Report from the County Commission Meeting January 15th

by Rachel Dahl --  Geoff Knell made public comment as a constituent of district 3, extending his disappointment in the commissioners for what he has learned in conversations after the meetings where he “found out about your hearts.” Reading from John 7:24, and then Matthew 15:10-11, Knell said, “it’s not the matter of you can’t, it is that you can, but you won’t.” He said he has major qualms with the commissioner from district three, saying his heart is wicked. “This is serious, and I will under the power of my belief in Jesus Christ, will take measures to advance the knowledge and stop movement of the recruiting by the LBGTQ sexual perversions. Stop. I will stop it with measures. Stop the child abuse.” Fredda Stephenson, of Middlegate Station asked procedural questions regarding when it would be the appropriate time to discuss the Navy EIS issue. A report was provided to the commissioners by Ken Collum, Field Manager of the Stillwater Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management. Collum reported that the Bravo 17 fire reseeding has been completed. In terms of mining, the Bell Mountain environmental assessment public comment will open soon for a 30-day public comment period. Bell Mountain is on the east side of Fairview Peak and was carved out of the potential navy withdrawal. Grazing on the Desytoyas; the outcome based grazing project is moving ahead to renew the permit, writing in more flexibility and will be available for public comment in mid-February. Collum discussed the movement of BLM employees from the Washington DC office, saying that 200 of the 260 employees will be moved to offices throughout the west, including Grand Junction, Colorado. He also reported that the geothermal lease sale that was held sale on September 17^th is being held up by The Center for Biological Diversity because there was no analysis for the Dixie Valley Toad in the leases that were picked up in Dixie Valley. Enel is discussing again moving forward with a solar array to augment their Salt Wells plant. Commissioner Erquiaga asked about the status of the Resource Management Plan which Collum reported there is still have no word from Washington DC. Commissioners approved a purchase agreement for water rights, using 56.57 acres of surface water in a trade-like agreement for the use of 54-acre feet of ground water to support the groundwater supply for the municipal water system needed to serve county development. According to Ben Shawcroft, assistant district attorney, the county has various allocations of surface water that have been dedicated to the county under the water resource dedication program. The sellers of the ground water rights, Dalton and Diane Lowery Trust, and Neventures, Inc., had acquired the groundwater with plans of subdividing and developing their private property. That plan has not come to fruition, and the sellers are now wishing to apply surface water back on their property for agriculture use. In preparation of the purchase agreement, the underground water rights have been appraised with a market value of $5,500 per acre foot. U.S. Fish and Wildlife is currently valuing surface water rights in the Carson Division of the Newlands Project at $5,250 per acre. The cash equivalent for each the groundwater and surface water equal $297,000, therefore there will be no cash used in this transaction. Jeremy Drew of Resource Concepts Inc. reported to the commission on his work as a consultant to the county on the Fallon Range Training Complex, Modernization Project and the release of the Navy’s final Environmental Impact Statement regarding that project. Drew reported that the final EIS was released on January 10^th which set the 30-day waiting period before a Record of Decision is signed. At the encouragement of Churchill County, the Navy will host a public meeting in Fallon on January 28^th at 5:00 p.m. They will not respond to comments made during the 30-day comment or during the meeting, however, the high-level decision makers in the Navy will be in attendance and will take into consideration all comments received. The ROD will serve as the Navy’s formal recommendation to Congress including commitments, monitoring, and mitigation plans staff has made, should Congress approve the modernization plan. Commissioners approved an agreement to purchase a conservation easement and 97 Transferable Development Rights from Denver Nygren on 77.3 acres with a total of 65.69 irrigated acres. The agenda report for this matter states that the purchase of this easement will preserve agriculture and facilitate the NAS Fallon plan to minimize urban growth on lands surrounding the base and meets the County TDR Program goals. Two separate extensions of time for the submittal of parcel maps were granted to Twenty-One Lots Caleb LLC., and Heidi Road LLC. Representatives of each project explained the economic downturn and lack of demand for housing over the past ten years as why they sought extensions. Commissioners extended the time for two years, with the expectation that parcel maps will submitted before the extensions expire. They also clarified that the requirements to develop the properties have changed significantly since the original plans for these properties were made, and additional requirements would apply for the developments to comply with current code. Commissioners approved an agreement with the City of Fallon articulating specific guidelines for the efforts to drive economic development. County manager Jim Barbee discussed the agreement saying that it would create a regional economic development effort that "would be just focused in Churchill and Fallon and allow the use of grant money from the Governor’s Office of Economic Development that has already been awarded to the City." Barbee said the city and county have been working on this since June, and this cooperative with Churchill Economic Development Authority will be the best step forward. Shawcroft explained that under the agreement the city and county will join efforts to hire a contractor who will drive the effort, being on the road and recruiting businesses to come here. The funding for this plan has already been established through CEDA and GOED, with no additional funding required. Commissioner Olsen clarified that the commission will continue to support CEDA, “which will focus efforts locally and act as support staff for this agent that will be hired under an RFP (request for proposal).” He said by “going to a contractor we think we can hire someone who has a better grasp and ability to sell our community, we’re hoping for better results.” Barbee reinforced that this agreement clarifies what entity will reach outside the community and what organization will focus on existing businesses, delineating between the two missions and goals.       Never miss a meeting or community event – keep an eye on the community calendar at https://www.thefallonpost.org/events/ If you like what we’re doing, please support our effort to provide local, independent news and contribute to The Fallon Post, your online news source for all things Fallon.