Eureka County Commission tackles jail staffing, public defense and safety upgrades

The Eureka County Commission convened on Oct. 21 to address a packed agenda, navigating everything from minor licensing issues and securing legal counsel to major infrastructure fixes and future safety plans. The meeting, which included sessions as the county liquor board, highlighted the need for specialized public safety roles and the smart use of federal funds.

Cracking down on liquor code violations

Meeting first as the Eureka County Liquor Board, the commission addressed a violation by Eleny Mentaberry, the owner of The Owl Club. While Sheriff Miles Umina reported the club has now paid all delinquent license fees, the more pressing concern involved minors being allowed in the bar area during the September Wine Walk.

In response, Deputy District Attorney Holli Else proposed a significant change to the County Liquor Control Code: requiring bar owners to card, scan or record IDs of everyone who enters during major public events like the Wine Walk, the Fourth of July celebration or the car show. This suggestion aims to prevent future issues but would require a public hearing to update the county code.

Urgent call for public defender transition

A critical discussion centered on the smooth handover of public defense duties. The commission is considering hiring Jane Eberhardy, Esq., under the same terms as the current public defender, Kelly Brown, Esq., to ensure a seamless transition and fund both attorneys until December 31, 2025. The Request for Proposals (RFP) for the permanent public defender position remains open until Nov. 4.

Brown strongly urged the commission to act immediately. He noted that there are already three jury trials set for next year, which require extensive preparation.

“Starting somebody as soon as possible would be very helpful not only to the attorneys and the court,” Brown stressed. He warned that any delay past November would worsen the situation for the courts and for people who “will remain in jail,” which “will cost the county more money to have them housed.”

County Comptroller Kim Todd confirmed the district court currently has enough funds to cover the overlapping salaries. However, with the RFP closing soon, the item was tabled until the next meeting.

Boys & Girls Club land value questioned

The commission held a public hearing on accepting an appraisal for a 1.91-acre parcel of land at 100 Diamond Peak Drive, the proposed future site for the Boys & Girls Club facility. The appraisal, submitted by certified general appraiser Janelle Wright, placed the land’s market value at $125,000 and its yearly rental value at $11,250.

Chairman Rich McKay called that valuation was “surprisingly low,” saying he “would not accept the appraisal at this time” and “would like to see better value on this.” County Assessor Michael Mears supported the chairman’s hesitation, noting recent sales trends in the Eureka Town and subdivision are closer to the $2.50 to $2.70 per square foot range. The commission voted to formally reject the appraisal and asked the appraiser to reconsider the valuation.

Emergency fixes and community services

Senior Centers director Linda Gordon delivered positive news about community engagement, reporting that 763 meals were served in Eureka and 756 in Crescent Valley during September. She also shared that a trip with the Crescent Valley seniors to Las Vegas “was really fun.”

However, the good news was tempered by a major maintenance issue: All the freezers at the Eureka Senior Center are currently broken. Food is being stored off-site at the Opera House. Recognizing the severity of the problem, the commission later approved emergency repairs to the walk-in freezer, authorizing a payment up to $19,887.41 to Ruby Mountain HVAC & Refrigeration. Repairs are scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 28.

In other community news, the Sentinel Museum reported 352 visitors in September, with the Wine Walk and Car Show being the busiest days. The Opera House continues to draw visitors and is being used as a hub for upcoming planning meetings.

Boosting outreach and communication

Ben Rowley of the Eureka Sentinel appeared virtually to propose a new partnership: a monthly payment of $360 to the newspaper to advertise county job postings and events. This would include space in the monthly print edition, as well as on their website and Facebook page, which sees 3,000 to 4,000 users monthly.

Chairman McKay noted that Commissioner Mike Schoenwald, who was absent, is a strong advocate for using multiple media outlets to communicate with the public, especially to constituents up north. Currently, the county pays $100 a week for the “Commissioners’ Corner” in the Eureka County Star and departments pay to advertise ad hoc.

After a brief exchange, the commission decided to table the item. McKay said, “We’ll table it for now, and then we will have the clerk reach out to Mike Schoenwald and maybe revise the package a little bit and then bring it at the next agenda.”

Sheriff’s Office focuses on policy and staffing

Sheriff Umina and Undersheriff Charles Cobb provided an extensive update on department operations. Having recently completed management training, Umina is focused on bolstering the department’s current policy manual. He noted the agency currently has only 147 policies, while most have between 500 and 1,000. He is actively “pushing out one or two per week” to establish necessary “guard rails,” particularly for issues like mutual aid agreements with other counties.

The sheriff also reported a disturbing incident from the previous week, where an inmate housed for Eureka County by Lander County attempted suicide and had to be airlifted to Reno. The incident strongly reinforces his push to restart the Eureka jail, as he fears the serious liability issues a tragedy could pose to their contract with Lander County.

Staffing remains a critical concern. The commission approved a hiring freeze waiver for a much-needed detentions deputy. Umina shared that the current sole detentions deputy, who handles all inmate transport, booking, paperwork and registry duties, is “overwhelmed” and “drowning with” the workload.

The Sheriff’s Office also confirmed plans to bring back the state-funded Joining Forces Program to enforce traffic safety during holiday weekends, which will aid the short-staffed Nevada Highway Patrol.

EMS seeks major equipment upgrade

Nichole Cooley, county EMS director, and EMT Griffin Bussian gave a demonstration of their current life-saving equipment, highlighting the need for an upgrade. Their current monitors cannot perform defibrillation — a paramedic-level skill — and the overall system is cumbersome.

The team is proposing a switch to a modern, user-friendly monitor that can combine multiple pieces of unwieldy equipment into one and transmit data directly to the hospital. Cooley pointed out the high cost: $137,656.25 to replace all monitors in their ambulances. The demonstration was intended to help the commission understand the necessity of this major capital investment, and Cooley is also actively seeking a grant to replace all the county’s defibrillators in schools and county buildings.

Natural Resources and economic development

Natural Resources manager Jake Tibbitts provided updates on water rights issues, specifically the concerns from protesters, including the Baileys, about how dewatering from the Orla Mining South Railroad mine might impact Pine Valley. He noted the current water model for predicting these impacts is not well calibrated for the area.

Tibbitts is also spearheading Eureka’s push to plan for growth, urging the community to participate in upcoming meetings with I-80 Gold and Ruby Hill to update the community economic development strategy. “We need people to show up,” Tibbitts stated. “It’s hard to develop a community development strategy if the community doesn’t show up.”

In a sign of continuing progress, the commission approved the Access and Conditional Purchase Agreement for municipal water exploration in Kobeh Valley, moving forward with securing the county’s future water supply.

Other Commission approvals

The commission approved expenditures totaling over $1.6 million, and finalized several agreements:

IT Services: Renewals for 2FA Software ($9,720) and VoIP services ($28,080.30) were approved.
Public Safety Technology: Approval was granted for an ImageTrend Health Information Hub and Computer Aided Dispatch integration for $12,750, which will enhance emergency response communication.
Infrastructure: The Commission approved a hiring waiver for a detentions deputy, and over $16,000 for labor and materials to upgrade locks at the Eureka Admin Building.

The meeting concluded with a commitment from McKay to work with the lieutenant governor’s office and I-80 Gold to address concerns about the State Route 278 corridor, hoping to prioritize passing lanes and maintenance on that vital road.