Leanna Lehman
The Churchill County Commission approved a zone change for Rivian, authorized up to $90,000 for an America 250 display, and addressed lower-than-expected geothermal revenues during its Sept. 16 meeting.
Board Chair Myles Getto was not in attendance. Vice Chair Eric Blakey presided over the meeting, with Commissioner Matt Hyde also present.
Commissioners approved a request from Rivian to change the zoning on 218.57 acres along U.S. Highway 95 north of Fallon from RR-20, Rural Resource, to I-3, Heavy Industrial. The property is approximately 7 miles south of the Trinity Junction interchange.
Rivian has proposed destructive battery testing at the site, but the zone change does not authorize that use. The company would still have to obtain a special use permit.
Churchill County Public Works, Planning & Building Department Senior Planner Dan Cahalane said the property is within an area designated for industrial use in the county's master plan and staff believes the change is compatible with surrounding land uses.
“This area is undeveloped,” Cahalane said, noting that nearby uses include mineral extraction and processing approximately two miles north and the U.S. Navy bombing range approximately 11 miles east.
During public comment, Michelle Anderson questioned whether enough information was available to make the required findings for the zone change when questions regarding infrastructure, traffic, water, safety, and the type of battery testing may not be answered until the special use permit process.
Chief Deputy Civil District Attorney Wade Carner explained that Rivian's application was for a zone change, not approval of a specific use. He said commissioners could consider information from the applicant, staff, and the public in determining whether the required findings had been met.
The zone change was approved 2-0.
In other business, the commission approved up to $90,000 to construct a display commemorating America's 250th anniversary. Seven laser-etched stainless steel plates featuring the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Civil Rights Amendments were donated by Foundation Forward Inc. of Burke County, North Carolina.
The estimated $90,000 cost is for construction of the display area, cases, and pedestal mounts near the flagpoles in front of the Churchill County Administrative Building.
“I do understand that this does have a substantial cost of $90,000,” County Manager Joe Sanford said, explaining that money is available in the county's building reserve.
Geothermal revenue was another item on the agenda, coming in $740,162.31 below budget for fiscal year 2026, or 12.72%.
Sanford said conversations with Ormat indicated the decline is largely related to older power purchase agreements. While power production remains substantially similar, he said, the company receives less money for each kilowatt-hour produced.
“We would expect to see revenue continue to decline unless power purchase can be supported by higher rates,” Sanford said.
Consolidated tax revenue went the other direction, finishing $751,898.22 above budget. “We had the $751,000 above budget, which is about 5% above budget,” County Comptroller Sherry Wideman said. Commissioners approved the recommended allocation, including $100,000 for Social Services, which had a negative fund balance.
The commission also took the first procedural steps toward consideration of a proposed Churchill-Hazen Industrial Park General Improvement District.
A general improvement district, or GID, is a defined area created to provide specific public services or infrastructure, such as roads, water, sewer, or power, without creating a new city. The services and powers vary depending on the district.
CHIP LLC is proposing the district to provide infrastructure and municipal services for a large-scale industrial development in the Hazen area.
Commissioners did not approve creation of the district Sept. 16. They set an Oct. 15 public hearing on the proposal and referred the service plan to the Churchill County Planning Commission for review and recommendation.
“Today we're not taking action on any of these items, approving anything,” Sanford said. “Instead, we're setting the public hearing.”
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