Crescent Valley eyes consolidated emergency services hub; Sheriff praises community vigilance

As the population of Crescent Valley continues to expand, local officials are looking to the future of public safety infrastructure. During the Jan. 21 meeting of the Crescent Valley Town Advisory Board, discussions centered on a major proposal to construct a consolidated emergency services facility, a move that would bring law enforcement, fire, and EMS under one roof.

The meeting, which began at 5 p.m., also covered updates from the Central Nevada Health District, plans for new street lighting and a commendation from the Sheriff regarding a high-stakes arrest made possible by community alertness.

Consolidated Public Safety

Commissioner Mike Schoenwald, providing an update from the previous day’s County Commission meeting, led a discussion on the pressing need to modernize Crescent Valley’s emergency infrastructure. He argued that the Sheriff’s Office, ambulance service and fire department have all outgrown their current, separate facilities.

Schoenwald proposed a solution that is gaining traction across the region: moving all three entities into a central location on the northern end of town, specifically off Highway 306.

“I don’t want to be in a new building and not have enough room,” Schoenwald said. “It’s going to be cheaper to put all three of them together rather than build a new ambulance/EMS bay, build a new fire department [and] build a new sheriff’s office.”

The board members expressed strong support for the concept. Member Laura Shivers noted the practicality of having the agencies connected in “one giant building,” while Vice Chair Jeremy Rice highlighted the long-term operational savings.

“Another nice thing is we’re not doing IT [three times],” Rice said. He noted that the town wouldn’t have to pay for “triple internet, triple the power… consolidating in one building will be a huge plus for everyone.”

Shivers added that this model of consolidation is “being done pretty much nationwide.”

Sheriff Miles Umina confirmed that the momentum for such a project is building at the county level. “There is a lot more traction behind this now on updating our facilities,” Umina said. “We’ve outgrown all of our buildings. Our jail is outdated. We need a new jail, and at the last capital outlay meeting that was the big topic: Crescent Valley and Eureka for public safety. Trying to get this moving forward now.”

Learning from Lander County

The discussion was bolstered by a report from Sergeant Brian Schoaf, who had recently met with Lander County Sheriff Ron Unger to tour similar developments nearby.

Schoaf described Lander County’s approach. “They’re building a six-bay drive-through fire department with a single bay for ambulances,” Schoaf detailed. The facility includes sleeping quarters and “six different condos on the upstairs to house the EMS and others that come in and out.”

Furthermore, the Lander County facility is designed to integrate the Sheriff’s Office as a training ground for fire, EMS, and law enforcement. “They also are putting RV spots in the back” for trainers and trainees, Schoaf noted.

Deputy William Hoggard added that Lander County is preparing to host a full-fledged training academy. “Instead of going to Carson City, it can be done out of Lander County,” he said, suggesting that trainees and trainers from Eureka could utilize the neighboring facility, creating a regional hub for public safety education.

Regarding the location of a potential new facility in Crescent Valley, Schoenwald identified a piece of property north of town where the current Crescent Valley sign is located. He suggested that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) might be willing to transfer the land for public use.

Resident Dale Kersey agreed, noting that federal agencies are often cooperative when land is destined for emergency services. “They’ll almost give you the land and donate it and deed it over to you if it’s for emergency services without the impact study and all the garbage,” Kersey said. “It’s huge if you go to building houses as opposed to county buildings and emergency services.”

“If you’re not growing, you’re dying, and Crescent Valley has grown tremendously in the last few years,” Schoenwald concluded.

‘See Something, Say Something’

Sheriff Umina addressed a recent security incident in town. He reported on the arrest of a man at the Phoenix market who was discovered to be a recently paroled felon in possession of a firearm.

The arrest was initiated by a call from employees at the market who noticed suspicious behavior.

“We were able to pull somebody out of the community that shouldn’t be here,” Umina said, giving “kudos to the community” for their vigilance. “The deputies went home safe, and he went to his new home safely.”

Umina emphasized that while “not everybody who comes out of prison is bad,” the situation involved an individual with a significant criminal history walking around town with a weapon he was legally prohibited from owning.

“We couldn’t have done it without you guys, and I just wanted to say thank you,” Umina told the attendees.

Board member Shivers summarized the event as a validation of safety campaigns: “So, what you’re saying is, ‘See something, say something’ is working.”

“Exactly,” Umina replied.

Health district updates

Maria Menjivar, Environmental Services Division manager of the Central Nevada Health District, joined the meeting via telelink to provide a summary of regional health statistics and initiatives.

For the month of December, the district focused on routine services, disease surveillance, and emergency preparedness. Menjivar reported that family planning services were provided to five patients, and environmental health inspections turned up no new complaints.

In terms of disease tracking, the district investigated five cases of chlamydia and one case of gonorrhea in December, alongside cases of chronic hepatitis B and C, salmonella, and shigellosis. While there were ten reported cases of COVID-19, Menjivar offered some good news regarding respiratory illnesses: “Fortunately, our influenza activity was still low in December, with only three cases” and no reported cases of RSV.

Menjivar also announced a new outreach initiative. The Environmental Services Division is launching a Facebook Live hour to answer questions from the public in real time. The first session is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 28, at 2 p.m. on the district’s Facebook channel.

Infrastructure and budget

The board addressed several infrastructure improvements aimed at increasing pedestrian safety and town visibility.

The board approved a motion to write a formal letter to the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) requesting a stoplight and crosswalk at the junction of Highway 306 and 4th Street. The request includes an inquiry into the proper procedural steps to expedite the safety measure.

Discussion also turned to the medical transport service offered by the Senior Center. Echoing concerns from the county commission meeting, Schoenwald and the board discussed strategies to inform residents—particularly those who do not use social media—about the service. Ideas included a physical mailer and the installation of an electronic reader board at the Senior Center.

In budgeting matters for the 2027 Fiscal Year, Secretary Christina Tucker noted she would add the board member pay raise, which had been approved by the County Commission on Jan. 20.

Vice Chair Rice also directed attention to street lighting. “Let’s budget for five lights, and we’ll figure it out,” Rice said. Tucker plans to invite Assistant Public Works Director Lester Porter to the next meeting to outline the preparations required for the installation.

Fire department changes

Rice announced an administrative change for the local fire service. The “Friends of Crescent Valley Fire Department” is changing its name to “Crescent Valley Fire Department 501(c)(3).” The shift is intended to streamline the paperwork process for grants.

The department is also planning a slate of community events, including a pancake breakfast, a Clean Up Day in March and the addition of a bonfire to the annual Halloween Trunk or Treat.

Finally, EMT Brent Jones provided a brief update on EMS logistics, noting a meeting scheduled for Jan. 28 with logistics representatives from Intermountain. The goal is to “figure out all the supply necessities” and coordinate cooperation. “We’re hoping to get this up and running within the next month,” Jones said, noting that the streamlined supply chain will “take some pressure off our EMS.”