and in very bad condition, Commissioners should consider adding this road to the County Road Specifications.
(There a number of roads owned, but not maintained by the county road department, I live on one. I do believe these roads should have some maintenance and plowed when there is a heavy snow.)
One Commissioner – Bringing up items over and over again is redundant. You need to get items on the agenda if you want them discussed. The commission cannot discuss things with you in public comment.
(When you speak in public comment, it is your statement and not for discussion . A commissioner can put your item on the agenda. A commissioner or council member may put an item on the agenda even if they do not vote for it. Records are available to the public and requests should be made at the proper office. )
Certification of Roads with in White Pine County. There are 2,326.32 miles of road in the county, 988 miles are maintained. There are maintained and unmaintained roads. The certification is for maintained roads. Unmaintained roads can be added to the list by the commission.
Bill Miller – Roads that are to be added to road maintenance need to build to road specs before the department can consider them. They must be 40 to 60 feet wide and meet other requirements. We have roads we maintain that can be removed because they are not used as much by the public. Is this new tax structure going to allow us to add more roads or will we be held to exacting roads. When we add roads, we must made all new maps. This could cost up to $150,000.
Coster “There is a new tax proposed and a lot of people would like to know what they get from that tax. We need to set up a formula for people to get their roads added to this list, if and when money becomes available. If we want people to vote for a new 10 year tax, they need to know where the money will go.”
This public hearing did not give citizens of the county time to understand or reply with requests to have roads added or removed.
(Mr. Bruce Holthus pointed out the need for Pinyon Pine Lane to be added. This will have to come up again as an agenda item. There are many roads like Pinyon Pine Lane that need to be added, please contact a commissioner to get this process started.
The new tax would increase every year for 10 years, it does not go away in 10 years.
My road is one of the unmaintained roads and is on the county map. It is built correctly and over 40 feet wide, just to move in I had to bring it up to standards, I had to have several types of emergency vehicles drive the road and drive way. The inspector came out and approved it. This was 11 years ago, all this did not get my road maintained. I still do not agree with any new tax.)
(One thing about not have the road plowed, you have to have a sense of humor. While shoveling our way out, my son said “Look we can go shooting when we get out!” Sure enough the shooting range was getting plowed.)
Certification was approved.
Special Fire Commission
Warren Reed Insurance Company was appointed Broker for Property, Liability and Workers Compensation. Leavitt Group was appointed Broker for Employee Health Benefits.
Two consultant companies applied to preform the Feasibility Study for Cooperative Services. This study is about the feasibility of combining the City of Ely and White Pine County Fire Departments.
Richard Howe “We are not making any progress with the city, I know this was voted on by the commission, but looking at the widening gap and that this will not happen for 2 years, I think we should delay this.”
Coster – I strongly opposed to going through with this study, however it was voted on and we need to vote on a consultant.
I would like to go with Richards suggestion, but that is not what is on the agenda.
Perea – I feel we can benefit from this even if the city does not agree.
This will tell us what we have.
McKenizie – Hoping this will end some of the misinformation out there.
The contract was given to ESCI of Oregon. Richard Howe abstained.
Vote was 3 for.
(Where is always misinformation out there, we do not need a study to tell us what we have. The City has no intent of combining departments and to pay this amount of money (we don’t have) on a hope or wish that something will come out of it! I hope some day I can say money well spent! I have my doubts and we are all tired of the fire departments being used as a football between two governing bodies.)
County employees will be using the Code Red system to be notified of closures. This system is used by the Sheriff’s office for reporting missing people as well as any emergency that can affect you.
The county has a system called Code Red. Go the the county web site and click on Code Red.
https://cne.coderedweb.com/Default.aspx?groupid=yz75MKpGaFFY%2fnWdJjrzFA%3d%3d
This is a good notification system to have.
Gary Perea showed pictures of the leaky water tank in Baker. This tank is in very bad shape. The problem seem to be access to replace it. A discussion only was held regarding Baker General Improvement District Right-of-way Application.
(It is understood that the county commission needs money to continue the status quo. The commissioners need to cut, cut, cut, because the citizens can not stand more taxes. Why should any person give money to a county commission that will not cut its spending.)
Once again I encourage you to call the commissioners and give them your thoughts, they need it.
Laurie Carson 293-3134
Mike Coster 293-2933
Richard Howe 287-2851
Carol McKenzie 238-5384
Gary Perea. 293-7356
Geri Wop
