Commissioners hear presentation from Guardian Flight on EMS services

During the July 15 commission meeting, Mike Cogsdill, program director with Guardian Flight, accompanied by Fernando Reina of Reach, gave a presentation to the commissioners regarding EMS services they could potentially offer to Crescent Valley. 

“We are the ground portion of Guardian Flight. We provide services at the mines,” he said. They run eight EMTs and paramedics, with bases in Winnemucca and Cortez. The program was introduced to ensure an effective emergency response at the mines and to “serve workers in challenging environments.” 

Guardians’ paramedics administer medications and perform complex, life-saving procedures. Paramedics have approximately 1,800 hours of training. In addressing how Guardian could benefit Eureka County, Cogsdill emphasized that “volunteers are the backbone” and with Guardian’s complimentary assistance, residents would receive enhanced patient care and outcome. 

“Our paramedics are community-focused and are committed to participating in existing community outreach programs,” including flu shots. Guardian can assist with ongoing EMS education, including new EMT classes, and can bring in specialty classes. Guardian has “stringent hiring practices” and paramedics are “not fresh out of school. We are all seasoned” in a “high-performance system” like Las Vegas or Reno where there are 12 to 15 calls twelve hours a day, and paramedics must have a minimum of five years “in that system.” Cogsdill said, “They work alone and are focused on patient care.” 

Reina noted that sometimes communities are isolated and it can take up to 40 minutes to get on site. “Here is where a paramedic comes to play the most important role. Those 40 minutes” are “crucial on the patient outcome. For example, paramedics, their baseline scope” in management includes the ability to administer cardiac medications. “A person who is in shock where the only thing that will keep them hanging there until they get to the hospital is administration” of medication that maintains blood pressure to keep vital organs functioning properly until major intervention in a hospital. To administer those medications you need the training and financial resources. “When it comes to matters of the heart, time is of the essence,” Reina said. He believed they could play “a key role in Eureka County” where the closest facility to Eureka is Ely or Fallon. Reina said they are also able to address brain function. 

Commissioner Mike Schoenwald said, “I understand you guys can use our equipment,” while “all of the paramedics have their own carry-with-them meds.”

Cogsdill said, “We develop a program around your needs,” while “at all three mine sites we use all their equipment.”

Nichole Cooley, EMS director, was on an ambulance run, so wasn’t present at the commission meeting.

Chairman Rich McKay asked how many paramedics are employed by Guardian at the mines. Cogsdill said “two at Carlin, two at Cortez and one at TR,” utilizing 15 medics who are five days on and 10 days off.

“When they’re on, they’re on call 24/7?” McKay asked. “Say you’re up at Cortez Gold Mine and you have a paramedic there. Can you run me through a scenario if something happens of who’s in charge? Is it your paramedic because he has the highest-level skill and is in charge of the event?”

Cogsdill agreed, “The highest level of care is the one who’s in charge.” Cogsdill said presently when they’re coming to help with Crescent Valley from the Cortez Mine, they don’t charge. “If we were to come to your service, it would be further conversation with people higher,” and “charges would come straight to the county.” 

Their service has been all mine-based, except they have an MOU with the city of Carlin and the mine has a relationship with Crescent Valley. Their service is 24/7. 

Schoenwald was hoping they could find a way to “meld the two to help out. You guys have already helped out.” Schoenwald is a volunteer ambulance driver and has ridden with Guardian crew on Crescent Valley runs.

Schoenwald said, “We don’t have quite the budget the mine does for that. We need to be mindful of that as well.”

Cogsdill said, “Our company does not go big profits on contracts but are pretty fair. What we can do to accommodate Crescent Valley with our paramedics” is “something I’d have to go back to my boss about.”

Jeremy Rice said, “I think this would be a great avenue for us to look at” for “our community up here, with all the elderly we have.”

Laura Shivers asked, “Would we be an afterthought after the mine, or would you have specific dedicated shifts for the paramedics in Crescent Valley so we have that full coverage?”

Cogsdill said, “The mine would maintain their contract, and then we would contract out with Crescent Valley specifically.”

Schoenwald noted, “Guardian is assisting with Crescent Valley: they have already, and that’s the mine allowing that. Because we’ve got mine EMTs and Guardian as well.”

Shivers wants to see coverage with no gaps.

Rice said, “It would be the same as what they have: somebody would be here 24/7” without “the crews leaving town. They would be here running with your people on our equipment is kind of the concept.”

Kim Sewell said, “We currently have several members that are on our volunteer EMS that are in training for their EMT” and will run in the back and train when there is an Advanced EMT on-board. “Will we have that opportunity with Guardian, where we can jump in the back and train with  you all?”

