Rachel Dahl
Churchill County Commissioners are looking for development proposals for the property at 2255 Casey Road. During their recent meeting, commissioners approved issuing a request for proposals (RFP) to find a developer who can transform the cleared site into something that benefits the local economy.
Joe Sanford, assistant civil deputy district attorney, shared a brief history of the property. The county purchased the land in 2023, when it was occupied by run-down and uninhabitable mobile homes. In 2024, officials sought economic development proposals and entered a purchase agreement with Best Development Group for a hotel project that included cleaning up the site. However, the developer withdrew during the feasibility period, and the county completed the cleanup, removing all dilapidated structures.
The new RFP seeks developers interested in the property west of Walmart. While the county prefers a project such as a hotel or motel, other ideas that align with the community’s needs will be considered. Submitted proposals will be reviewed and scored before being presented to the board for approval.
County Manager Jim Barbee noted the property’s location could work well with adjacent land. A neighboring 14-acre property is currently for sale, and Barbee said combining parcels could open the door to larger projects. “We now have a much cleaner entrance into our community,” he said.
Churchill County Commissioners also held a public hearing to approve the county’s water dedication rules. The new ordinance simplifies the requirements and adds and allows for developers to make payments instead of dedicating water rights. Currently, water requirements vary depending on the type of development: rural parcels require 2.0 acre-feet of surface water per parcel; higher-density single-family homes require 1.12 acre-feet of groundwater per residence; and multi-family dwellings require between 0.56 and 1.12 acre-feet of groundwater per residence, depending on density.
These requirements often make larger projects more expensive. The updated rules aim to give developers more flexibility while ensuring the county maintains adequate water resources. Payments made instead of water dedication will go toward acquiring water rights for the county’s water bank. “The goal is to streamline the process and give developers more certainty about water availability and costs,” Sanford explained.
Commissioners also approved posting an RFP to hire a health authority for the Churchill County Adult Detention Facility and Juvenile Detention Facility. The county is seeking qualified or licensed healthcare providers to provide medical care and medication management for individuals in custody at both facilities. The new approach reduces prior requirements, focusing on weekday outpatient services instead of 24/7 on-call availability.
Deputy District Attorney Jeff Weed said the need for a new health authority arose after the departure of the provider at the juvenile detention center and rising concerns about the long-term availability of the current physician for adult detainees. The county hopes to control costs while meeting medical needs by scaling back the scope of services. Similar contracts last year ranged from $600,000 to $754,000 annually.
Proposals will be reviewed in the coming months, with a decision expected by April. The contract will initially run for one year with automatic renewal unless terminated or renegotiated.
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