Crescent Valley Town Board News

The Crescent Valley Town Advisory Board held its first meeting of 2025 on Wednesday, Jan. 8.

2024 Chairman Jeremy Rice called the meeting to order and the agenda was approved. 2024 Vice Chair Diana Kersey moved to change the budget discussion item to an action item.

During public comment, local artist Emily Whittlesey shared her approval by the commissioners to install a history wall funded by Nevada Gold at the community center. The wall will be displayed on the north wall of the Crescent Valley Community Building and will be movable. 

When the time came to appoint a chair for 2025, Rice thanked Darcey Winkelkotter, who resigned from her seat, for her board service. Newly seated board member Laura Shivers was welcomed aboard.

Rice nominated Diana Kersey as chair and all voted “aye.” Chair Kersey motioned to appoint Rice as vice chair and all voted in favor.

Vice Chairman Rice, who is also the chief of the CV Fire Department, gave an update on the fire department, reporting one volunteer resigned, leaving 16 active members. He expressed hope that people will join in the efforts for fire mitigation around the town. Rice noted FireWise can provide funds for that. 

Turning to the Crescent Valley Town Advisory Board’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget, Rice observed, “We’re probably not going to get the playground track down” due to lack of square footage and will need to wait until next year. Two thousand square feet is required and they need to measure out where the exercise equipment and walking path will be. 

Whittlesey asked about replacing the toxic material on the playground, and Rice noted they are exploring having spray-on material to replace the shredded tire material.

Also discussed in the budget was a trailer for the large inflatables like the house, which is moved back and forth between Crescent Valley and Eureka. Rice said it would be easier to put it in a trailer and leave it there.

Board member Shivers noted it would save wear and tear and free up space in the storage containers. A 7 x 14 closed cargo trailer was proposed.  

Town advisory board members are proposing the county fund playground equipment and two cameras so the back of the playground can be seen. The question of how to power the cameras was raised, with the option of running them off solar proposed.

The board unanimously approved a motion to ask for funds for the trailer, workout equipment, camera system and get a quote for the pour-in mat for the playground to replace the shredded tire cushioning.

The board is also proposing requesting the activity fund be raised from $20,000.

Eureka County Sheriff Miles Umina reported 30-year employee Maureen Gardner is retiring. Gardner’s replacement in training, Grace Miller, will be a notary soon, and the sheriff noted she’ll be coming up at least once a month. 

The sheriff said they have been very busy in the north end, including a recent domestic incident and assisting Lander County on a DUI on I-80.

Umina said deputies will be going back and forth between Eureka and Crescent Valley and asked everyone to be “nice and wave at them – not with one finger.” He said they are working on rebuilding Search and Rescue and encouraged people to visit the county website. Even 71-year-olds could help answer phones and bring water out, he said. 

Umina noted he is working on a new mission statement and vision for the sheriff’s office, ensuring their ethics and beliefs are the same as the community’s. Once that is done, hopefully by the end of the month, it will be posted.  

Sheriff Umina noted it’s become harder to get people to volunteer.  He noted the sheriff’s office has an incident command post that can keep people out of the elements. “We’re on a good path,” he said. “I feel confident and excited now. I see some really good stuff coming along.” He said he will personally try to be in Crescent Valley at least once a month. 

Commissioner Mike Schoenwald gave an update on the Jan. 6 Commission meeting. The commissioner noted a couple of resolutions were passed and Rick McKay will be continuing as chair, with Marty Plaskett as vice chair and Schoenwald himself as a member.

Bills were paid and appointments made to committees. Schoenwald will be on the senior advisory committee. Marty Plaskett is the commission representative for the fire department and Schoenwald is the alternate. 

The BLM solar plan was approved by the governor despite the county’s objections as 90 percent of the acreage opened up for solar plants in Nevada are in Eureka County.

Schoenwald noted that there was discussion of having a quarterly meeting in Crescent Valley but is hoping that takes place closer to March. He’d rather not have the quarterly meeting in Crescent Valley during the winter months for safety reasons. 

Shivers asked for more detail on the History Wall being done by Whittlesey. 

Whittlesey explained, “When Robinson had their whole display in here about what they were going to do, I came and they offered a tour the following day and I met Shawn from the mine.” Whittlesey then remarked that since it was all going to get torn down, they should do a photo essay. She was advised to submit a proposal to the mine, which she did. The next step was to talk to the commissioners about where to put the wall. 

Whittlesey said she picked the least important wall in the Crescent Valley Town Community Center so the photos can be displayed. Whittlesey said the photo project will be there for a while but will not be permanent so other displays can be shared as the need arises. The display will belong to the mine. The photos will document old buildings slated to be destroyed.