Eureka County Commission hears postal concerns, advances mental health pilot and approves fiscal actions

The Eureka County Commission convened on Aug. 4 for a meeting covering public safety initiatives, infrastructure updates, library achievements, housing programs and countywide administrative business. Board Chairman Rich McKay presided over the proceedings alongside Commissioners Marty Plaskett and Mike Schoenwald, who participated via telelink from Crescent Valley.

Crescent Valley postal service concerns prompt petition and official clarification

During opening public comment, Forest Anderson of Crescent Valley addressed mail delivery challenges in the northern county. “We’ve been having problems with the postal service,” Anderson said. “The postal service up here has announced they’re no longer going to be issuing new addresses. And I’m just letting you guys know we’re trying to get a post office and better service up here.” He warned delivery disruptions could affect tax bills and administrative communications.

The Eureka Sentinel followed up with Carlin Postmistress Shawna Eklund, who clarified address assignment rules.

“The postal service does not issue new addresses anyway,” Eklund explained. “The county assessor issues new addresses, so that’s incorrect, and that’s not true.” Eklund noted that when new addresses are assigned by the county, the postal service assigns delivery spots. She confirmed the former village post office contract at the Phoenix Rises Store was terminated and such contracts are no longer issued. Mail is transported from Carlin by a contract driver Monday through Friday to mailboxes in Beowawe, highway contract routes and fairground units in Crescent Valley.

Eklund refuted that Carlin Post Office refuses mail addresses due to route capacity. However, she acknowledged highway contract route capacity is running low. Eklund supported the town’s desire for a local post office.

“The growth is so much that the contract driver does have a hard time getting it all delivered in the time she is contracted for,” she said.

Sheriff outlines rural mental health pilot program and public safety updates

Sheriff Miles Umina delivered an operational report, describing high case numbers across the department.

“Busy. Just busy. Producing a lot of cases,” Umina said. “It’s summer season and the nature of the beast right now. Guys are just really getting after it.”

Umina highlighted progress on a three-pronged crisis intervention team pilot program developed in partnership with emergency medical services, local behavioral health organizations and the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The initiative establishes a virtual telehealth program that allows deputies and EMS personnel to connect individuals in crisis with clinical technicians using digital tablets.

Umina explained the program aims to de-escalate local crisis situations. “Either we do safe-keeping, we have a keepsake program, we help them find a place they can place their guns, because we don’t want to take their guns,” Umina said, “or contact a friend or family member to come over and help.”

If a clinician determines a 72-hour hold is necessary, law enforcement and EMS coordinate transport to Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital in Elko. Umina noted Eureka County is serving as a rural pilot model, leveraging telehealth billing to Medicaid.

“We’re looking at being the pilot program for the rest of the state,” Umina said.

Planning is supported by Rural Health Grant funding, with upcoming sessions focusing on organizational analysis alongside NAMI representatives and EMS Director Nikki Cooley. Umina also announced NAMI visits to Crescent Valley and highlighted National Night Out events in Eureka and Crescent Valley.

Housing authority secures bond volume cap transfer for rural homeownership

Katie Coleman, communications director for Nevada Rural Housing Authority, presented housing updates via teleconference. Coleman reported that over the past 50 years, the agency has supported 11,000 northern Nevada homebuyers, facilitating $2.5 billion in mortgage lending and $59 million in down payment assistance. In Eureka County, the authority has assisted 16 homebuyers with $3.8 million in mortgages and $71,000 in down payment assistance since 2015.

Coleman requested the transfer of Eureka County’s 2026 Private Activity Bond Volume Cap to support homeownership programs.

“Unused Private Activity Bond Cap provides critical financing capacity for Nevada Rural Housing’s affordable homeownership programs,” Coleman stated in her presentation, noting these tools are especially important as interest rates and home prices rise.

She highlighted the Rural Rocks program, which offers $20,000 in repayable assistance for down payments or interest rate reductions. The program is available to Nevada residents of at least six months with a minimum credit score of 640 and income below $120,750 for single-family, condominium and manufactured homes. The commission unanimously approved the bond cap transfer.

