Notes from the June 20 County Commission Meeting

During their regular meeting on June 20, the Churchill County Commissioners discussed and acted upon general county business, approving a renewal proposal from the Nevada Public Agency Insurance Pool. The total cost to the county, including CC Communications, is $773,470, which is a 13.47% increase over the premium last year. According to Chris Rogne, who handles the county's policy, the increase the year before was over 30%.

Commissioners also approved funding the Churchill Community Coalition and the Churchill County School District applications for the Marijuana Tax Revenue and Opioid Settlement Funding, with $19,453 going to the Coalition for its Too Good for Drugs Program and $25,200 going to the school district for their mental health program. The remaining funding, $43,346 from the Marijuana Tax and $32,653 from the CVS Opioid Settlement funds, will be used to match the requirement for the Churchill County Social Services Resource Liaison.

Shannon Ernst, Director of Social Services, reported that Churchill County receives a total marijuana tax of $88,000 annually. 

The bid for the Churchill County Sheriff’s Storage Remodel Project was awarded to Simerson Construction, LLC, as the lowest responsible bidder, for $951,200 with a $100,000 contingency.

Commissioners approved the official Canvass of the 2024 Primary Election held on June 11 and directed the county clerk to enter the Abstract of the results as required by law. The official results can be found on the county website at churchillcountynv.gov/955/Election-Results-and-Publications. 

Several personnel actions were taken, including approval of the revision of the job description and pay grade for the Building Official and approval of the pay tables for Fiscal Year 2024-25, which included increases to lifeguards and moves to camp counselors and recreation leaders to comply with the new Nevada minimum wage and stay competitive with the market.

Commissioners also approved reclassifying the Human Resources Specialist to HR Generalist and approved the job description and pay grade for a Human Resources Manager. Chris Spross, who was hired as the Assistant County Manager/HR Director when Geof Stark retired as the Human Resources Director, said his time is split between the HR department and the County Manager functions. He said that with 254 current employees, the need for a full-time position to oversee the HR department still exists.

The job description and pay grade reclassification for a Senior Legal Secretary in the Public Defender’s Office were also approved. Currently, there are two legal secretaries in the Public Defender’s office. Five Deputy Public Defender positions have been added due to the Nevada Department of Indigent Defense requirements, and this position will be responsible for leading the administrative efforts in the Public Defender’s office.

Finally, commissioners approved a short-term loan to the Central Nevada Health District of up to $1 million to be repaid by the end of August 2024. Primarily funded by grants, the CNHD fund is managed by the county and has a substantial negative cash balance as the grant year is closing out and reimbursements are waiting to be received. Because funds are not allowed to remain in a negative balance at the close of the fiscal year, an inter-fund loan from the general fund to the CNHD fund will be made. 

The County Commission meets regularly on the first Thursday and the third Wednesday of every month.