Cogsdill said, “Absolutely.”

Dave Mason, who has lived in Crescent Valley for 35 years and has been involved in mine rescue, ambulance and fire, stressed “the importance of quality care. I’m here today because of quality care” that “administered the proper drugs and medications that I needed for a heart attack” and “presently at Crescent Valley our service is what I call in critical state. The people of this community are not getting quality care. The citizens here are stuck with basically nothing. We either provide the necessary care for all the people in this community” or “keep hoping we don’t have to load in our own cars.” Mason monitors the emergency calls, and the response “can be quick,” but “all you have is a driver that’s not EMT qualified” and “can’t work on the patient. I ask all of you here, let’s step up to the plate. There’s going to be more people come here and more challenges. We need to upgrade. Life depends on it.” He acknowledged the cost but asked, “for all us seniors, please try to do something better.” 

Chairman McKay said the next step is for the EMS director to formally go out for a request for proposals.

Senior Centers

Senior Center Director Linda Gordon reported the senior centers, with grants coming in “pulled in $9,768.83 for the month of June.” Eureka served 774 meals and Crescent Valley served 725. Eureka saw non-seniors coming in for lunch because of construction. The Eureka seniors went to Virginia City, and Crescent Valley seniors will go to Vegas on September 24.

EMS Report

Commissioner Schoenwald gave the EMS update and reported that Eureka County had a total of 22 ambulance runs, with 10 in Eureka and 12 in Crescent Valley. EMS brought in $4,765.33. The mass casualty trailer is being decommissioned. Kim Sewell related that there is a new paramedic volunteer in Crescent Valley, and an Advanced EMT was hired as a floater and will be primarily based in Crescent Valley. The volunteers are using the software to record volunteer hours. The dentist “is in full swing in Eureka” and saw 16 patients. The Eureka Clinic saw 302 patients and Crescent Valley, 17. 

Sheriff Report

Undersheriff Charles Cobb reported 62 traffic stops with 12 citations and three in custody. Patrol has been increased on Hwy. 278. “The Fourth of July went really well.” The “biggest calls were the fireworks calls” for citizens “lighting them off, so we were chasing those during the night.” They located and arrested an individual who broke into the clinic. Two officers went to POST on July 15 for 19 weeks, with one for Eureka and one for Crescent Valley graduating in November. Construction is ongoing in the Sheriff’s Office. 

Fire District Report

Jeb Rowley, district chief for the Eureka County Fire Protection District, discussed “a few recent events,” statistics “and activities here of late.” Rowley said, “We’re looking for a very active season,” with “red flag warnings on a regular basis. Just last night we had a three-acre wildland event at the Beowawe exit” with “units from Crescent Valley, Beowawe and Dunphy VFDs” and fire units from Lander, Carlin and BLM. “It was a timely response. The fire was caught early,” with “the potential to run into country that’s hard to access. People are a little scared coming off of the Sheep Creek Fire that started on the 4th. This one at the freeway caught early was a three acre,” while “the one up in Boulder Valley was around 4,200 acres and ran for four days. So, it’s good they’re getting out on those early.” Rowley praised the response. “We also had the drill fire that was in Pine Valley last Thursday,” north of Sheep Creek. “It was a vehicle fire running seismograph equipment.” It didn’t spread despite being in heavy brush. Rowley said, “It is going to be a sensitive season for starts, and I do see the numbers creep in that direction.”

The four-day, 4,200-acre Sheep Creek fire will be the county’s first cost-share fire. Rowley said, “There was a lot of private land” involved in the Sheep Creek fire. “It impacted power lines” and infrastructure. 

Crescent Valley Volunteer Fire Chief Jeremy Rice said, “The only thing I do know for a fact being on that fire was the power poles and the fencing. We did get protective line around the pump facility that was there, and as far as I know it did not get to the water treatment facility.”

“Through that cost-share agreement, we’re on the hook for 60% of that fire” and “already covered our premium for the year,” Rowley said. He is working with NDF on billing. There are mechanics performing repairs and maintenance on the Cold Creek station trucks. From April 1 to June 30, there were 42 total runs. Eureka responded to two medical assists, one structure fire, six accidents, four wildland fires and three false alarms. Diamond Valley responded to four vehicle accidents and five wildland fire events. Crescent Valley had one accident and two wildfire events. Beowawe responded to four accidents, one structure fire and three wildfire events. Pine Valley responded to three accidents and two wildfire events. Rowley said the departments are working well together and “got good response, especially on some of these large events.”

