Geri Wopschall Around The County

Published in the High Desert Advocate May 16th, 2019 Edition.

Philosopher  Camus  wrote “Always go too far, because that’s where you will find the truth.”

Ely City Council Meeting April 25, 2019

Tony DeFelice and Kurt Carson absent.

Public Comment 

Kerri Pintar “Regarding item one under new business, do you seriously think the 50 Cent’s you receive from this policy purchase will begin to mitigate budget shortfall in all three Enterprise funds? The individuals in this community already cannot afford the already  proposed and assumed in the budget your 3 to 10% increase.”

Letter from Chris Flannery states that his company of Home Inspections has applied for a business license to do business in White Pine County and the City of Ely. Among the charges he has is landfill. Mr. Flannery feels that he does not have an office here only comes in to inspect homes and has no trash for the landfill, this be should not be on his bill.

(Welcome to Ely, Chris and Valerie we will be very happy to see you do business in our area.)

Department Reports

The City Clerk reported on the upcoming election and Advising people to get registered to vote.

The City Engineer reported on some drainage problems near the railroad and other projects. 

Mayor Van Camp read a letter from the Secretary of State praising the performance of our City Clerk,  Jennifer Lee for her efficiency and handling the election.

New Business 

Discussion / For Possible Action – Review and possible Approval of City of Ely participation in National League of Cities Service Line Warranty Program for City of Ely utility customers.

Dennis Lyon of Utility Service Partners, Inc. “We have been offering this service of water and sewer line protection for 16 years. We partner with the community  to proactively educate homeowners  as to their water and sewer  responsibility .  We make available  completely voluntary protections that those homeowners can participate in. The coverage is up to $8,500 of repairs on the home owners property. The reason I mentioned is that something that sets us apart, every single time that homeowner has an issue, the $8,500 is available to handle the issue.

There is also a coverage for all plumbing inside the home. This coverage would be a value of $3,000 per incident.

The City would receive $0.50 a month for each of the homeowners that have this policy.

The homeowners will receive a letter in the mail explaining the program and the cost. The City would review this letter and its contents before anything is mailed out.”

3/0 Approved to  participate ( It was noted that they had to have five people there to vote on this. So it will be on another agenda)

Discussion/ For Possible Action – Approval of Proclamation declaring May 11, 2019 Arbor Day in the City of Ely.

3/0 Approved  and the date was changed to May 10, 2019

Discussion Only – Consideration of White Pine County’s proposal to provide Street Services to City residents.

County Commissioner Shane Bybee “You know in the last several months we have been working with the City Road Department on an hour sharing program. It’s working so well and it is so simple ,it’s coming together nicely for both departments. Kurt Carson and I had a discussion, and because it’s working so well we are thinking of a way to combine these departments. This is not an official proposal, this is like my granddad used to say throw it against the wall and see what sticks. I have been in your chairs, I know that the budget is dismal for the amount of Roads we need to maintain. Part of the problem with that is with two roads departments we have 2 overheads. We can see if this works for this budget year and then do as other communities have and put it under the guise of RTC. We can combine, our employees and equipment and let the RTC take it over. That is kind of the vision, there are going to be many other details.

Before we have the legal eagle figure out what the best way to proceed so, we need to discuss the possibilities.”

One citizen of the County did question as to how this would affect the different townships and people in the County, would money be taken away from the County to help the City road?

Kerri Pintar “ I appreciate Mr. Bybee statement that he did sit in one of these chairs and that he knows the budget for the roads is dismal, so why doesn’t the County cough up more money for our roads?”

One citizen of the County is questioning as to why, we need to combine the fire departments and now we need to combine the road department. It will be a short time before the County puts out another request to disincorporate the City.

George Chachas  warned that if you give up your road department,  it’s the beginning of the end.

Flangas stated  that we all need to work together, we are all one community and there is no reason we can’t support each other and work together. Working together is the benefits for all, whether I’m driving on the street in McGill or on the street in Ely. He feels it is a proposal that does deserve some discussion and it has possibilities. He also requested that if anyone has any pros and cons or suggestions to please let the City Council know.

Odgers “I understand it would not be called the City Road Department or the County Road Department Regional Transportation Commission. Is all I understand it the employees in the City would receive the same pay as they are now. As of July 2020, I believe there are 17 employees in the County Road Department and three from the City, would be Consolidated under the Regional Transportation.”