Infrastructure projects advance across roads, facilities and water systems

Road Department Superintendent Scooter Mentaberry updated the board on maintenance operations. Northern crews graded McDaniel Road, repaired Tank Road, bladed Cortez Road and conducted extensive repairs on Dean Dann Road following wildland fire activity. Mentaberry noted a stretch of Dean Dann Road required careful navigation. He added Crescent Valley crews assisted firefighting efforts with a grader and water truck, noting the crew returned to full staffing. In Eureka, crews completed 3 Bars Road, addressed storm washouts on Barth Ranch Road and Fenstermaker Road, cleared a Mustang Road mudslide and finished Kobeh Valley well site pad extensions.

Public Works Director Jeb Rowley provided updates on facilities and utilities. Rowley reported the subdivision development has one vacant lot remaining on its eastern side. In Crescent Valley, crews are mowing weeds and clearing clinic vegetation while siting outdoor exercise equipment. In Eureka, preparations continue for the courthouse painting project led by Assistant Public Works Director Lester Porter, while facility assessments continue for county buildings.

Rowley reported that municipal water operations required Devil’s Gate wells to run continuously for 26 hours during high heat. Water sampling is underway, and the Water Conservation Plan is scheduled for its five-year update. Municipal pool repairs are scheduled for perimeter coping replacement and interior plaster polishing. Airport paving near the snow removal equipment building is nearing completion, and design plans were submitted for a Crescent Valley Road Shop water card reader.

Library programs, IT upgrades and human resources operations report progress

Mybrary Director Kassie Antonucci presented quarterly usage statistics for the Eureka and Crescent Valley library branches, reporting 728 visits, 696 item checkouts and 135 internet sessions from April through June. Antonucci highlighted the Crescent Valley summer reading program, where six participating children logged 6,277 minutes of reading. Describing participants as “six dedicated kids that really put in the time,” Antonucci added, “Our hope is that we can continue to grow that interest and get more kids involved up there.”

The program was supported by $6,000 in donations from Nevada Gold Mines and Orla Mining. Antonucci noted ongoing talks with 4-H to develop Crescent Valley collaborative youth programming.

IT Chief Information Officer Misty Rowley detailed department operations, including workstation installations, CAD software upgrades and planning for a new fiber circuit supporting 911 dispatch. Public Works Director Rowley and Misty Rowley confirmed testing on the new Opera House sound system was successful, with Public Works Director Rowley stating, “My takeaway is that it’s working and working well.”

Human Resources Director Cristina Lopez reported that the job posting for a full-time HR Generalist attracted four initial applicants overnight. The board approved increasing the authorized schedule for casual HR employee Annette Broad from 19 to 29 hours per week to support ongoing departmental workload.

Natural resources updates highlight horse gathers, mining and legislative authority

Natural Resources Manager Jake Tibbitts provided updates on land management and resource projects. Tibbitts reported the Bureau of Land Management completed the Callahan Complex wild horse gather on July 26. He noted the BLM state director upheld the Record of Decision for the Mt. Hope Project, initiating a 30-day window for appeals. Tibbitts also reviewed the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Greenlink North transmission project, noting regional discussions regarding substation locations.

Tibbitts reported geothermal exploration activity in Antelope Valley, project meetings for the Nevada Gold Rail Project and upcoming meetings for the State Land Use Planning Advisory Council and County Advisory Board to Manage Wildlife. Tibbitts reminded the commission that under Nevada Revised Statutes 218D.205, counties under 100,000 population can submit one direct bill draft request for the legislative session.

Commission authorizes expenditures, equipment purchases and intergovernmental agreements

The Eureka County Commission took formal action on several financial, administrative and contractual items. The board approved total county expenditures of $3,618,522.22.

Commissioners approved temporary policy waivers under the Catastrophic Leave Program for two employees, adjusting maximum draw limits to 160 hours. The board approved the 7th Judicial Tri-County Cooperative Agreement for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 and authorized a fee waiver for the Crescent Valley Community Center Snack Shack for an event.