During the March 5 Churchill County Board of Commissioners meeting, board members received updates on the Greenlink North transmission line project, a county compensation study, and FY2027 budget planning, and also approved several funding requests and administrative actions.
During public comments, Mary Sorensen, communications director for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, introduced herself and offered the church’s support for community service projects. Sorensen also invited commissioners to attend an upcoming Interfaith Easter Concert at the Fallon Convention Center.
Commissioners received an update from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on the proposed Greenlink North transmission line project. Portions of the route are being adjusted near several locations in Churchill County, including the Fallon landfill and Popcorn Mine. The project is currently undergoing additional environmental review, and BLM expects to open a public comment period on supplemental documents later this month.
The Churchill County Junior Livestock Show (CCJLS) requested $7,500 for their 2026 event. According to Karen Bogdanowicz, CCJLS Foundation Vice President, the 2025 show included 94 exhibitors, 69 animals sold, nearly 30,000 pounds of meat produced, and a total sale revenue of around $203,591. Approximately $142,964 of that benefitted youth exhibitors. Commissioners approved the funding request.
Next, commissioners discussed ratifying a grant amendment increasing the Community Services Block Grant budget. Churchill County normally receives about $116,000 annually, but federal delays have caused the state to distribute funds quarterly. The second allocation received was $23,209, bringing the total received so far to just over $51,000. Shannon Ernst noted that the county is monitoring staffing impacts from delays in future allocations. The amendment was approved.
Dean Patterson from public works and planning presented a request to reverse a previously dedicated .45 acre-feet water right tied to a building permit. The property owners originally dedicated the water for a home project that was never constructed. Commissioners passed the motion to return water rights to the property owners.
The board discussed selecting an engineer for the Moody Lane-to-Coleman Road connector project. The project would extend Moody Lane and construct a bridge across the Carson River, connecting developments north and south of the river, and was funded through a $4 million congressional appropriation in 2022. Commissioners approved Loomis & Associates as the engineering firm.
The board also approved Resolution 3-2026, adopting an updated fee schedule for Churchill County departments. Public Works Planning and Building Director Randy Hines explained the update primarily reorganizes and reformats the existing fee schedule to make it clearer and more consistent across departments. The revision also standardizes certain general fees, such as photocopy and public records request charges, and updates rental fees for the Rafter 3C complex to better align with current rates. The county plans to review and update the fee schedule annually.
Commissioners discussed an agreement with Public Administrator Bob Getto to increase annual funding for administrative services from $40,000 to $50,000. These funds would help cover labor and operational costs associated with administering estates. A separate $15,000 allocation would be set aside to cover cremation costs for unclaimed individuals, with funds paid directly to mortuaries when those services are required. The agreement was approved to increase funding.
Along with this, the board considered adjusting the public administrator’s hourly rate for extraordinary services, noting that the rate has not been updated since 2015. Commissioners approved increasing the rate from $70 to $90 per hour and directed staff to begin the county code amendment process. The board also approved payment of two invoices for extraordinary services, totaling $6,548 and $787.50, related to complex estate administration.
Baker Tilly Consulting provided an update on the Churchill County Compensation Study. Findings showed that Churchill County salaries currently average 6.1% below market minimum, 9% below the midpoint, and 10.7% below the maximum. The county’s current pay structure includes 100 grades and 13 steps. A proposed new structure would reduce that to 29 grades and 11 steps, with 3% step increases and a 6% difference between grades. Under the proposal, employee placement would be based on current salary, years in position, and current step level. Commissioners raised concerns about the methodology used and the placement of positions within the proposed structure, and requested additional review before any final decisions are made.
FY2027 budget updates were presented. Because the compensation study results are not yet finalized, they will not be included in the tentative budget. Personnel requests within the Parks Department included a potential restructuring that would separate the 3C Complex from community activities, the removal and reassignment of certain positions, the reclassification of a deputy director position to a director position, and the conversion of a seasonal maintenance aide position to full-time. Commissioners indicated the combined personnel changes could result in small savings to the county.
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