STATE OF NEVADA, )

COUNTY OF ELKO. ) ss. AUGUST 2, 2006

The Board of Elko County Commissioners met on August 2, 2006, at 1:30 p.m., in Room 105 of the Elko County Courthouse at 571 Idaho Street, Elko, Nevada.

There were present: County Commissioners Warren Russell, Chair

John Ellison

Mike Nannini

Charlie Myers

Sheri Eklund-Brown

County Manager Robert Stokes

Deputy District Attorney Kristin McQueary

Deputy County Clerk Marilyn Tipton

Planning & Zoning Dir. Randy Brown

Undersheriff Bernie Curtis

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The proceedings were as follows:

CALL TO ORDER:

Chairman Russell called the meeting to order at 1:31 p.m.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:

Commissioner Myers led the meeting participants in the Pledge of Allegiance.

COMMENTS BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC:

Commissioner Myers commented about Commissioner Ellison’s heroic efforts against Mormon crickets.

Commissioner Russell noted that there was a representative from the Boy Scouts present today at the meeting. Kelton Whittaker stated he was working toward his leadership community merit badge.

ELKO DOWNTOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION:

Lori Lynch, President of the Downtown Business Association, discussed a fundraising program for new Christmas decorations along Idaho Street and the Corridor area. She requested financial participation by the County. Lori Lynch displayed pictures of what they proposed for the decorations. The decorations would include banners for the four seasons of the year from a company in Reno. She stated their goal was to raise enough money to complete the project which was $50,000 by October 1, 2006. Lori Lynch submitted a written budget which gave a complete breakdown for each pole. She proposed engraving names of the contributors on bricks and placing them on the retaining wall at the front of the Courthouse. She asked for a platinum donation of $5,000.00 from the County Commission. Lori Lynch displayed the plaque which would be placed on each pole and engraved with the contributor’s name. Commissioner Myers inquired who would put up the bricks on the retainer wall. Lori Lynch stated they were trying to figure how to put the bricks up. Commissioner Eklund-Brown suggested Pete Jones may donate his labor. Commissioner Myers commented that everyone sat on the Courthouse lawn and hung their legs over the wall during the parades.

Commissioner Eklund-Brown inquired if Lori Lynch would go to the city to get a contribution. Lori Lynch replied everyone within the community would be approached for contributions. They had spoken to the Visitor’s Authority and they were looking into grant funding for the project. Lori Lynch stated there were ten major events in the community throughout the year and they had discussed having banners for each event which would total 56 banners. Lori Lynch believed that with grant funding and the ECVA they would be able to get more banners to change out fourteen times a year. Commissioner Eklund-Brown inquired who would change the banners. Lori Lynch replied the City’s Parks Department.

Commissioner Ellison commented over fifteen years ago they raised $10,000 for the one banner and went to non profit groups to make the banners. Commissioner Ellison felt Elko should decorate for Christmas because it brought in tax dollars. He inquired about removal of the stars on the tree outside of the Courthouse. Lori Lynch stated the people had approached them and asked that the stars be left upon the tree in memory of their soldiers still fighting. Commissioner Ellison inquired if they would stop soliciting funds if they get their five large sponsors. Lori Lynch replied that if they received the $50,000 in the first year then any additional funding would be used to replace the banners when they were broken or frayed. They would keep going on with this project so they would not have to find this amount of funding every five years to replace all the banners. Commissioner Nannini inquired why she did not propose this project during budget time. Lori Lynch replied that this project did not begin until two months ago. She stated that today they were just asking for permission to put the bricks on the retaining wall and the County did not have to contribute. Commissioner Nannini stated they wanted to address these types of issues during the budget sessions. He felt the other three communities in the County should be given the same consideration when they consider a contribution toward this project. Commissioner Nannini inquired who was responsible for taking off the Christmas lights on the tree. Lori Lynch replied the DBA was responsible for putting up the lights and taking them down. Lori Lynch stated that taking the lights on or off was causing more damage to the tree than just leaving them on the tree. She noted that it took a lot of time to put on the lights and the Fire Department helped put them on the tree.

Commissioner Ellison felt it enhanced the local businesses and beautified the downtown area and suggested funding the project from the Contingency Fund. Cash Minor cautioned that there were some requests coming up that were not on the agenda which were very large. Commissioner Russell felt it was a great project but voiced the same concern as Commissioner Nannini that there should be funding equity between the cities located within the County. He noted that the County had a tight budget. Commissioner Russell contributed to the first brick.

MOTION: Commissioner Eklund-Brown moved to approve the DBA request to place bricks on the foundation along the Courthouse with contingency of approval of the mason and brick placement by the County prior to that placement and also from contingency the amount of $5,000 to go toward this project. Commissioner Ellison seconded the motion.

Commissioner Ellison felt this would bring in more money to the community.

Commissioner Myers asked that they amend the motion to make the donation contingent upon review with Cash Minor.

Commissioner Eklund-Brown amended her motion that the contribution be contingent upon review with Cash Minor. Commissioner Ellison seconded the amendment. Commissioners Eklund-Brown, Ellison, Nannini and Myers voted aye. Commissioner Russell voted nay. The motion was passed by 4-1 majority vote.

Lori Lynch noted that the County could choose which pole they wished to sponsor and have the plaque upon. The Board members asked that the pole in front of the Courthouse be their sponsored light pole.

