Commissioners hear quarry pit proposal

The proposed reclamation and development of a quarry pit near Fallon was heard Tuesday afternoon by Churchill County Commissioners during their regularly scheduled meeting.

Neva-Rite LLC is seeking approval of a mineral material sale contract for Royal Jasper Quarry, which would be located on public lands behind Grimes Point, approximately 15 miles east of Fallon. Terri Knutson and Ken Depaoli, from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Carson City District’s Stillwater field office, spoke to commissioners about an environmental analysis of the proposed development.

The material sale contract would allow Neva-Rite to extract approximately 200,000 cubic yards of material within a 19.7 acre area of public land over a five-year period, according to a BLM report.

Randy Messer of Fernley, who owns Nevada Royal Jasper Mine along with his wife, Patty, indicated the development could create up to six full-time jobs to start out.

“If it goes well and I can work with EPA and everything else, it could create more than 100 jobs because what I’d like to do is bring a little factory to Fallon,” Messer said. “That’s my ultimate goal.”

Messer informed commissioners he has been working to develop this project for 17 years.

“This is something I’ve been pushing for a long time,” he said. “It’s a natural resource and it’s unique. You can’t appreciate the beauty unless you open it up.”

Commissioners discussed or took action on the following items:

• Agreed to move forward in negotiations with Dr. Tedd McDonald for appointment as Churchill County Health Officer. The position, previously held by Dr. Tim Hockenberry, has been vacant since 2011.

Commission Chairman Carl Erquiaga supported McDonald as a longtime Churchill County resident who would be a “good choice” for the position.

“He’s just a good local person and a good doctor who’s interested in health for the right reasons,” Erquiaga said.

Commissioner Bus Scharmann added: “If you could replace Tim Hockenberry, it would be Tedd McDonald. He’s very good.”

• Approved a professional services agreement between the Assessor’s office and Gnomon for GIS consulting services for the 2013-14 fiscal year.

• Approved Resolution 20-2013 to augment the Fiscal Year 2012-13 budget in accordance with Nevada Revised Statutes.

• Approved new class specifications and job descriptions for a senior detention specialist and for a legal caseworker.

• Approved an application from Colby Frey of Churchill Vineyards to operate a distillery.

• Approved Resolution 22-2013 amending Resolution 17-12 establishing the CC Communications Data Services Enterprise Fund.

• Tabled a presentation regarding the application of a Union Pacific Railroad grant application for funding to install a new electronic marquee at the Churchill County Fairgrounds.

• Approved an agreement to acquire Country Club Drive property and title insurance leading to the Fallon Golf Course. The county has maintained Country Club Drive for many years, however, record ownership of the property has been vested in Vista Del Verde LLC. The cost of acquiring the property is $5,100 and cost of the title insurance is $487, which will be paid from the General Fund.

• Declared a 1999 Ford Expedition as surplus equipment to allow it to be donated to the Churchill Animal Protection Society (CAPS).

• Set July 17 as the date for a public hearing to consider a nuisance complaint Mike Barrenchea filed in regard to dust and sand.

• Presented employee recognition awards for years of service to the county. The recipients included Christopher Thorn and Ronald Bell from the Sheriff’s Office, and Sarah Tracy from Justice Court for 10 years of employment; Jared Jones, Sheriff’s Office; Claude Parsley, Cemetery; Claude Dickens, Facilities and Grounds; Joseph Diaz, Parks and Recreation for 15 years of employment; Cynthia Loper, Museum, for 20 years of employment; and Patti Lingenfelter, Road Department, for 25 years of employment.