Greenlink North and $5,000 gold highlight Eureka Commission meeting

The Eureka County Commission March 3 session, led by Chairman Rich McKay alongside Commissioners Martin Plaskett and Mike Schoenwald, featured a heavy focus on land use, public safety and rising tax revenues.

Greenlink North

A significant presentation came from Brian Buttazoni of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), who provided an update on NV Energy’s Greenlink North Transmission Line Project. The 235-mile, 525 kV line is designed to create a “triangle” of power across Nevada to ensure energy reliability. However, for Eureka County, the project brings a complex set of environmental and property-rights challenges.

Buttazoni revealed that the “preferred route” across US 50 is estimated to cost $832 million, while alternative routes could soar as high as $1.6 billion. A major point of contention remains the protection of the Greater Sage Grouse.

Key Greenlink Developments:

Sage Grouse Impacts: A proposed 18-mile reroute to avoid sensitive “leks” (breeding grounds) near Richmond Mountain was rejected by the BLM because it would add $100 million to the project cost.
Policy Shifts: As of December 2025, previous “hard triggers” that limited construction have been removed. The project is now moving toward a 365-day construction window, exempting the corridor from many seasonal habitat and noise restrictions.
Mining Coordination: The BLM successfully negotiated a “micro-adjustment” with the Ruby Hill Mine, shifting the line a few hundred feet north to avoid the mine’s pit area.

Natural Resource Director Jake Tibbitts expressed concern that these adjustments, while favoring the mine, may move the corridor closer to private homes and disposal lands. He also questioned the “Field of Dreams” approach – the idea that building the line will invite massive solar development. Buttazoni countered that while 85 solar applications are pending statewide, none are currently sited on BLM land in Eureka County, and the line will be “near capacity” upon completion.

A 30-day public comment period on the project will begin March 27, with construction expected to begin in late 2026.

$5,000 gold and the Carlin Trend boom

While energy dominates the horizon, gold remains the bedrock of Eureka’s economy. Assessor Mike Mears and Treasurer Pernecia Johnson reported a significant bump in projected revenues.

“We had some fairly substantial new construction on the mine properties on the Carlin Trend,” Mears told the commissioners. With gold prices reaching all-time highs at over $5,000 per ounce, Mears noted that the county will see higher net proceeds revenue than the state’s initial projections, which were calculated at $2,400 gold.

Adding to the mining momentum, Jake Tibbitts reported that New Moly LLC (formerly General Moly) is breathing new life into the Mt. Hope Project. With molybdenum prices at $35 a pound – well above the $10 break-even point – the project, should it get funded, could eventually bring 1,000 new residents to southern Eureka County. Furthermore, McEwen Mining is reportedly acquiring additional claims near the town of Eureka, consolidating nearly all lots above the townsite.

Cleaning up Main Street

The Commission took a step toward revitalizing Eureka’s historic core by setting a public hearing to determine the fair market value of The Alpine Lodge and Louie’s Lounge.

Chairman McKay described the properties as “derelict” and a “huge liability.” The county’s plan is to acquire the sites, demolish the current structures, and potentially make the land available for new development.

“They’re ready to fall down,” McKay noted. The public hearing is scheduled for April 21 at 10 a.m., giving residents a chance to weigh in on whether the county should move forward with the purchase and clearing of these Main Street structures.

A busy 48 hours for law enforcement

Sheriff Miles Umina detailed a high-intensity period for his department, reporting six arrests in just 48 hours.

The highlight was a multi-agency search warrant executed at the Owl Club. The operation involved a high-tech “residue swab” from Las Vegas Metro and canine units from Lincoln County. The business owner was arrested on two counts of sales of prohibited substances.

“It was a very large building to go through,” Umina explained, justifying the presence of multiple agencies and EMS on standby. The sheriff noted that the Liquor Board will soon need to meet to discuss the future of the establishment’s licenses.

IT modernization and cyber security

IT Director Misty Rowley provided an update on the county’s digital “hardening.” Highlighting the shift from copper to fiber for 911 lines and the implementation of Two-Factor Authentication, Rowley emphasized that the county’s infrastructure is becoming more secure.

Special recognition was given to Annelle Watts, who recently passed her CompTIA Security+ certification, a nationally recognized validation of cybersecurity expertise. The IT department is also assisting the Sheriff’s Office with new Axon technology installations in patrol vehicles.

The “mandatory” raise

In a lighthearted but legally required reversal, the commissioners voted to approve a 3% cost-of-living raise for themselves.

At a previous meeting, the board had attempted to deny their own raises to save taxpayer money. However, Comptroller Kim Todd informed them that under Nevada law, they cannot deny a salary increase for elected officials unless they deny it for all county employees.

“Your salary is so low, it’s really not that big of an increase,” Todd noted. The commissioners’ salaries will move from $30,600 to $31,518.

Other commission actions:

Education and youth: Approved a $3,000 contribution to the EHS scholarship drive and $12,000 for the EHS Rodeo Club for new livestock stalls.
Opera House upgrade: Approved an audio-visual refresh for the Eureka Opera House, totaling over $350,000 for sound, projection and video conferencing capabilities.
Infrastructure: Road Supervisor Scooter Mentaberry reported extensive grading on Barth Road and the installation of 18 new stop signs in Crescent Valley.
Legal battles: The county will monitor the Baker Ranches v. Haaland case in the 9th Circuit on March 24, a high-stakes battle regarding Western water rights.

Chairman McKay encouraged local procurement for the upcoming Greenlink construction, hoping to ensure that the massive energy project leaves a positive economic footprint on Eureka’s small businesses.