Published in the High Desert Advocate March 14th, 2019 Edition.
Geri Wop
Philosopher Camus wrote “Always go too far, because that’s where you will find the truth. “
White Pine County Commission
February 27, 2019
Travis Godon had to leave the meeting early.
Public Comment
There were quite a few comments, I will mention a few here.
Richard Howe they did that the three minute rule would be strictly adhered to, and if you have heard someone State your concerns, please do not be repetitious.
Fire / EMT proposal by the City –
Mark Bassett from the railroad commented that he didn’t know who to call if there was an incident on the train or at the sides of the train. ( This is very easy to answer, you call 911 and the dispatch will send you who you need.)
Many other comments were related to firing fireman or getting rid of fire stations. (This proposal did not state any of these anything of the sort. Mike Wheable. )
Some people were afraid that the commission would vote to accept the proposal by the City. (This again the item was for discussion only.)
Kurt Carson sent a letter stating that this proposal could at least start negotiations.
Baker Ordinance concerning animal–
There were several letters and a few people who spoke against this ordinance. They pointed out several unclear items in the Ordnance and the fact that the properties were on the main road.
Opening Prayer
There were objections to have open prayer to begin the Commission meetings. The main concern was the separation of church and state.
( I do not object to having a prayer before any meeting, I might be strange, but I have the practice of when an item or person pops into my mind, I say a prayer right then. Many of you have received prayers from me and you’ll never know.)
Shane Bybee wanted to explain his absence from the Commission. “As not only my constituents, but my neighbors and Friends, I feel you need to know where I have been. For the last thirty eight years I have battled a unhealthy addiction to alcohol. It came to an head recently. I spent 6 days in a detox center + 45 days in a rehab center inpatient treatment to deal with this. I’m not telling you this for sympathy, only that you have a right to know.
I’m coming to you with this because I have hopes we can find a better way to deal with this in our society. Our resources are limited, I don’t have the answers as far as long term goes, it’s something I am still figuring out. I know there’s other people out there that are battling the same battle I’m in. I’m coming to you with hopes that if you know somebody who is facing the same journey and they don’t know what first steps to take. I’ve been that guy who set in the dark scared to death and did not know which way to turn. I would like to have my door open and I would like everyone to know it’s open 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. If you have questions on how you start that journey, I can tell you where to start and what steps to take to get on this road. I can tell you what peace it’ll bring you when you’re on that road. I would advise you to let people know, someone that needs the path that I have been on, send them to me. I don’t have all the answers or how this ends up. I do know it’s going to be a lifelong battle. I can help them with the start. Please call me, I want to help”.
Road Commission
Bill Calderwood – the crew has been reduce, to 8, it had been 12. We would like to add some roads that are County-owned unmaintained roads to County maintain. There are unmaintained roads that have several families living on them and we would like to identify these roads. We would like to add them to our regular maintenance. We do get money for any roads we maintain. These roads must be certified and fuel tax eligible. This would serve the greater public.
Discussion / First Reading of proposed Ordinance 499, Bill No. 02.27.2019, an Ordinance amending Title 17 of the White Pine County Code to allow the keeping and raising of certain animals upon certain Zoned parcels in Baker, Nevada.
This is only the first reading and not a public hearing on an action item. It is a draft that can be changed as needed.
There were many things mentioned that did needed to be changed, such as number of animal.
The DA recommended the liaison talk to his constituents and get a better idea as to what they want. There will be a second reading.
Fire Commission Meeting/ Discussion only to consider the City of Ely’s proposal for Fire / EMS Automatic Aid.
There were many people who spoke opposition to this proposal. Once again it was stated that we had 11 Fire Chiefs in 11 years, this is not true. The Fire Chief have been – Dave Hendrix, John Sherman, Brett Waters, Tim Woolever and Tim Regan.
Another comment was made about the financial aspects of this proposal and of the legal ramifications if something does go wrong.
Public Hearing /Discussion / For Possible Action: Approval of a petition for Vacation or Abandonment of Road Easement. The applicants are Mike and Dolores Lemich , Jon and Sonia Almberg, William and Lori Ricci, and Emil and Vivian Almberg. The desire is to have the street and /are easements between their properties on West Jennifer Drive abandoned. The proposed abandonment are located between APN 010 – 720 – 02, 010 – 72005, 0 1 0 – 720 – 06, 010 – 78006 + 010 – 780 – 14 in White Pine County, Nevada.
4/0 Approved
White Pine County Golf Course
Discussion / For Possible Action: Approval of the proposed rate increase as recommended by the Golf Advisory Board.
4/0 Approved
County Commissioners
Travis Godon – Discussion For Possible Action: Approval to draft a letter to the Nevada Attorney General’s Office in opposition of the lawsuit against the Trump Administration over the declared National Emergency on the border wall construction and funding.
5/0 Approved to draft a letter in opposition of the lawsuit.
Discussion/For Possible Action: Approval to dedicate up to $11,000 to AG District 13 to assist in its efforts with White Pine County Fair.
5/0 Approved
Ian Bullis- Discussion/For Possible Action: Approval to hold opening prayer during Commission Meetings.
2/2 failed to approve prayer
3/1 to have a moment of silence
Richard Howe – Discussion / For Possible Action: to send the letter in Support of Assembly Bill 21.
This bill would allow Advisory board members to have an extended period of time on a board.
4/0 Approved
Elected Officials
Catherine Bakaric, Treasurer – approval to transition EDC duties out of the Treasurer’s office.
4/0 Approved
Nicole Baldwin, County Clerk
Discussion/For Possible Action: Approval to appoint Timothy Bunch to the Local Emergency Planning Committee representing EMS.
