By Mark Waite

TONOPAH — Nye County Commissioner Lorinda Wichman gave Facilities Manager Bob Jones an ultimatum at the last meeting, either get the certificate of occupancy needed at the new buildings and grounds facility or vacate the building.

On Tuesday, commissioners revoked Jones’ authority to approve utility hookups for new Nye County construction projects, but Wichman said it wasn’t an attack on the facilities manager.

“Because the questions came up in the last meeting regarding the certificate of occupancy, it caused me to look into how this is done and in trying to streamline public works and planning it became apparent we have a disconnect in how that works right now,” Wichman said.

The public works department, planning department and Pahrump Building and Safety hold pre-construction meetings with developers that the facilities manager isn’t required to attend, Wichman said. Final plans are presented to Brent Steed, Pahrump senior building inspector with Charles Abbott and Associates, which operates the building and safety department.

Jones was accused at the last meeting of moving into the new building without a certificate of occupancy.

The county manager would be in charge of issuing any discipline against a county employee.

* MYSTERY PLANS: Tonopah Energy LLC was granted an option to lease another 180 acres at the Tonopah Airport even though they didn’t disclose to Nye County Commissioners what they intend to use it for.

Tonopah Energy LLC already has a lease option agreement with the county for 320 acres.

Administrative Manager Lorina Dellinger said, “I think it’s competition they’re trying to avoid.”

Commissioner Joni Eastley said she was sure the company will use the land for energy production. She said their intentions would have to be disclosed if the property goes to a lease. Eastley wanted 90 day reviews of the lease option.

Nye County has leased out 1,226 acres of its 2,800 acres of airport property which was formerly a U.S. Army air base in World War II.

Indeck Energy has moved from a lease option to a lease for 350 acres at the airport, payable at $14,000 every six months during the development period. G.A. Duey has an option to lease 246 acres. Aurora Solar, dba Iberdrola Renewables, has an option to lease 225 acres. Lease options are payable at $10,000 every six months that go up to $250 per acre per year if a lease is signed.

Last month Solauro Industries was granted a 49-year lease for 130 acres for milling tailings from the mines, at $250 per year per acre.

* NO TRUCK: Jones was denied permission to buy a four-wheel drive, three-quarter ton, diesel, crew cab pickup truck for fleet mail deliveries. Only Commissioner Dan Schinhofen and Eastley supported him.

Jones said the fleet driver has a vehicle with 200,000 miles traveling 350 miles every evening between Pahrump and Tonopah. Wichman said she drives a vehicle with over 200,000 miles all over the state.

Commissioner Butch Borasky said it was a shame no local companies were bidding. Jones said a prominent, local car dealer didn’t give a quote.

* NEW ENGINEER: Commissioners approved a request to hire a network engineer at an $85,000 annual salary, which wasn’t in the budget. Donald Prue took the early retirement buyout last June and received $161,143 in compensation.

Assistant County Manager Pam Webster said the county had a significant investment in the network, through projects like New Dawn Technologies for the justice court, Tyler Technologies software program and the 911 system among other sheriff’s department programs. Eastley said she will be bringing up a program for a future agenda called virtual courtrooms, after she visits the Carson City program.

* FORGIVING LOAN: Commissioners accepted a $806,376 loan from the State Board for Financing Water Projects to forgive the principal on improvements to the Gabbs water system. It won’t require a county match.

The project includes drilling and connecting a new municipal well to the existing water system. The present water source exceeds contamination levels for fluoride.

A $114,986 contract was awarded to Day Engineering to engineer, design and provide administrative support for construction of the water project.

* LANDFILLS CLOSING: SRK Consulting will receive another year’s extension to their $8,965 contract for technical support on closing the old Amargosa Valley and Round Mountain landfills, after delays by the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection reviewing the documents. The contract will be extended to Dec. 31, 2012 at no additional cost.

* YUCCA EXHIBITS: Sambooka Group LLC of Reno was awarded a $7,000 change order, bringing their contract to $92,000 to assist in completing the Yucca Mountain exhibits at the Pahrump Museum.

* VETS SIGN: Pahrump Town Board member Tom Waters said several speakers will be present commemorating a sign that dedicates Highway 160 to U.S. veterans at 10 a.m. Saturday on Highway 160 and Irene Street.

* YUCCA BREATHING: Commission Chairman Gary Hollis said he was honored to be called to testify for the second time in front of President Obama’s Blue Ribbon Committee on nuclear waste.

“I think that the use of Yucca Mountain is back on the table. There are people interested in talking about the issue. So just keep your fingers crossed, maybe we can get this thing going after all,” Hollis said during the agenda item for commissioners’ comments.

Wichman replied, “good job Mr. Chairman.”

In speaking of the Yucca Mountain project, Hollis said, “It was in intensive care on life support. It’s out of intensive care and off life support.”