Community concerns take center stage at Crescent Valley town meeting

Vickie Etchinek came forward during public comment at the Aug. 6 Crescent Valley Town Advisory Board Meeting to voice her concerns about the impact Ormat is having as they commence construction of the new geothermal power plant. 

“The road they’re tearing up. Have you been out there?” Etchinek asked. “They’ve destroyed the roads.” In addition, Etchinek said, “They’re speeding up and down McDaniels.” She “almost got hit the other day by one of their pick-ups.” 

The Sheriff’s Office related that “we have set up area checks” and “have an increased deputy presence.”

Etchinek asked whether Ormat will have any public meetings, and Commissioner Mike Schoenwald said he would look into it. Ormat will be a topic on the next CVTAB agenda.

Etchinek asked where the power would go. 

“If they want to come into the community, they ought to come in and be community-friendly like everybody else,” she said, and “They ought to have some meetings so everybody can know what’s going on.”

The issue of Ormat will be placed on the next advisory board agenda.

Kim Sewell, chair of the CV Medical Advisory Committee, said the advisory committee will meet at 5 p.m. on Aug. 12. On that day there will be back-to-school vaccines offered at the Crescent Valley Health Clinic from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Vaccines are available for eligible kids and adults, as well as family planning services, which include contraception, STI screenings and Pap smears. Call (775) 867-8181 to schedule. Walk-ins are welcome if space is available. 

Sewell addressed the issue raised by Laura Shivers at the commission meeting. “People have gone to the clinic seeking medical assistance” and “instead of utilizing EMS, [the clinic] has told them to transport themselves.” 

Sewell said, “EMS has come a long way in the last six months,” with more people on staff and more volunteers, and “we will be addressing this in our medical services advisory meeting.” 

She found it inappropriate that one “medical provider would be putting down services of another” and “then a week later utilizing the service.” 

Sewell said Jessica Evertsen has been hired as the new medical assistant for the clinic, starting Aug. 12.

Shivers has been working on a community calendar but feels the idea of a quarterly community flyer, particularly for those who don’t have internet, “makes way more sense for our community.” 

She said, “Looking a year in advance is not something I can figure out how to do.” 

The CVTAB will be working with the county IT department to see how to make such a flyer possible, with the option of opting out/in.

Commissioner Schoenwald gave a synopsis of the county commission meeting. 

Public Works Director Jeb Rowley told the board that, as part of the Hazard Mitigation Plan, “there will be some public workshops both in Eureka and here in Crescent Valley,” likely in September, on “natural hazards in the area.” 

Rowley said areas that are identified will be included in the plan, and there are potentially monies to address issues, including fire hazards on private properties. 

Sergeant Brian Shoaf gave the update for the Sheriff’s Office, relating, “We’ve received numerous complaints regarding traffic on JD Ranch, Rose Ranch and out McDaniel: the town of Crescent Valley and also on 278. By order of Sheriff Umina, we have started doing some direct enforcement on those areas,” which “has led to quite a few traffic stops and a lot of citations.” 

Shoaf visited the Washoe County Medical Examiner’s office in Reno for advanced training. 

Shivers noted there is a derelict trailer on Tenabo, “and we are watching the roof peel off.” She said it “will hit somebody” and asked who is responsible for an abandoned trailer.

Shoaf said the property owner is responsible and the state fire marshal could be called.

Deputy Hogarth noted that “it was a giant chunk of tin that took out power a few weeks ago” after hitting a power line. 

Vice Chair Jeremy Rice gave a report on the Volunteer Fire Department. “July was a very busy month for us. We actually had 11 runs.” Rice said, “In my three years of being here, that was the busiest month we’ve ever had,” with seven wildland fires, a vehicle fire, a vehicle and truck accident and an aircraft down, plus extraction training. 

The CVTAB approved:

• The minutes of July 16, 2025.
• Purchasing hot and cold tables from Webstaurant Store in place of the cargo trailer.
• Utilizing funds budgeted for capital outlay in the Crescent Valley Town Advisory Board Fund.