Public Works and Facilities

Reporting on Public Works and County Facilities, Public Works Director Rowley related the Opera House and Museum, with staff on vacation, had 315 attending events including the Grant Summit, bus tours and the Missoula Children’s Theater, which had 16 youth involved and 48 tickets sold. The swimming pool had 138 monthly swimmers, 6 private lessons, 49 seniors and 11 on the swim team. The landfill had 614 deliveries of municipal solid waste that brought in 764 yards and 11 deliveries of construction and debris waste, bringing in 157 yards. Olcese still accounts for nearly half of municipal solid waste. Rowley is “having pretty steady conversations with NDEP with what we call the Financial Assurance Program for the landfill” for a 50-year term. “Those funds that are set aside for landfill closure cost” in about 120 years. “We are going to need to look at extending the financial assurance that’s required to close the landfill at a future date.” 

The final electrical is “being wrapped up at the clinic,” and “if everything is good,” the x-ray machine will be installed the week of July 21. The storm drain is complete at the top of Well Street, and they are starting on water on the Monroe side and finishing connections for water. Crescent Valley road improvements are still scheduled for early August. NDEP is testing for microplastics in Eureka and Crescent Valley. NDEP is conducting a sanitary survey for the arsenic treatment plant in Crescent Valley. The Pinon repeater is online, and “there is great coverage between Alpha and Palisade.” Rowley said the fire and county road crews operate on analog frequencies, while law enforcement and EMS operate on digital, which Rowley said can make “it tough to coordinate resources.”

Eureka County Commissioners approved:

• The agenda notice.

• Expenditures of $1.352.902.88 ,including pass-throughs to Nevada Room Tax, $650.65; Nevada State Controllers’ School Tax, $6,570.88; Nevada State Controller, $7,164.68; Nevada Division of Minerals, $11,800; Washoe County Crime Lab, $150 (for total pass-throughs of $36,569.06).
• Adopting the Resolution Setting Tax Rates for Fiscal Year 2025-2026, as certified by the Nevada Tax Commissioner on June 25, 2025.
• Budget transfers from the General Fund to the following funds: Regional Transportation Commission, $4,000,000; Eureka Road Department, $1,000,000; Eureka Town Water/Sewer Fund, $2,000,000; Crescent Valley Water Fund, $1,000,000 and Retiree Health Insurance Fund, $500,000 which were approved in the final budget process.
• The amended and restated agreement from Southwest Gas Corporation to pay annually 2% of net profits ($15) as described in NRS 709.110.
• Out-of-state travel for Tasha Dunlap, HR director to travel to Eureka from Arizona, June 15-19, 2025.
• Signing the Indigent Defense Financial Status Report for the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2025, due to the Department of Indigent Defense by July 15, 2025.
• Ambulance bill write-offs for Medicaid and Medicare accounts in the amount of $19,849.27.
• Directing EMS Director Nichole Cooley to generate RFP to query for contracting EMT services in Crescent Valley.
• The IT Professional Trainee 1 Casual job description.
• A one-time credit card increase for Sgt. Brian Shoaf of $1,000 ($2,000 total) to attend the IACME Coroner Conference in Las Vegas, July 20-24, 2025.
• A one-year lease agreement with William Bee Ririe Hospital and Rural Health Clinic for the residence located at 351 Well Street in Eureka.
• Quote No. 349910 from L.N. Curtis & Sons for ten GI 4500# Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus units and accessories for an amount not to exceed $108,930 utilizing funds budgeted for capital outlay in the Emergency Management Fund.
• A Lease Agreement with Central Nevada Health District for use of designated space at the Eureka Medical Clinic.
• Quote No. 020888 Version 1 from Quest Technology Management for installation of an Access Control System (wall mount with keypad) at the Eureka Opera House for an amount not to exceed $2,541.49, utilizing monies budgeted for capital outlay in the Buildings and Grounds Budget.
• Ratifying Ty Sestanovich as chief of the Diamond Valley Volunteer Fire Department. 
• Commenting on the Notice of Proposed Action for a major modification of the Water Pollution Control Permit NEV0096103 for the Ruby Hill Mine Project.
• Response to the Environmental Assessments for BLM October 2025 Competitive Geothermal Lease Sales impacting Eureka County to be signed outside the meeting.
• Response to proposed National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations and handbooks from US Departments of Interior and Agriculture to be signed outside the meeting.
• Federal Fiscal Year 2026 Joint Funding Agreement 26ZJJFA00102 with US Geological Survey (USGS) for continuation of multi-year Hydrologic Monitoring Program in the Kobeh Valley, Mount Hope and Roberts Mountains Vicinity with no increase from last FFY in the amount of $161,800 with Eureka County’s portion at $105,170 and USGS match at $56,630.