( I do agree that the combining of these two departments as one department would be a good idea because there will be better efficiency , I think we all however I do not see a lot of a savings. The most that will happen is one building will be closed. We will still need the same amount of equipment as we have now. We also will need the same amount of employees that we have now. I do believe that the roads in Ely will improve as they need to.)

Discussion- Only – Consideration to utilize City staff to haul refuge for the community-wide Clean Up after Memorial Day.

Mayor Van Camp stated that we do not have the number of people that would be needed to complete this in the month of May.

Flangas stated that we need to come up with some type of rules and regulations that will force people to clean up. If we have to come in and clean it up, then they have to pay for it.

Discussion / For Possible Action – Approval to purchase materials to construct outdoor kennels at the City of Ely Animal Control facilities in the amount of $9,680.02, to expand the Capital Outlay in the Capital Projects Fund for this fiscal year.

3/0 Approved 

Discussion / For Possible Action – Approval to stay the implementation of Ordinance 720 Establishing an Ambulance Service Franchise for the City of Ely until July one, 2019.

3/0 Approved 

Discussion / For Possible Action – Approval of Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Ely and Operating Engineers Local 3 for Emergency Service Personnel not currently represented by Operating Engineers Local 3.

No decision was made until further information is available

Discussion / For Possible Action – Authorization to fill for Firefighter Advanced positions or until filled based on applications, pursuant to the Interlocal Agreement between the City of Ely  and White Pine County for Fire / EMS services.

Odgers pointed out that we are obligated to look at the County firefighters, as well as any volunteers for the City that would like to apply.

3/0 Approved 

Discussion/For Possible Actions – Authorization to create and fill a Service Worker position in the Water / Sewer Department.

Odgers “We are unable to maintain our water and sewer lines, not due to the staff but because of the lack of staff. There is not enough time in the any given day for a 3-man crew to do everything that’s needed to our water and sewer.”

3/0 Approved 

Discussion / For Possible Action – Authorization to divide four Water and Sewer Department employees into two crews, placing them on 4 10s– One Crew Monday – Thursday and the other crew Thursday – Sunday – through the pay period  ending October 4th 2019.

3/0 Approved 

Discussion / For Possible Action – Ratification of City Attorney Odgers decision to post internally the position of Assistant Waste Water Treatment Plant Operator, to be filled with a Service Worker I with a requirement to obtain their Operator in Training Certificate from the State of Nevada within six months of appointment, due to the resignation of Bruce Ashby.

Odgers I think you’re aware that Bruce turned in his resignation a week ago Friday, he has agreed to stay on until we can fill this position. According to our Union contract we have to post this internally first. 

3/0 Approved 

Discussion / For Possible Action – Approval for City Clerk to fill vacant budgeted positions.

3/0 Approved 

White Pine County Commission Meeting May 8, 2019

Public Comment 

Members of the White Pine County Fairgrounds and Rodeo referred to the renaming of the White Pine County Fairgrounds, although Steve Stork was an important member of the community, they felt that there are other people who work their whole lives for the fairgrounds, Rodeo, horse racing and other events that should be remembered for their  accomplishments at the fairgrounds.

Raleene Makley “The Interim Agreement for Road Service States – in 2010 the residence of White Pine County voted to consolidate Services, where it made sense. This is not true. The item on the ballot stated  “Shell the Governments of the City of Ely and White Pine County combined into one government unit?” the vote was 1697 yes to 1495 no. 53.16% voted yes for the two entities to become one. What should have happened back then, the City Council should have considered putting the same question on their ballot up so the City  residences could vote.

I would like to ask if you’ve ever looked up the meaning of the word malfeasance, if you haven’t you should. Just a few items in the definition is wrongdoing or misconduct, an action undertaken for improper purposes, falsehood, deceit and untruthfulness. We all know if this agreement goes through where the priority will be. The priority will be within the City of Ely.

I feel the Commissioners should read and check, because it’s written doesn’t mean it’s fact.”

Carol McKenzie “ I am requesting that the ambulance at Station 1, with an automatic lift be moved to Lund, because all of the Lund volunteers EMTs are women and we do not have the strength to lift a gurney into the ambulance. The ambulance will roll, but we do not have any fire truck driver to accompany us. We also need information on administrating, who and where do we turn our reports in? We need supplies and we need radios, where do we get these? We are locked out of Station 1 and that is where we turned our reports in and got our supplies. 

I am at a loss as to why we have not been informed of procedures needed, we are not mind readers. Please do not put us and travelers in danger because you did not think it necessary to keep us informed.”

