By Mark Waite
The idea of splitting up Nye County, the third largest county in area in the U.S., has been murmured about for years, but now the discussions are getting louder at both the county and state level.
There is a chance the question of splitting Nye County could be placed on the November 2012 ballot.
The issue arose again after Nye County commissioners approved a redistricting map Nov. 21 that established four of the five county commission districts in Pahrump. Under public comment at the end of the special videoconference, Don Cox asked Commissioner Joni Eastley about rumors of splitting the county just north of Pahrump.
“Let’s make one thing perfectly clear: I am absolutely an advocate, and a very strong advocate, for looking at the feasibility of splitting Nye County,” Eastley replied. “An 18,000-square-mile county with two completely different centers of government is completely unsustainable.”
Eastley, who lives in Tonopah, said she has been inundated with emails from people everywhere from Amargosa Valley to Round Mountain and Gabbs since that comment.
“What’s interesting to me, and it’s always been interesting, what I’ve seen in my 11 years in office there’s a geographic north and south and there’s a philosophical north and south and everything outside of Pahrump, philosophically, they consider themselves part of the north,” Eastley said.
When asked to elaborate on her comments in a follow-up interview, Eastley said she’s not advocating dividing the county, if it hurts the southern or the northern county. But, Eastley confirmed she raised the issue with two state legislators, who don’t represent this area.
“They didn’t know Nye County was that big. They said they had no idea, which I thought was interesting for legislators,” Eastley said.
“What I was asking about was if I could get any support for looking at the feasibility not necessarily for introducing a bill to force a division, it was maybe to get the Legislative Counsel Bureau to update the report they did many years ago,” she said.
Eastley was referring to a bill draft request in 2005 by former Nevada District 36 Assemblyman Rod Sherer, R-Pahrump, on the effects of splitting Nye County. The request was withdrawn, but a state fiscal analyst estimated if Esmeralda County were expanded to include 80 percent of Nye County, Esmeralda County would receive $13.8 million in property taxes and Nye County only $3.04 million.
Nye County no longer receives Payments Equal to Taxes for Yucca Mountain, but Esmeralda County would receive $1.2 million in the Payment In Lieu of Taxes for federal land, Nye County’s PILT funding would fall to $306,382.
The Pahrump Town Board nominated members to the Pahrump Boundary Line Advisory Board last April. It’s charged with looking at changing the county boundary lines. Chairman Bill Garlough and member Donna Cox traveled to Goldfield Nov. 1 to approach Esmeralda County commissioners about taking in more of Nye County.
Esmeralda County commissioners passed a motion 3-0 they weren’t interested in moving the boundary lines, minutes of the meeting show.
Garlough said a financial feasibility study was commissioned on splitting the county, which should be completed by mid to late January. Garlough said his board wasn’t promoting the new county boundaries, but wanted to study it and see if it will benefit residents.
Esmeralda County Commissioner Nancy Boland from Silver Peak said other than the water system in Goldfield, which had arsenic problems, Esmeralda County has no debt, while Tonopah has arsenic problems and Nye County has other debts. She added that Esmeralda County government has always been ethically clean and has avoided the scandals that have plagued — and some would argue continue to plague — Nye County.
Esmeralda County Commissioner Kirby told the Pahrump Valley Times he let the Pahrump delegation make a presentation so he could vote intelligently “no” instead of emotionally “no.” Kirby said the boundary line committee members couldn’t give his board a clear idea where the lines would be drawn. Different maps presented.
“The consensus of the board was we’re financially sound, we’re happy with our autonomy and we don’t want to marry anybody right now,” Kirby said.
He boasted that Esmeralda County had $9 million in the bank right now and a tiny deficit.
Kirby added, “Esmeralda County is unanimous in their opposition to marry anybody right now because the suitors don’t have a big enough dowry.”
Kirby said he didn’t have a problem with the boundary line committee members coming back again to make another presentation. As an accountant, Kirby said he’d like to massage the figures.
Kirby said the late Fifth Judicial District Judge John Davis tried to persuade him to merge with northern Nye County and use the better facilities in Tonopah.
“In Northern Nye there’s 8,000 people. In Esmeralda there’s 1,000. So we would lose control of our areas, it would be an eight-to-one vote. Over time the county seat would probably move from Goldfield to Tonopah because the better facilities are there,” Esmeralda County Commissioner Dominic Pappalardo told the PVT. “Esmeralda as we know it would lose its identity.”
Pappalardo said a group out of Amargosa Valley, led by Ken Pitarre, advocated another plan in which Esmeralda County would take over Amargosa Valley, Beatty and the NNSS, while Pahrump would be merged with Clark County. The “mushroom” shaped northern Nye County would be the new Nye County.
