Elko County Board of Commissioners

Commissioners

Sheri Eklund-Brown

John Ellison

Charlie Myers

Mike Nannini

Warren Russell Elko County Manager Robert K. Stokes

STATE OF NEVADA, )

COUNTY OF ELKO. ) ss. AUGUST 25, 2008

The Board of County Commissioners, County of Elko, State of Nevada, met in an EMERGENCY SESSION on Monday, August, 25, 2008 in the George Boucher Administration Office, 569 Court Street, Elko, Nevada, beginning at 12:30 P.M. (Pacific Time).

There were present: County Commissioners Mike Nannini, Chair

John Ellison

Charlie Myers

Sheri Eklund-Brown

Warren Russell

Elko Co. Manager Robert Stokes

Executive Secretary Michele Petty

CFO & Asst. Co Mgr. Cash Minor

Deputy District Attorney Kristin McQueary

Deputy County Clerk Marilyn Tipton

Sheriff Dale Lotspeich

Emergency Director William Webb

Road Supervisor Otis Tipton

State Human Resources Rick Martin

- - - State Emergency Mgt. Div. Gary Derks

The proceedings were as follows:

CALL TO ORDER:

Chairman Nannini called the meeting to order at 12:30 p.m.

Rick Martin and Gary Derks, of the State Emergency Management Division, were telephonically present. Rick Martin stated that Mike Dondero, the State Forestry Program Manager, was on the telephone conference with him.

II. COMMENTS BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC:

There was no public comment submitted.

II. EMERGENCY DECLARATION:

Discussion and consideration of the approval of an Emergency Declaration by the Elko County Board of Commissioners regarding the East Side Rock Ridge Fire - Wildfire Event located in the Jarbidge Wilderness and surrounding areas. Issues such as today’s Red Flag Warning for the affected area, preparations for future emergency action and the potential impacts to the Jarbidge Community, range habitat and grazing allotments will be reviewed by the County Commission at this meeting. A local Emergency Declaration by the County Commission is required in order to open the possibility for emergency assistance from State and Federal levels of government.

MOTION: Commissioner Myers moved to approve the Declaration of Emergency, Resolution No. 27-2008, entitled: A Resolution of the Elko County Board of Commissioners Declaring a disaster due to the wildland fire damage in Elko County, State of Nevada, and threats to the public safety of its citizens. Commissioner Russell seconded the motion.

Commissioner Ellison noted at the Wednesday meeting he had stressed the danger of not containing the wildfire. He felt they should have been more aggressive in the beginning when the fire first started.

Robert Stokes stated he had attended this morning’s briefing and a Type I Team had been on the fire since last night at 9:00 p.m. He stated the main concern was the Agee Smith’s Allotment and the Cottonwood Ranch. He pointed out on page 17 of the Incident Plan Map where the fire had spread. Robert Stokes reviewed the concerns of the wind dictating the direction of the fire. He noted that if the wind shifted a certain direction it could threaten the Jarbidge community.

Commissioner Eklund-Brown inquired if it was still within the Wilderness boundaries. Robert Stokes stated it was outside the Wilderness Area. Commissioner Myers stated that it had burned 500 acres of the Agee Smith’s grazing allotment. He believed that when the southwest wind reached the canyon they would not be able to predict where the fire would go. He stated the fire had moved fast through the night and they were to have the same conditions tonight.

Commissioner Russell inquired about the evacuation process for Jarbidge. Sheriff Dale Lotspeich had been in contact with Sam Hicks and Bob Ashworth, of the Nevada Division of Forestry. There was a front line on Sawmill Ridge but the wind could drive the fire around the post containment areas. Sheriff Lotspeich stated they would have standby in case they have to evacuate. He noted that last year they had four hours notice to perform the evacuation. Sheriff Lotspeich commented that Labor Day was a big event in Jarbidge so there may be over 200 to 300 people in the Jarbidge area.

Otis Tipton inquired if they were speaking about the Cottonwood Ranch and Commissioner Myers replied in the affirmative. Commissioner Myers commented that there were a lot of hunters in the area. He stated the hunters were unloading their four wheelers off the Deeth Road.

Commissioner Russell stated a couple of the Jarbidge people were monitoring people in the campgrounds so they would have a list of people if something happens.

Commissioner Myers noted that Agee Smith had eight cowboys rounding up cattle in the Wilderness Area. He believed most of them were no longer in that area.

The motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Russell suggested colored signs be erected downtown Jarbidge to keep people notified of the immediate evacuation danger. Sheriff Dale Lotspeich stated that might be a good notification process. There was a discussion upon the type of signage, whistle or horns needed for proper notification. Commissioner Myers commented that Dot Creechley had already lost business because of the fire.

Rick Martin asked for a faxed copy of the Declaration upon the signature of the Declaration of Emergency.

XXX. ADJOURNMENT:

There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 12:45 p.m.

APPROVED

MIKE NANNINI, Chairman

ATTEST:

MARILYN TIPTON, Deputy Clerk

ELKO COUNTY COMMISSION

EMERGENCY SESSION

AUGUST 25, 2008

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