Personnel needs and public safety upgrades highlight commission meeting

The Eureka County Commission met on Feb. 17 to review departmental operations, personnel needs and the upcoming fiscal year budget. The proceedings focused on modernizing public safety protocols, addressing staffing shortages and finalizing compensation adjustments for the 2026 fiscal year.

Departmental Operations and Personnel

In Human Resources, Director Kristina Lopez reported that the Pool Assistant Manager position remains open with interviews scheduled for Feb. 27. Recruitment for the Senior Facilities Operations Assistant began on the afternoon of the meeting, and Public Works Administrative Assistant interviews are set to start on Feb. 23. On the employee relations side, the department is managing three ongoing investigations and two new complaints. Regarding workers’ compensation and FMLA, there is one active case and two new ones for the former, and three cases in progress or confirmed for the latter. Additionally, the NeoGov recruitment site has been updated and is currently being relaunched.

Public Works Director Jeb Rowley provided landfill data for January, noting 588 yards of municipal waste, 146 yards of construction debris and various tires and white goods. Infrastructure repairs are underway across county buildings, and the water tank is on track to be back in service. The county pool is currently closed for six weeks for repairs, during which time staff have been assigned to temporary duties. The department’s budget requests include $100,000 for access control systems and $250,000 for streetlights, while managing over $1 million in combined airport and grant funding.

EMS and health services reported 25 total runs for January, split between Eureka and Crescent Valley. The Eureka Clinic saw 355 visits, while Crescent Valley handled 17. The EMS department has significantly expanded the scope of available treatment; medication options increased from 12 types to 30 for Advanced-level treatment and 15–16 for Basic levels. Senior Centers also remained active, serving 1,343 meals across both centers. The Commission discussed revising the Crescent Valley community medical transport fee to allow children under 12 to ride for free, aimed at reducing the financial burden on families.

Public Safety and Technology

Sheriff Miles Umina reported three inmates in custody, currently housed in White Pine and Lander counties. He stated that while Eureka has a functioning jail facility, it cannot accept inmates locally until staffing levels are increased. Umina estimated that at least three additional deputies would be required to safely reopen the jail. Meanwhile, Nevada POST is auditing the department’s training records and background packets for recent hires. In Crescent Valley, Kim Sewell has begun staffing the Town Center office, marking the consistent availability of that building to serve the public.

A major technological milestone is the 911 system upgrade, which was negotiated down to a $250,000 cost. The equipment is already installed and features “Text-to-911” capabilities with integrated Spanish translation. Dispatchers will be able to communicate via text with callers in real-time once staff training is completed.

Budget Requests and Fiscal Decisions

The Commission evaluated several personnel requests for the upcoming budget. Discussions included the potential hire of a Grant Writer/Manager, a position the Governor’s Office has offered to fund for several years to serve as a state flagship model. HR Director Lopez asked for a professional HR Specialist to handle onboarding and compliance risks, while the District Attorney’s office requested two paralegal positions to reward qualified staff. The DA also addressed the need for a civilian Nuisance Enforcement Officer, which the Sheriff agreed to house under his department. The Commission also reviewed a request from IT to move a part-time position to full-time status.

The Commission opted not to move forward with filling a County Manager position, which has remained under consideration for three years. In other budget news, the Opera House saw a $10,000 increase for cultural programs, and the Road Fund has budgeted $1 million for equipment.

The meeting concluded with the approval of Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) effective July 5, 2026. Elected officials were granted a 2% increase, and casual employees received a $0.25 per hour raise. County Commissioners voluntarily approved a 0% increase for their own positions. Increases for union and PERS employees remain undetermined until contract negotiations are finalized.

Eureka County Commissioners approved:

• Minutes from the January 20, 2026, commission meeting.
• Expenditures of $1,691,927.48 including pass-throughs to Nevada Room Tax, $371.47; Nevada State School Tax, $247,416.32; Nevada State Controller, $5,889.66; Division of Minerals, $160; Washoe County Crime Lab, $173.20 for a total pass-through of $254,010.65.
• A Resolution to Establish a Special Revenue Fund for the “Treasurer Technology Fund” based on newly passed legislation and forward the resolution to the Nevada Department of Taxation for approval.
• Purchase of a new Xerox machine for the Crescent Valley Fannie Komp Senior Center for an amount not to exceed $4,361.00 with a monthly payment of $23.00 paid to Alliance.