Pappalardo said Pitarre has talked to Esmeralda County officials and Clark County officials about the proposal but hasn’t made an official presentation in Goldfield. He said Amargosa Valley residents feel like they are the “red-headed step child.”
“We would be the fat cat out of that deal for sure,” Pappalardo said. Under that plan, Goldfield would stay the Esmeralda County seat and Tonopah the Nye County seat, he said.
Pappalardo said Eastley has spoken about creating an 18th county.
Garlough said when the financial feasibility study was completed, he would send it to Esmeralda County commissioners and request to place the item on the agenda.
Garlough told the PVT if Pahrump residents voted to split off from Nye County, the Nevada Legislature doesn’t have an appetite to create an 18th county. That would raise concerns Pahrump could be annexed by Clark County.
“The possibilities of our group coming back with something on the ballot are slim to none,” Garlough said.
But, he suspects another group may succeed in putting the division of Nye County on the ballot.
If a movement to split the county develops, Garlough said he’s concerned where the dividing line might be. One plan would divide the county near Lida Junction, putting the Nevada National Security Site and much of the Nellis Air Force Training Range into the south. Another plan would divide Nye County just north of Beatty, splitting the NNSS in half.
Another plan would divide the county even farther south, between Crystal and Johnnie, leaving only the Pahrump area as the southern county.
“Everybody in Nye County is building up except us. You can’t leave us here alone,” Garlough said of a Pahrump-only county. He said if the south county doesn’t get revenue from the NNSS or Yucca Mountain, it won’t go anywhere.
Under public comment at the Nov. 21 commissioner’s meeting, Eastley said she thought audience members were overestimating the amount of revenue that comes from the Nevada National Security Site.
The Obama administration terminated the Yucca Mountain program and the more than $11 million annually that flowed into Nye County coffers every year through the Payment Equal to Taxes.
“Pahrump doesn’t have the revenue, even with all the people, they don’t generate the revenue to be able to support themselves without a big chunk of the north, because that’s where the money is,” Eastley told the PVT. The northern county is where the Round Mountain Gold Mine is situated.
“I just know with everything we’re going through, trying to maintain a county this big, we just don’t have the money,” Eastley said.
The county has used PETT money to pave roads and other capital projects, but she said the county has to look 10 years into the future.
While some people advocate moving the county seat instead, Eastley said that won’t solve anything, the county still has to provide services to the entire county, like jails and courtrooms.
Garlough proclaimed neutrality on the issue on the part of his board.
“Our group is not here to support this or not support this. Our group is here to make sure everybody comes out all right,” he said.
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- Heather Ruth / Pahrump Valley Times
No way naybody with half a mind (politician) would want to become part of Clark County!
“That would raise concerns Pahrump could be annexed by Clark County.”
And that folks, in a nutshell is what this is all about.
They are trying so hard to gentrify Pahrump, turn us into another Summerlin, make it expensive here so people move away and they can build their little perfect society.
Well, this Pahrump and Nye county resident says NO THANKS.
I moved here knowing what Pahrump was like, unlike those pushing to change Pahrump, I like it the way it is.
If you think prices are up during this “depression”, just wait until we get annexed to Clark county. Imagine having to pay 500 dollars a year for a business license. Thats reality in Clark county.
I hate the idea of Pahrump becoming part of Clark County, but it would be better if Pahrump became part of Clark County. My reasons are as follows: 1) the property taxes would be lowered, & Pahrump would have a “fair” tax board, instead of the “old Boys club” tax board we have now. 2) Pahrump would have more public serviecs such as fire & police. 3) The school system would improve because Pahrump would be part of the wealthy Clark County school system. 3) Pahrump would become part of the big Las Vegas “everything” including the bus services that would extend from Las Vegas to Pahrump. The very good thing here is Pahrump is still over the hill & set apart from LV. Just for that reason alone we still would be isolated from the LV lifestyle, but reap the Clark County benefits.
Why would Clark County and Las Vegas want us????? LOLOL
for our water….plain and simple.
that I agree with you on, they have wanted our water for the last 10-20 years or more, why stop now…..
Chaos4tu ,,>>>is Why Liberalism is a mental disorder,Your ‘thinking is back ward property taxes lowered ?? My Vote is NO!
Prove this in theory? My Property taxes are almost back to 1991 levels now!
The Fire Dept of Pahrump has and is doing a fine job it is your responsibility to keep your land cleared! Now “Bonds will raise your property taxes.” to build what/ A NEW FIRE HOUSE! at Inflated building cost!
More cops ? What is wrong with a Sheriffs dept you want Vegas metro up our rears!