4/0 Approved
Discussion/For Possible Action: Acceptance of the Annual Evaluations provided by some of White Pine County Town Council and Advisory Board.
4/0 Approved
Timothy Bunch, Human Resource Director – Discussion/ For Possible Action: Approval for a job description for Victim/Witness Services, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner.
4/0 Approved
Discussion / For Possible Action: Approval to ratify the external posting of Justice Court Clerk to replace Annette Marshall.
4/0 Approved
Elizabeth Francis, Financial Director – Discussions/For Possible Action: Review Proposals Received in Response to RFP for Conflict Counsel for Public Defender Services and approval to Award Conflict Councel for Public Defender Service or enter into negotiations with one or more Attorneys / Firms/Governments for Service Based on Response received RFP.
Prices were very different, the Commission decided to go into negotiations with the local attorneys. (Richard Sears, Jane Eberhardy and Kristeen Pickering)
4/0 Approved
Notice of Untimed Items –
Discussion / For Possible Action: Approval to fund a minimum of $13,604 to the RSVP program provided in White Pine County.
4/0 Approved (RSVP is very valuable to White Pine County.)
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
Community Housing Meeting
March 8, 2019
Committee members present – Brad Simpson, Kenna Almberg, Donna Bath, Mike Wheable, Nathan Robinson and Caroline McIntosh
Purpose and Goals of the Houseing Meeting
Nathan Robertson- We have big developments coming into this area, NDOT, the County has some big building projects coming up, New Mines opening up, the prison needing new employees . We need the County, City, land owner, Developers and anyone who has a stake in this to give ideas and suggestions in how we can accomplish new affordable housing.
We need to know what roadblocks we face and what financing is available.
( Introduction was done around the room and quite a few contractors, developers and concerned citizens were introduced.)
State of the Local Housing Market
Kenna Almberg- records from the County Assessor’s office indicates that the majority of houses sold were under $100,000. This indicates that we do not have a huge market for high-priced homes. The average sales price for a home is $128,667.
From 2018 to 2019 the number of houses on the market have dropped from 80 to 56.
The monthly supply of houses on the market went from 11.4% down to 5.8%.
Currently today, we have 32 listed under $100,000, 19 between $100,000 & $200,000, 5 homes between $200,000 and $300,000 and only 3 home for over $300,000. This does not give much choice for people walking in the door to purchase a home.
We have had clients who chose not to move here because of the inadequate housing.
One of our lenders put out information that has our population in White Pine County at 9720. Out of that they estimate that 2,350 of these are renters and 592 can afford to purchase a home.
It is estimated that potential home buyers ages 27 to 35, there are 250 of those in White Pine County it is estimated that we need 95 homes to fill the needs and only four homes were actually built this year.
Review of Possible Options and Ideas Presented by the Housing Committee.
Brad Simpson – in one of the meetings someone brought up the point, if we’re going to have all this new construction coming, “Where are the houses for them? “ We have talked to the Commissioners about donating County Land. The problem we have with the City of Ely a lot of our lots are 25 by 100 feet. We need code changes and variances for people to build on these small Lots.
NDOT is coming in here and I’m looking for homes for the workers to rent, there are none.
The KOA is filling up with miners in fifth wheels. We don’t have a lot of moderate income housing.
We are trying to stimulate conversation and ideas as to how we can get more affordable, moderate income houses built.
I talked to contractors in Elko and they’re mostly building foundations for modular homes.
Nathan Robertson- the committee has talk about having tiny homes, repossessing homes on the tax rolls, bringing someone in to do a large family complex. We talked about many things but all the talking we do isn’t going to amount to much without advice and suggestions from people on the ground.
Possible Incentive Options Offered by White Pine County.
Mike Wheable – “ Hi my name is Mike Wheable and I am a renter. I found the inventory of homes under $100,000 is small or they need a lot of work. There is a lot of need for different types of homes because of the number of families sizes that lived here.”
We have maps of properties that could be developed there are maps on the wall and you’re welcome to look at them and talk to the owners of the property. ( There were 10 maps on the wall.) The law allows the County to dispose of property just like that for economical development. The procedure is to get a single appraisal and then the County passes the resolution saying it’s in the best interest of the community. And it is in the best interest of the community because you’re putting more property on the tax rolls and you’re providing safe nice places for the community to live. Our community does want to grow, but if someone comes into town and sees run-down homes, they will say well, I can get a job up at Twin, let’s go. I can present to the Commissioners any contractor’s plan, so the contractor can make a profit. You come to me and I will put it on the agenda, so we can practically give this property way, with the caveat that it will be developed within a year. The finance director is here to make sure I don’t just give property away, but I will if it improves our community.
It’s the County Commissioner’s decision, but it’s a no-brainer, we need homes for our community.
You may ask how can I afford this as a small contractor, go talk to Mary Kerner, we do have groups in this town who will help with the financing.
Wheable promised to work with any contractor on any possibilities with the County to improve property and provide homes.
The hospital is considering building homes for their traveling doctors, they’re really unique modular type Townhomes.
Possible Incentives Offered by the City of Ely.
Kevin Robison from Mount Wheeler states that no matter where Mount Wheeler goes the prices are always the same.
There were questions about if we build a house and it sits there for months, where is the profit? Can any of the fees be waived? How do we do the infrastructure, it is very expensive and hookup fees are out of line?
These are all things that need to be negotiated with the County and the City. We are looking to build houses in the$120,000 to $150,000 range, this price range will sell.
If you have any suggestions please, state them here or contact any member of the board.
( I ran into the same problems as Mike Wheable when I looked for a new home in Ely. I had to decide which house I wanted to repair. Luckily with the help from my family and my ability to redo a house has come in very handy. My realtor was really getting tired of me not liking what was presented to me.)
continued in next week edition
Geri Wop