Fire Commission Meeting

In comments Burton Hilton said it was very necessary to hire a Fire Chief as quickly as possible. We need somebody on board to help coordinate things.

Discussion / Update on Fire District Progress

Ross Rivera, Fire Chief of the City of Ely “ There’s a quick update, we have been super busy. Working White Pine County is more than we had anticipated. I want to thank the volunteers who have assisted us, especially one young lady in Baker. Her heart is in the right place and she’s standing tall, no matter what.  Carol is right it is really hard, especially with Communications. The hiring is coming along slowly, we have not had any applications from the County. It’s been rather difficult with the long hours, a lot of volunteer hours. Doing this thing overnight has been very difficult. Hopefully everything will straighten out in the outlying communities.”

Howe “We are working on having these people in the outlying communities come back,  I’m hoping that they will. This was rather quick. This is about the communities, it is not about who’s in charge.”

Francis “I have been told that not all of the fire departments are being paged.”

Sheriff Scott Henroid  “We page both the City and the appropriate volunteer station at the same time.”

Ross Rivera reported on the ARFF Crash Building. He went out to checked the fire engine, it appears to be in good shape. The building itself needs to be cleaned up.

Discussion / For Possible Action:  Approval to transfer the Green Brush Truck, a 1997 International Heavy Wildland Engine, VIN number 1 HD Sean 6 W H 541951, from Station 1 to the Baker VFD.

4/0 Approved after repairs are completed

Discussion / For Possible Action: Approval to transfer the 4-wheeler, age 2012 Kawaaki KVF360ACF Prairie 2604 x 4 Scout with a snow plow, VIN number JKBVFHA17CB587550, to the McGill VID.

4/0 Approved 

Discussion / For Possible Action: Approval to lease from Fire District / County inventory unto the City of Ely for the duration of the life of the Automatic Aid Agreement, and for a normal sum, a “Command Type Vehicle” and / or a “Type-6 Brush Truck” and/ or “EMS training supplies” and / or a “Medical Tablet Surface 3” and / or up to 4 “800 MHz Radios” and / or a “Motorola Pager” and / or an “Oxygen Filling Station” per request by the City of Ely Fire Department to insist with carrying out the duties and responsibilities of the Automatic Aid Agreement.

4/0 Approved to Table  Some legal aspects have to be looked into. The Intern Chief and Ross  need to make decisions.

Discussion /For Possible Action: Approval to lease from Fire District / County inventory unto MedX AirOne up to 6 “800 MHZ Radios” until June 30th 2019 for a nominal fee.

4/0 Approved  This would be for three radios at $1 a month each.

Discussion / For Possible Action: Ratification of a letter to the City of Ely Volunteer Fire Department Chief Ross Rivera of the Ely VFD regarding granting the City of Ely Volunteer Fire Department permission for non-exclusive radio frequency used assigned to the WPFCFPD during the life of the automatic aid agreements to use in Communications with WPCFPD Volunteers.

4/0 Approved 

Discussion / Update on status of physical inventory of White Pine County Fire Protection District assets and apparatus.

Not all the inventory has been completed at this point. Station one has been inventory.

Discussion / For Possible Action: Approval to solicit applicants or appoint an Interim Chief for the White Pine County Fire Protection

It was discussed that they would like to hire someone local, one problem is not all volunteers are EMTs and not all of them have been trained to drive the ambulance or the fire truck. 

Bunch “ I did receive a roster of all the volunteers in the County. Now that I have contacted most of them, I do believe that we will be in good shape shortly. We are still missing a few of the leaders, hopefully we will have new leaders or the return of the old leaders. These volunteers have the desire and the tools to respond, they lack leadership at the moment and qualified drivers for the ambulance and the fire truck.”

Shane Bybee  suggested Ralph McClintock.  Mr. McClintock will be contacting every station and working between them and the City.

4/0 Approved to  hire Ralph McClintock

Discussion / for possible action approval of an agreement between White Pine County, the White Pine County Fire Protection District and MedEx AirOne, LLC for MedEx AirOne, LLC to provide ambulance service between William B Riley Hospital and Yelland Field from April 24th 2019 to June 30th, 2019, in exchange for use of County/Fire District Property, including an ambulance and certain portions of fire Station #1, at reduced rates.

