County commission tackles wide-ranging agenda, from public safety to major mining projects

The Eureka County Commission’s meeting on August 19 served as a comprehensive review of local governance, with discussions spanning public safety, county policy changes and the future of several large-scale mining projects.

County Seeks New Public Defender

The meeting opened with a significant personnel matter: the resignation of Eureka County Public Defender Kelly Brown, effective January 1, 2026. The commission immediately moved to begin the search for his replacement, approving a request for proposals to be posted on the Department of Indigent Defense Services website. The goal is to find a qualified candidate to ensure a seamless transition.

District Attorney Ted Beutel noted the strategy is to “have some overlap so there’s not a catastrophe in January.” He joked that inquiries for the contract position, with proposals due by September 30, would be handled by Comptroller Kim Todd, calling her the “lucky winner of a chicken dinner.” Brown was praised by Commissioner Martin Plaskett for his “forethought” in providing ample notice, and his resignation letter suggested that Ely attorney Jane Eberhardy might be interested in the role.

County Support for Rural Housing

In a key decision, the commission approved a resolution to transfer the county’s $119,813.69 Private Activity Bond Volume Cap to the Nevada Rural Housing Authority (NRHA). NRHA Communications Director Katie Colman explained that this is not a cash transfer but a federal allocation that allows the NRHA to provide critical housing assistance.

Colman detailed the significant impact of the program on Eureka County, noting that since 2006, the NRHA has served 15 families with $3.5 million in mortgages and nearly $60,000 in down payment assistance. She thanked the county for its long-standing support, which has totaled $1.4 million in bond transfers since 2006. With an additional $25 million in a new program available, NRHA asked the commission for help “getting the word out” to potential homebuyers. Chairman Rich McKay promised to coordinate with the NRHA to “definitely get the word out” and do “PR work” to ensure residents are aware of the program.

Busy Month for Emergency Services

Nichole Cooley, the county’s EMS director, reported a “really, really busy month” in July, with a total of 39 runs. The calls were evenly split, with 16 in Eureka and 16 in Crescent Valley, plus seven additional calls utilizing the services of MEDEX. Cooley provided a detailed breakdown of patient transport, with some individuals going as far as Northern Nevada Regional Hospital in Elko and William Bee Ririe in Ely. She also announced that Griffin Bussian, EMT employee, had received his instructor license, allowing him to hold advanced-level classes locally.

Cooley shared stories from community events, including the Eureka County Fair, where Crescent Valley EMS came to provide coverage, creating a “great team-building experience.” She noted that the high school rodeo proved challenging, as “these rodeo guys are pretty tough” and often refused to be transported to the hospital. In her report, Cooley also provided an update on other local health services, noting 43 dental visits and 302 clinic patients in July. She provided a crucial tip for residents with billing questions: avoid the 1-800 number and call the William Bee Ririe Hospital directly at (775) 289-3001, extension 4, “to make sure you’re getting your Eureka discount.”

Key Policy Changes Approved

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a public hearing on modifications to the Eureka County Personnel Policy, a process initiated by POOL PAC. County Comptroller Kim Todd walked commissioners through a variety of changes. New rules prohibit supervisors from dating subordinates and require all employees, not just supervisors, to report suspected drug or alcohol use.

A new section on the acceptable use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) was also introduced. The policy is designed to balance the benefits of AI with the need for security and accuracy. It requires employees to obtain written approval from the IT department before using any AI tool, and to inform their department head when they have used one. The policy explicitly warns that GenAI tools are prone to “hallucinations” and states that “all AI tools must be approved in writing by the IT Department before use.” It also strictly prohibits uploading any confidential, proprietary, or personal information into AI tools.

The new policy on media contacts generated the most discussion. The proposed language initially stated that all media inquiries “must be reported… prior to responding on behalf of the employer.” This raised concerns from department heads, including Natural Resources Manager Jake Tibbitts, who felt it was “really open-ended” and could hinder timely responses to reporters seeking simple clarifications. Assessor Mike Mears echoed this, stating he’s “been interviewed multiple times by the Nevada Independent” and has always provided information as a tax assessor, not a county spokesman.

After a debate, District Attorney Ted Beutel clarified that the policy was intended to provide the county with “plausible deniability” for unauthorized inflammatory statements. The commission ultimately agreed to a revised policy, changing the word from “reported” to “directed,” which implies that department heads are trusted to speak to the media on their own authority but are still accountable for their statements.

