County commissioners approve funding for clubs

Churchill County commissioners met Aug. 3 and acted on the following agenda items:

• Christine Johnson with the Nevada State Board on Geographic Names discussed the board’s processes, update and state/federal actions regarding naming of places found on the Nevada landscape. She said the board is required to perform outreach to counties, tribes and the public.

Johnson said the most common name that’s being replaced deals with the reference to “squaw.” Commission Chairman Bus Scharmann asked Johnson if any landmark names in Churchill County were affected, and she said no.

• Commissioners then approved requests from three groups that sought additional funding for activities.

Churchill County normally provides funding of $10,000 to the Fallon Youth Club. The FYC sought an increase to $15,000 to help support the child center, and commissioners approved it by a 3-0 vote.

For the past 18 years, Executive Director Shannon Goodrick said the FYC has provided quality, low-cost, afterschool programming for the children of the community.

Churchill Animal Protection Services was approved for $20,000, which will be paid in quarterly installments.

Executive Director Julia Ameil said CAPS operates year-round and offers a variety of community benefits, including spay/neuter programs for low-income families and housing unwanted or displaced animals from the county and from animal control. All animals taken in by CAPS are vaccinated, spayed/neutered, and placed in good homes.

Ameil, though, said adoptions are down this year, and vet bills have increased. She said CAPS has an outreach program to help families with dog and cat food.

The Fallon Junior Rodeo requested support for $3,000. Director Jennifur Peek said the rodeo has been affected by higher prices for prize saddles.

Peek said contestants and their families are coming to Fallon Sept. 1-4 “from all over.”

“It has become something the people want to come to every year,” she told commissioners.

Commissioners approved $3,000 in funding.

In other action, commissioners:

• Ratified the agreement between Churchill County Social Services and the State of Nevada, Department of Health and Human Services, director's office, for $26,442 for the provision of the Family Resource Center.

• Ratified an agreement between Churchill County Social Services and Nevada Clinical Services, Inc. for FY2024 for $115,000 for the Healthy Nevada Grant Award.

• Approved a biennium agreement between Churchill County and the State of Nevada, Division of Child and Family Services, for $790,094 for the provision of child abuse and neglect investigations.

• Approved changes to job descriptions for the transportation specialist and for transportation and food specialist positions.