Churchill County commissioners receive construction update

Churchill County Commissioners received good news at Thursday’s commission meeting on two major construction projects, the senior citizen center and the detention facility.

Cliff Van Woert, the county’s building official, updated the commissioners on timelines and completions for specific projects. He said the law enforcement detention facility began less than five months ago and should be completed by October 2017.

“I’ve talked to the contractor, and we seem to be on schedule,” he said. “They’re working hard to fill gaps because of delays in equipment deliveries.”

Van Woert said floor slabs should be completed this week, weather permitting. Overall, he said the coordination between the city and county on the project has been going well, and by the end of January, he hopes to conduct a tour of the detention facility.

Comptroller Alan Kalt said he still estimates the center’s cost at about $17 million. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development and Wells Fargo are involved with the funding.

Meanwhile, progress is coming along on the W.N. Pennington Life Center on South Maine Street adjacent to the north side of the museum.

Van Woert said the building exterior is about 95 percent complete, and the building is watertight.

“The electrical, plumbing and work on the HVAC (heating and air conditioning units) is ongoing,” he said.

Also ongoing, Van Woert added, are the framing and pouring of concrete for curbs and sidewalks. Because of weather, he said the paving for the parking lot may occur in March when the weather warms up.

“We have four months to go, and it will be tight to get it done by March 31,” Van Woert said.

Commissioner Bus Scharmann thanked Van Woert and Kalt on their work to ensure the two facilities are completed in a timely fashion and costs do not experience an overrun.

The commissioners also received an update on the clean-up of the Jet Park property west of Fallon (see story on page 2).

The commissioners took action on a resolution directing the county’s assessor to take certain actions regarding the Secured Tax Role for Fiscal Year 2017-18.

The approval of scoping comments for the Navy’s expansion of its training complex in and around Churchill County has been prepared and will be sent.

A letter of support was approved to the Nevada State Board on geographic names for the proposal to name a feature at the volcanic peak at the south end of the Stillwater Range, west of Sand Mountain and east of Salt Wells to “Pony Bob Peak.”