Law Enforcement

Undersheriff Charles Cobb reported a busy start to August for the Sheriff’s Department, with 191 traffic stops and 58 citations in just 19 days. Cobb also noted that Senator Catherine Cortez Masto visited the Crescent Valley Substation on August 11. During her visit with Sheriff Miles Umina and Commissioner Mike Schoenwald, she spoke with first responders about the need to continue supporting police officers, EMS and firefighters in rural communities.

Natural Resources and Mining Updates

Natural Resources Manager Jake Tibbitts provided a comprehensive overview of ongoing and future mining projects that will significantly impact the region. He reported that I80 Gold is moving forward with its Archimedes Underground Project, which will initially employ up to 40 contractors and eventually scale up to 120 employees. Even more significant is their plan for a new, large-scale open pit mine adjacent to Ruby Hill, which could employ 600-650 people. Tibbitts praised I80 for their transparency and willingness to be a “partner” in community development, detailing their timeline: permitting from 2026-2029, construction from 2030-2032 and full production in 2032.

Tibbitts also discussed Orla Mining’s South Railroad Project, a major development that has sparked controversy over water rights and its potential impact on the local Lahontan trout population. He noted that the Humboldt River Basin Water Authority has already protested the project’s water rights, and the BLM has initiated a 30-day scoping period for the Environmental Impact Statement. For those interested, public meetings are scheduled for September 3 at the California Trails Center from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.

In other reports, Public Works Director Jeb Rowley highlighted the hiring of a new facilities assistant and outlined infrastructure projects, including the $767,300 contract for the Eureka Townsite Water Tank Repainting Project. He also noted that the county is working with NDP to develop a program to shred tires on-site, a measure that would reduce disposal costs.

Eureka County Commissioners approved: 

The Agenda notice. 

The minutes of the Aug. 5 Commission meeting. 

Expenditures of $1,220,830.53, including pass-throughs to the Nevada Department of Taxation/Room Tax, $618.46; State Controller School Tax, $147,231.74; Nevada State Controller, $6,549.12; Nevada Division of Minerals, $64,580 and Washoe County Crime Lab, $295, for a total of $219,274.32 in pass-throughs. 

The extended endpoint protection limited warranty agreement, which will cover up to $1 million in breach response expenses in the event of a security incident within the protected environment, at no additional cost to the County for a one-year period. Authorize the IT director to sign the document outside of the meeting. 

The amended and restated broadband service agreement with Comnet to renew the 100 Mb Symmetrical Dedicated Internet Access (DIA) connection for the Crescent Valley Medical Clinic at a recurring monthly cost of $1,125 and authorizing the CIO to sign the contract outside of the meeting. Note: The agreement has an Initial Service Date of July 1, 2025, with a one-year term and the option to renew for up to two additional one-year terms with written notice provided at least 60 days prior to the contract end date. This agreement aligns with the USAC program funding period through June 30, 2026. 

Tabling integrating RIMS with EMS image trend CAD and Health Information Hub (HIH), not to exceed the amount of $18,500, which includes contingency in order to determine where the funding will come from and how the software will integrate. 

Temporary credit card increase of $500 for Cooley to $1,500 for the EMS conference September 16-19 for expenditures and rooms. 

Temporary credit card increase of $500 for Griffin Bussian to $1,000 for the EMS conference September 16-19 for expenditures. 

Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking contracted ambulance/emergency response services for Crescent Valley and Northern Eureka County, including approval to proceed with advertising the RFP with a two-week response deadline. 

Updated Public Works Technician I, II, III and Senior job description. 

Authorizing Public Works to promote a Public Works employee to senior Public Works technician. 

An updated Sheriff’s Office detective job description. 

A casual civil processor job description and a hiring freeze waiver to fill the casual civil processor budgeted for FY2026 and to be located in Crescent Valley. 

A one-time credit card increase for Sergeant Dave Hicks of $1,000 ($2,000 total) for the month of October to attend the RIMS conference in Lake Tahoe. 

Purchase of a ¾-ton full-size standard cab and chassis from Champion Chevrolet in an amount not to exceed $48,355.92 (includes 5 percent contingency), utilizing funds budgeted for capital outlay (020-106-55010-000) in the Road Department budget. 

Quotation 2061551757 from Grainger for the purchase of a fuel tank for an amount not to exceed $1,458.60 (includes 5 percent contingency), utilizing funds budgeted for capital outlay (020-106-55010-000) in the Road Department budget. 

Quotation JRB00652 from Reading Truck for the purchase of a flat bed for an amount not to exceed $5,683.13 (includes 5% contingency), utilizing funds budgeted for capital outlay (020-106-55010-000) in the Road Department budget.