4/0 Approved 

Proposed Ordinance 500

Public Hearing / Discussion / For Possible Action: The White Pine County Board of Commissioners will take public comment and consider the approval of  proposed Ordinance 500, Bill # 0 4.10.2019, an Ordinance amending Chapter 4. 0 4 of The White Pine County Code to raise the total  rental business tax rate from 11.5% to 13.5% providing for 2.5% of total rental business tax revenue to go to the White Pine County Golf Course, adjusting the notice requirement to reflect that change and; adding a severability clause.

4/0 Approved 

Public Hearing / Discussion / For Possible Action: the White Pine County Board of Commissioners will take public comment to consider approval to enter into a lease with MedX AirOne, pursuant to NRS 495. 040, 4 up to 10,000 square feet of County property at Yelland Field South of the USDA Hanger so that MedX AirOne can build a hangar and other aviation facilities on the property to support its emergency transportation operation.

This would be a 20 year agreement at $0.25 a square foot per year. Med X Air One plans to have the building ready in 12 months.

4/0 Approved 

Public Hearing / Discussion / For Possible Action: The White Pine County Board of Commissioners will take public comment to consider approval to grant unto the City of Ely an ambulance franchise for Country-wide Emergency Medical Service and special event EMS / Ambulance Service pursuit  to White Pine County code 2.5 5.070 from April 24th 2019 at 6 p.m. through midnight on June 30th, 2019.

This agreement gives the City the right to run an ambulance in the County. The County will also be running ambulances.

4/0 Approved 

County Commissioners

Shane Bybee 

 Discussion / For Possible Action: Approval of Resolution 2019 – 19 to honor the life and community service of Commissioners Steve M. Stork and to also rename the fairgrounds the Steve M. Stork Fairgrounds or identify other County-owned property to rename in his honor.

It was decided to put a plaque in the Bar /Food pavilion.

4/0 Approved 

Discussion / For Possible Action: Approval on whether to entertain into an interim  Road Maintenance Agreement with the City of Ely on the those terms outlined in the abstract included herein.

It was decided to table because it needed some details worked out.

4/0 Approved to Table 

Richard Howe 

 Discussion / For Possible Action: Approval of the request from the City of Ely to utilize the County’s fuel station at the maintenance yard and purchased fuel from the County under the same terms and condition as County departments.

This would be the fuel Cost Plus $0.05

4/0 Approved to Table 

Discussion / For Possible Action: Approval to  redeligate Commission Liaison appointment cells by Commissioner Stork on an interim basis to the remaining Commissioners.

Bullis- Tour and Rec, Wildlife

Godon  – Southern Nevada water, FLUC, water Advisory Board

Bybee – Public Health, Airport

Howe – Building and Planning, Sheriff’s Department

Discussion Only of appointment process for a vacant County Commission seat.

This position will be filled by an appointment from the Governor. You may apply directly to his office or through the local GOP.

Burton Hilton 

 Discussion / For Possible Action: Approval to grant a sewer easement to the City of Ely across White Pine County owned  parcel 010 – 490 – 06, as shown on the map, for the development of the Learning Bridge Charter School.

4/0 Approved 

Discussion / For Possible Action: Approval to allow the Senior Center Renovation Committee to move forward with grant process to provide for numerous improvements of the Senior Center Facility.

4/0 Approved 

Catherine Bakaric 

Discussion/For Possible Action: Approval to increase the work hours for Lori Wines in the Treasurer’s Office by two additional hours per day, moving her from ¾ time to full time, effective May 13th 2019 through June 30th, 2019.

4/0 Approved 

Sheriff Scott Henroid 

Discussion/For Possible Action: Approval to receive a reimbursement grant in the amount of $39,803 from the State of Nevada Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety with a County soft match of $9,970.75 for the purchase of Brazso Citation and Crash Software / Automatic Ticket Writers, Printers and Equipment. White Pine County will purchase the Brazos Writers and will being reimbursed by the state of Nevada.

This would be 20 units.

4/0 Approved 

Tim Bunch – Discussion / For Possible Action: Approval to accept the immediate resignation of Carl Gregory, Emergency Management Director.

4/0 Approved 

If you have any comments on this meeting or any other you may contact any of the Commissioners or leave your comment on White Pine Talking.

Richard Howe    775-287-2851

Travis Godon      775-296-2661

Steve Stork         775-397-3550

Shane Bybee      775-289-6209

Ian Bullis             775-781-3526

Toggle panel: Original Premium News Settings

Original Premium News Settings

Open publish panel