Patriotic monument installations, major road network reclassifications, updates on local health care resources and the fiscal scrutiny of million-dollar heavy machinery highlighted the Eureka County Commission’s regular session on July 7. Led by Chairman Rick McKay, alongside Commissioners Mike Schoenwald and Marty Plaskett, the county leadership took action on community projects while pausing on major financial decisions to consider operational data.

Patriotic replicas find a new home at Eureka VFW Park

Commissioners discussed where to place replicas of the nation’s founding documents: the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the Civil Rights Amendments. These replicas were gifted to Eureka County by the prominent Charters of Freedom America 250 Project.

Chairman Rick McKay noted that the heavy, 450-pound panels require an outdoor venue, asking where the county might be able to put them. Elden Allred, chairman of the Eureka VFW Park, welcomed the idea, stating, “I think it would be a great addition to the park if you choose to display them outdoors. It would change some of our plans, but plans could be changed.”

However, the installation will come with a cost. Doug Dickover with the Eureka VFW highlighted the expense of mounting the panels safely. To offset this, Schoenwald suggested reaching out to local mining operations for corporate partnership and installation assistance. McKay entertained a motion to designate the VFW Park as the permanent home for the monument. The motion passed unanimously.

2026 road map adopted, new grader approved

Following a public hearing, the commission formally adopted the 2026 Eureka County Road Map, which establishes and maintains classifications for main, general and minor roads throughout the county. Under the new map, Easy Street was upgraded from a general road to a main road, and Hog Pen Canyon was upgraded from a minor road to a main road. Additionally, Four Corners, Fairground Access and Stitzel Pass were all upgraded from minor roads to general roads. Conversely, the county approved several downgrades to minor road status, including 11.98 miles of Sheep Creek (G-222), all 1.42 miles of Sansinena Ranch Road and all 0.5 miles of Anderson Ranch Road.

In addition to adjusting the physical road map, the commissioners approved the purchase of a Caterpillar 150-15 Motor Grader from Empire Cat. Utilizing the Omnia Purchasing Contract, the purchase was approved for an amount not to exceed $523,194.00, paid for through the Road Fund. The motion, introduced by Commissioner Plaskett, passed with no opposition. Road Supervisor Scooter Mentaberry also reported that crews have completed grading work around the cemetery, established crucial fire breaks, mowed and swept the local subdivision and are currently blading 3 Bars Road.

Central Nevada Health District faces grant hurdles

Shannon Ernst, administrator for the Central Nevada Health District (CNHD), provided an update on community health care. Ernst announced that the long-awaited Community Needs Assessment has completed its development stage and is officially open for public feedback. CNHD has also finalized its comprehensive public health preparedness plan.

On the financial front, Ernst reported that three grant applications submitted under the federal Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program were denied. The RHT program is a $50 billion federal investment through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), distributing $10 billion annually from 2026 to 2030 to bolster rural medical infrastructure, technology and staffing. Despite the initial denial, Ernst confirmed CNHD plans to aggressively apply for the upcoming funding round.

Sheriff Miles Umina said he has a personal connection to a specialist working closely with these specific federal grants. “They were very surprised that we hadn’t put in anything from the county for the first round of grants, so I’m going to find out what we can do,” Umina said, aiming to coordinate efforts to secure funding for local EMS, law enforcement and fire departments in December.

Ernst concluded by acknowledging that Eureka continues to face the same severe public health staffing shortages felt nationwide and noted that clinical visits remain slow. To boost community presence, CNHD will be hosting back-to-school outreach events throughout the area, including a clinic at the Eureka Senior Center on July 29.

Sheriff reports DUI uptick, swears in new staff and discusses highway patrol shortages

Sheriff Miles Umina reported a busy week and a half for the Eureka County Sheriff’s Office, highlighted by four DUI arrests—three of which occurred in Crescent Valley and one in Eureka, including an arrest on Interstate 80. “We’ve seen an uptick on people driving impaired, so we’re focusing and the community has helped out quite a bit,” Umina said.

To combat staffing challenges, Umina announced three new hires who have already been sworn in and are undergoing training. Rebekah Skinner has joined the department to fill the records position, Tara Davis has started her duties as a dispatcher and telecommunicator and Tristan Auch is beginning his service as a detention deputy.

Additionally, the Sheriff’s Office is conducting lateral interviews for seasoned officers to bring immediate “plug and play” capabilities to the force, avoiding the six-month delay of academy training. Umina is also drafting a job description for a compliance or “nuisance” officer to present to the commission next month.

The sheriff also discussed staffing challenges facing the Nevada Highway Patrol (NHP). Currently operating at half capacity—42 out of 84 required troopers—NHP response times in Eureka County for minor property damage and deer-strike accidents are routinely stretching between two and three hours. Umina emphasized that Eureka deputies continue to assist NHP with minor crashes.

Looking forward, the Sheriff’s Office is prepping for a joint enforcement push alongside the Nevada State Police Investigation Division (NDI) and Lincoln and White Pine counties, aiming to ramp up highway patrols along the North end of the county on I-80 ahead of the annual Burning Man festival traffic.

Million-dollar landfill compactor decision tabled

A long discussion involved a proposed $1,091,305.30 purchase of a Caterpillar 826 Landfill Compactor from Empire Cat, utilizing the Landfill Fund.

