Eureka Commission takes action on ethics, public defense and land rights

The Eureka County Commission Nov. 4 meeting was marked by several decisions, including a rare move to request assistance from the Nevada Attorney General’s office, the immediate hiring of a new public defender and a firm stance against a proposed federal land rule change.

Chair Rich McKay and the commissioners also focused on the future, from improving rural medical services during the next legislative session to streamlining public safety operations and modernizing human resources with a potential move to a four-day work week.

Seeking attorney general assistance for ethical concerns

In one of the most significant actions of the meeting, the commission voted to join the district attorney’s request for assistance from the Nevada Attorney General (AG) in prosecuting Case Number 25W-0029.

The reason for the request stems from a report prepared by the Eureka County Sheriff’s Office that lists a staff member of the District Attorney’s Office as a suspect. Citing the need to “avoid even the appearance of impropriety,” and noting the person referenced in the case is an employee of the DA’s office, the district attorney presented a letter requesting outside help pursuant to state law (NRS 228.130).

The commission formally resolved to join the request, agreeing to pay the “actual and necessary travel and lodging expenses” of the attorney general or his representatives from Carson City to Eureka, with other costs to be negotiated in advance.

Smooth transition for public defense

Following up on a previous discussion, the commission acted to ensure a seamless transition for its public defense services. They approved accepting, with immediate effect, the services of Jane Eberhardy, Esq., under the same terms and conditions as the current public defender, Kelly Brown, Esq.

This decision is designed to fund both attorneys until December 31, 2025, providing an effective transition period. The move is vital for minimizing disruptions to the court calendar and ensuring continuity for citizens involved in long-term cases.

Fighting for Nevada’s land use

The commission took a strong stand on a critical land use issue, unanimously approving a letter to be sent to the BLM supporting the rescinding of the proposed Public Lands Rule, also known as the BLM Conservation and Landscape Health Rule.

The letter, drafted by Natural Resources Manager Jake Tibbitts, asserts that the proposed rule “fundamentally shifts the management of BLM lands to the detriment of our longstanding and socioeconomic underpinning uses of ranching, mining, recreation, energy production and transmission.”

The commission’s official position is that the rule creates “uncertainty, angst and conflict” and is being exploited by groups that profit from litigating the BLM. The letter strongly affirmed that the “continuation of multiple-use and sustained yield on BLM managed lands is essential to Eureka County’s, Nevada’s and the west’s future.”

The commissioners asked the BLM to instead bolster existing conservation mechanisms and work in regular coordination with local and state governments.

Preparing for the legislature and future growth

Caleb Cage of Arc Dome Strategies, LLC, who represents Eureka County on Nevada legislative matters, provided an update on monitoring upcoming committee meetings and the expected special legislative session in mid-to-late November.

Chairman McKay praised Cage’s work on land and natural resources and requested that during the upcoming session, the county place more emphasis on “rural medical services, ambulance services and medical services.” This highlights the county’s ongoing commitment to improving crucial health care access for its residents.

The complexity of local growth was also addressed. Public Works Director Jeb Rowley and Jake Tibbitts reported they are working with the Division of Water Resources to simplify the process for a large land division in Diamond Valley, a process complicated by county ordinance, state orders and the local groundwater plan. Rowley noted that solutions might require both changes at the state level and updates to the county ordinance to eliminate conflicts.

Modernizing the county workforce

Human resources director Cristina Lopez outlined significant steps toward modernizing county operations and improving the employee experience.

• Volunteer programs: Lopez is setting up weekly meetings with Public Works to streamline the fire and EMS volunteer programs, including moving documentation online “to remove barriers” and make the process “more efficient and faster.”
• Four-day work week: Lopez announced that HR is working on the possibility of a four-day, ten-hour (4-10) workweek and will be releasing an employee survey soon to gather data. Chairman McKay requested a community survey on the proposal, which Lopez suggested could be done on Facebook.
• Leadership development: Lopez is developing a leadership program in small groups for supervisors and managers, focusing on HR foundation and compliance, hiring smart and “how to properly handle separations” and “difficult conversations.”
• Compliance and recognition: HR completed Phase 1 of a compliance assessment with Pool Pac, launched a new LinkedIn Page and is preparing an employee awards and recognition program.

Sheriff’s Office tackles inmate costs and transport

Sheriff Miles Umina and Undersheriff Charles Cobb reported on their attendance at the Sheriff’s and Chief’s Association convention, which provided “good legal updates” and vendor leads for policy implementation with potential cost savings.

A major financial concern is the cost of housing inmates out of county. An inmate who had attempted self-harm is now back in custody with the Nevada Department of Corrections and is being housed in a medical wing for $250 a day. Cobb explained this is a necessary cost for a “high-risk inmate” who other agencies were unwilling to take on due to liability.

Umina highlighted the high cost of transporting inmates to district court. Transporting a male and female inmate who cannot be transported together requires two deputies and significant overtime for the hour-and-a-half drive each way. Umina is gathering numbers to determine if “reopening the jail” would be more cost-effective in the long run than the current system of long drives, wait times and overtime, saying, “The numbers are starting to add up.”

The sheriff also reported on a successful job fair at the high school, where they encouraged students to consider starting in dispatch at age 18, which would allow them to retire by age 48 under the current PERS system.

Public Works and road crew progress

Road Department Supervisor Scooter Mentaberry detailed extensive road work, including installing 14 new speed signs in Crescent Valley and repairing multiple cattle guards that had been damaged, including one “smashed” by a McEwen mining rig. The crews are taking advantage of the favorable weather to finish grading, mowing shoulders and producing gravel.

Rowley reported that the crews completed winterizing buildings, fixing sewer hookups and tackling minor repairs, including plugged gutters on the Eureka library. He also announced that the Hazard Mitigation Plan workshops are completed, with the results expected after the new year.

In a move to improve emergency response, Rowley reported that Fire and EMS will now carry out operations on analog radio frequencies, which will reserve the digital frequencies for law enforcement. Rowley believes this will provide “long-term benefits” for communications during major incidents and helps “sync up our agencies.”

Commission approves financial and infrastructure items

Commissioners approved expenditures totaling over $3.1 million. They also signed off on key service contracts, including:

• Ambulance services: Extending an interlocal agreement with the city of Carlin to continue providing emergency medical services with Eureka County Ambulance 929 while Carlin’s primary ambulance is being repaired.
• Broadband: Approving a three-year broadband agreement with Commnet Broadband for a 100 Mb EPL connection between Crescent Valley and Eureka at a cost of $750 per month.
• IT subscriptions: Approving credit card increases for IT staff and a recurring annual expense for a crucial network monitoring subscription.

The commission also decided to hold the Dec. 2 BOCC Meeting in Crescent Valley, ensuring that the entire community has access to their elected officials.