Crescent Valley discusses financial realities of a central sewer system

The Crescent Valley Town Advisory Board convened on the evening of May 6 to discuss public safety staffing and the feasibility of a centralized sewer system.

Public safety

Sheriff Miles Umina provided updates regarding the Eureka County Sheriff’s Office (ECSO) presence in the valley. A major milestone is approaching on May 14, when Deputy Fleming — who is slated to serve the Crescent Valley community — will graduate from the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) academy. Deputy Hoggard is currently assisting with final testing to ensure a smooth transition.

Umina noted that with Fleming’s arrival, the department is only “down one position here in Crescent Valley,” while there are four open positions in Eureka. This staffing progress is part of a broader, methodical strategy to stabilize the county’s law enforcement and corrections infrastructure.

“I have a goal to have the jail open,” Umina stated, though he cautioned that he is “slowing things down and doing this methodically and correctly.” He estimated that it would likely take six months to a year to fully solidify operations. Part of that vision involves a grant application for Cell-Guardian, a high-tech monitoring system designed to track inmate heart rates, breathing and ambient temperature via dedicated cameras.

“I want to make sure we have that in place and then go for the staffing,” Umina explained, outlining a five-year strategic goal. “We’ve been busy trying to get our ducks in a row.”

Fire readiness and training

On the emergency services front, Vice Chair and Crescent Valley Volunteer Fire Department Chief Jeremy Rice provided a positive outlook. “Everything’s going good. Trainings are going good,” Rice reported, noting that the department’s final wildland training session was scheduled for the following morning.

With four additional training sessions slated for June, Rice expressed confidence in the department’s trajectory, stating, “We’re on the right track.” The board followed this with an extensive discussion on wildland fire preparedness, coordinated with Public Works Director Jeb Rowley, as the region enters the high-risk summer season.

Septic vs. sewer

The meeting took a deep dive into Crescent Valley’s wastewater infrastructure. Rowley addressed recent community proposals suggesting the installation of a centralized sewer system to replace the current reliance on individual septic tanks.

Rowley described a “common misconception” regarding lot sizes and septic eligibility. He clarified that the smallest parcels in the Crescent Valley townsite are roughly 0.468 acres. Under current regulations, there is virtually no lot in the town that lacks the appropriate square footage to legally house an Individual Sewage Disposal System (ISDS).

The financial barriers to a centralized system, Rowley argued, are staggering. For the one-square-mile townsite, a sewer line alone would cost between $45 million and $50 million, a figure that excludes the cost of treatment ponds and ongoing maintenance.

“If we have 200 people that tie into a $50 million system, you can only imagine what the individual tie-in cost is,” Rowley said. “You could easily be looking at a $200,000 per-connection cost.”

Rowley further noted that such a project would require federal funding through the USDA or State Revolving Fund (SRF), which are only granted if the town has a sustainable rate structure in place. He emphasized that he does not see a centralized sewer as a priority when legal and affordable septic options remain available to every parcel owner through the Central Nevada Health District.

Enforcement and the ‘bad actor’ dilemma

The discussion shifted to the issue of “bad actors” — property owners who fail to maintain their systems or follow existing rules. Rowley argued that a multimillion-dollar sewer system wouldn’t solve the problem if there are no local mechanisms to force residents to hook up to it.

“Without any building department or building development ordinance that holds people accountable, it doesn’t matter if you go put in centralized sewer or not,” Rowley said.

To combat this, Sheriff Umina said that a new, full-time nuisance officer will be stationed in Crescent Valley starting July 1. This officer will be tasked with identifying and managing property issues across the county, but will be centralized in the valley to ensure a local understanding of the community’s unique challenges.

“If there’s an issue and the property owner isn’t being cooperative, my deputies can go out with them and generate reports,” Umina explained. These reports will then be forwarded to the District Attorney’s office for enforcement.

Local code

The topic sparked conversation over the necessity of local ordinances. Laura Shivers noted that while the town lacks a formal building department, “we have state codes that we have to follow.”

Rowley countered that state codes are often toothless without local backing. “At the end of the day, it always has to be backed up by a local code. What is the local offense that has occurred?” He argued that the sheriff’s deputies shouldn’t be responsible for identifying fire hazards in backyards.

Chief Rice expressed a desire for enforceable ordinances without the bureaucracy of a full building department, though Rowley pointed out that the two are essentially the same.

Sheriff Umina, echoing the sentiments of many rural Nevadans, expressed a hesitation to see an influx of new laws. “I love living in rural Nevada because I don’t have an HOA telling me what can go on my porch,” he said. He views the new enforcement officer as a way to mitigate issues through existing channels rather than creating a new layer of government.

As the meeting drew to a close, resident Dale Kersey offered a succinct warning about expanding government oversight or embarking on massive infrastructure projects: “You open up a can of worms, you’re going to get a can of worms.”

The Crescent Valley Town Advisory Board approved:

Minutes of the April 15, 2026, CVTAB meeting.

A request from Eureka County Emergency Medical Services to utilize the Crescent Valley Town Advisory Board recreational equipment on May 22nd and 23rd 2026, for EMS Days.

A request from Eureka County Sheriff’s Office to utilize the Crescent Valley Town Advisory Board recreational equipment for June 9 and 11, 2026, for Cops ‘n’ Kids.