NORTHEASTERN NEVADA REGIONAL RAILPORT:

Commissioner Ellison departed from the meeting room at 2:09 p.m.

Elaine Barkdull, ECEDA Executive Director, stated they had held a meeting with the committee. She stated there was more interest in the railport and they had a new lead today involving eighty acres.

Appraisals for Sale of Property:

The Board considered authorization to acquire two appraisals for the sale of a portion of the County property at the Railport site in Osino.

Commissioner Myers noted there was a lot of interest being expressed in the railport already. He stated there was a company who wanted to purchase a forty acre parcel of property which would not impact the Master Plan. Commissioner Myers felt the committee was in favor of the sale. He noted the appraisal process had to be initiated before they could offer that parcel of land. Commissioner Myers stated the Master Planning process had begun in the County’s Planning Department and they would bring back more information in September. Commissioner Eklund-Brown commented that the appraisals were only good for six months and questioned if they could facilitate a land transfer within six months. She voiced concern of having appraisals prepared before the development of the park. Elaine Barkdull stated they already had a footprint of the park and the property the company was looking at was upon the boundary of the park. She reported the company had already hired a designer. Commissioner Eklund-Brown noted under the purchase option the money should be non refundable and felt it should be in a sufficient amount to pay for the two appraisals. She felt the company’s construction could be coordinated with the construction of the transload facility. Elaine Barkdull stated they had agreed to be part of the industrial park and would abide by the CC&Rs, Ordinances or criteria that the County set forth. Commissioner Nannini questioned whether they should sell pieces of the property before the planning process was completed. Commissioner Myers noted this was at the eastern end toward Frehner Construction and would have no impact upon the Master Plan. Commissioner Nannini asked how much property they intended to keep for the railport. Elaine Barkdull replied they intended to reserve 100 acres for the transload facility. Commissioner Nannini inquired if they would sell the remainder of the property. Commissioner Eklund-Brown stated they were in the process of designing the easement for the spurs, and the CC&Rs would be drafted. She stated this company did conform to the maximum restrictions they had with regards to type of use and impact to the area. Elaine Barkdull stated Randy Brown had been included in these discussions. She noted the money they received from this sale would probably go into the railport to reduce costs and they may appraise the entire park. Commissioner Nannini agreed the funding should go back into the infrastructure. Commissioner Myers commented upon the benefits to the employment and the tax base. Commissioner Eklund-Brown stated that this company was aggressive and could be put into the planning/design now. Elaine Barkdull stated the original intent was the industrial park property was to be sold to pay for the railport. Commissioner Russell asked what the cost would be for the appraisals. Cash Minor replied approximately $15,000 to $20,000 for the whole parcel. Elaine Barkdull commented that it would take a while to hire an appraiser. Elaine Barkdull stated they would get a list of appraisers to set the process into motion.

MOTION: Commissioner Myers moved to give staff authorization to start the process to locate an appraiser who would do two appraisals for the entire railport and bring that information back to the Commission and to also authorize staff to pursue options on the sale of property that was mentioned in their discussion. Commissioner Eklund-Brown seconded the motion.

Kristin McQueary stated that the appraisal process may not be as accurate if they do the entire parcel right now without the Master Plan in place such as where the utilities would go and access to the railport. Commissioner Myers inquired what the timeline was for the Master Plan. Commissioner Eklund-Brown felt they would have to reappraise the property once the infrastructure and the development was completed. Robert Stokes noted if they do an appraisal for the entire property then it would make it quicker to do appraisals upon the second request for additional appraisals.

Commissioner Nannini inquired if the new property owners would be entitled to all services the County would get when they do the Master Plan and put in the utilities. Commissioner Myers noted that in their discussions last week they were made aware that if they open before there was other development in the region they would have to pay for their own sewer and water well. Commissioner Eklund-Brown noted that they would go forward with the development of the transload facility, the infrastructure, the fire station, etc., and it would increase the value of the property but another appraisal would reflect that increase. Commissioner Russell assumed that they would provide a water system for the entire design and everyone would be required to be upon that water system. He inquired if that area would be outside of the designed water system. He questioned if there were water rights attached to that property that they were considering selling. Commissioner Myers noted their water rights were for domestic needs and there was no commercial need for water. He noted they had talked about doing water well and septic system. Commissioner Nannini inquired how these people would be included in the cost of infrastructure, water, sewer, fire suppression, etc., if they sell the property first before the County developed the transload facility. Commissioner Myers felt that if the Commission determined that they were going to require every property in the area to be part of that municipal system then they would be required to pay what the hookup costs would be. Commissioner Eklund-Brown suggested the County give them a reduction to hook up based upon the costs they had incurred previously with their individual systems. Commissioner Nannini cautioned that they should be careful in the sale of property prior to the planning procedure.

Commissioner Myers felt he should restate the motion to give staff authorization to determine appraisal requirements for the entire railport or for just that property.

Commissioner Myers withdrew his motion. Commissioner Eklund-Brown withdrew her second of the motion.

MOTION: Commissioner Myers moved to give staff authorization to solicit appraisers and determine whether to appraise the entire railport or for just that property they were discussing now. Commissioner Eklund-Brown seconded the motion.

Commissioner Russell read the verbiage of the agenda item and felt the sale should be brought back before the Commission on another agenda.

The motion was passed by majority vote. Commissioner Ellison was absent during vote.

Commissioner Ellison returned to the meeting room at 2:32 p.m.

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