Public Works Director Jeb Rowley pointed out that the quote reflected a substantial discount from its original $1.52 million MSRP. Rowley explained that the existing compactor is used less due to restricted cabin visibility. “The machine is hard to see out of; you’re up in your little bubble,” Rowley said, adding that operators default to utilizing a $700,000 crawler instead. Rowley noted that a modern, comfortable machine would double operator usage and better prepare the county for incoming population and mining-related solid waste increases.

Assistant Public Works Director Jayme Halpin noted that staff had consulted with the Elko Landfill to select essential, field-tested safety options, comparing the larger 826 model to the smaller 816 model.

Plaskett wanted to see more data. “I want to see the metrics on what we’re actually doing and the value,” Plaskett said. The commission ultimately took no action, tabling the issue to allow Public Works to compile usage data before returning it to a future agenda.

IT, HR and county infrastructure updates

In administrative updates, IT Director Misty Rowley highlighted the completion of several infrastructure tasks. They installed Starlink at the Crescent Valley ambulance bay to support MedEx, resolved an ongoing mobile radio issue on the Sheriff’s Office mobile data terminals (MDTs), deployed network segmentation at the local Opera House for new ADA equipment and fixed a troublesome crackling noise that had been caused by the Crescent Valley ceiling microphones.

In Human Resources, Director Cristina Lopez reported that the county’s summer internship program is in full swing, with seven interns selected and fully onboarded. Additionally, 11 pool attendants are set to begin next week, and a new juvenile probation administrative assistant has been hired.

McKay suggested Schoenwald seek out local youth in Crescent Valley—including potential 2027 Battle Mountain High School graduates residing in the area—for next year’s program.

Public Works Director Rowley announced delays in the opening of the Eureka swimming pool due to ongoing plaster and coping issues, with a diagnostic site visit scheduled for July 29. On a brighter note, the lights at the county airport are now fully operational. Meanwhile, the EMS report was tabled as EMS Director Nikki Cooley and EMT Griffin Bussian were out on an active emergency call.

Natural resources and public lands

Natural Resource Manager Jake Tibbitts provided updates on public land disputes. The BLM is moving ahead with gathering 2,000 wild horses from the Callahan Complex, which borders Lander and Eureka counties, to manage overpopulation.

Tibbitts also presented a county response letter addressing the BLM’s sweeping proposed updates to federal grazing regulations, which have not been significantly updated since 1995. While Tibbitts and the Natural Resource Advisory Committee (NRAC) view many of the updates as positive, he warned against provisions that attempt to leverage or “extort” ownership of local water rights under the guise of “shared” water rights.

Furthermore, the BLM is proposing that if a rancher does not use their full permitted amount of forage, the unused forage can be offered to third parties.

“On the one hand, the BLM is really wanting the maximum use of the grazing resource,” Tibbitts explained. The county’s letter strongly demands express written consent from the main permit holder before any forage is redistributed.

The commission unanimously approved the letter, authorizing NRAC to make final adjustments for the chairman’s signature.

Eureka County Commissioners approved:

Expenditures of $3,412,539.73, including a pass-through of $2,000 to the Nevada Division of Minerals.

A collective bargaining agreement between Eureka County and the Operator Engineer Local 3 Eureka County Sheriff Deputy and a collective bargaining agreement between Eureka County and the Operator Engineer Local 3 Eureka County Sergeant, Lieutenant and Communication Supervisor beginning July 1, 2026, for two years.

Electing to receive payment of $137,000 under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act (SRS), including designating allocations to SRS Titles 1 and 2.

Review of the Ending Fund Balance of $140,252,708.78.

Changes to Surface Transportation Board Office of Environmental Analysis establishing Cooperating Agency status for preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement in Docket No. FD 36889, Nevada Gold Rail LLC – Construction Exemption – Line of Railroad in Eureka and Lander Counties, NV.

Approving a six-month contract, to begin July 1, 2026, and end December 31, 2026, with the current Public Defender, Jane Eberhardy, Esq. of Jane Eberhardy Law, LLC.

The rental fee waiver for the Crescent Valley Community Center for movie nights held on the second Friday of each month by Laura Shivers and Jessica Evertsen.

The request for an additional sum of $5,716.00 to cover the remaining costs of the Crescent Valley park exercise equipment.

Ratifying the Vacancy Justification form for the advertised Assistant CIO position, which was advertised inter-departmentally for the required 14 days and filled.

The vacancy justification request to fill the vacant Civil Process Administrator Position in the Sheriff’s Office.

Quote #2024019 for purchasing eleven (11) handheld radios from 2862 Communications, LLC, in an amount not to exceed $46,723.60, utilizing the Emergency Management Fund with Eureka County VFC grant funding covering $44,982.00.

Accepting quotes from 2862 Communications LLC for repairs identified in annual radio repeater maintenance in the amount of $24,799.48, utilizing funds from Capital Outlay Radio Repeater Upgrades.

Custom Painting & Decorating Inc. to paint the exterior of the courthouse Building, in an amount not to exceed $96,860.00, utilizing the Building Maintenance Fund.

Ratification of expenses for mobile power generation equipment to support construction wells and road maintenance activities, in the amount of $7,447.90, utilizing funds budgeted for capital outlay in the Water Mitigation Department.

Federal fiscal year 2027 Joint Funding Agreement 27ZJJFA00102 with the US Geological Survey for continuation of multi-year Hydrologic Monitoring Program in the amount of $176,428 with Eureka County’s portion at $114,678 and USGS match at $61,750.