How can Clark co make it better? Most Medical personnel do not want to live here!
They will screw up the roads and It will cost more Tax money to do so,a bypass will be needed,as to buy private property and permits and the cost of impact fees and on and on, my Vote is NO!
We can’t support any bonds we are rural always will be! You sound like OChangema the President!Never happen when hell freezes over go back were you came from.the 2 new water parks in las Vegas well Can we?do we have the water table? and a Reservoir to back it up NO!!!!!!!!!!!!
People who hear about this town and move here and like a small town please keep it that way!
Vegas Is a fun place to vist, but more shopping malls?
The ones we have now can’t keep business in them. The secret is Volume, buy, sell, trade, cheaper cost! then Vegas.
NYE CO has a cheaper tax base ,the impact fees! should adjust but it keeps the mouse out of the house and the good old boys want Revenue from The test site and people like you do not want! Radiation Poison it is already in the air here! in low dose levels!
No Liberalism here! NV is and Always has been Republican Conservative! The Problem is Routing what is off route here and the cost of Petrol” OIL! is the driving force of Inflation did we all forget the base problems in 2006 to 2008?
We have no “extra” water, that was and is a myth.
weather or not we have ” extra ” water or not isn’t the point. they want whatever water we do have and if pahrump became part of clark county the would then have an easier time trying to steal it from us. do you think for one second that the clark county goveernment would allow those of us who own the water rights to our properties to keep them? hell no they wouldn’t. they would find some way to take them from us. so as to weather or not that extra water is a myth or a fact isn’t the point. they want us so they can have thye water that is here.
We DO have water, lots of it, no matter what the new water cops in town say… but thats not the issue.
This is a power grab. We have forces in town government that want to turn us into a huge high fee high tax version of Summerlin.. and we the townspeople who have to PAY these high fees and taxes.. will not tolerate it.
You must believe that we sit on the largest aquifer in the world, the lie perpetuated by PEC to sell lots here. Sorry we were over allocated before the water cops arrived.
Isn’t it odd how the water control freaks come out on these stories to lie about our aquifer. Everybody knows for a fact, its been proven, Pahrump sits on the worlds second largest aquifer. Its not a lie, its not a myth.. its fact. Perhaps you know more than the people who did the last study, but it was fact then and is fact now.
All of the sudden, the water cops appear and we “didn’t have any water left”.. its way too obvious.
“Everybody knows for a fact, its been proven,” show me the “proof” the state engineer certainly doesn’t have it, he says we are over appropriated.
I had a problem with my well pump and called the guy who drilled the well. When he was here, I asked him about the water levels and he said I was fine where I was but southern Pahrump was having problems and wells were having to be drilled deeper. That would be an indication that we were drawing down the aquifer faster than it was being replenished. So I would disagree with you on that basis.
Carol
The people who have taken the time over the years to research this know that the water from the aquifier is being used faster than it is being replenished. I means years like going back to the mid 80′s. Go to the USGS site and see for yourself. That doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot of water “down there” but having Pahrump participate into the housing bubble via the greedy and incompetant county commissioners didn’t help the water situtation as well as the towns lack of infrastructure.
WHO WANTS A BIG SUMMERLINE WHO TELL ME WOLFENSTEIN? FLOYD? WHO PLEASE LET US ALL KNOW!Um maybe Walmart? Target? um Who?
I would like to see more Energy saving and Agriculture Industry here for the State and the US economy, not shopping malls they are a failure and doomed to die off, better to be turned into hospitals and places for the homless!
You see People the powers at be do not live in NV! Harry Reid lives in the District of Criminals! America will unfold into a NWO and America Booms are Over with rebuilding yes but Housing tracks are a failure proped up with Fiat Money out of thin air! we need more open land less useless eaters. is there goals!
What supports NYE is Military&Fed Govt,Mining,Recreation-Hunting some Agriculture and Retirements and small lucrative small business like racing, engine rebuliding ,fire arms industry ,automotive hobbiest etc.
Not Box Store Mania! AZ and Calif and Vegas is fine Warehousing would work but the cost of fuel so Costco wont!
Ron Paul or this Country is dead! end the fed Dismantel the IRS codes and redo and Take over the Fed RESV as our OWN we paid for it why not!
We are in prepetual war until dooms day so I would just hunker down and survive America is Over! We have become a Policed State Nation and that is not a Lie!
The Clark CO sheriff in Dubai Arabia ? A Confereance an policing the world with Interpol and sharing Criminal Information and coperation. What More middle eastern people moving to NV?=Cheap labor or how to become part of a NWO Policed Global Market?
As much as the folks around here hate the idea, the only way this area can survive with the population it has is to merge with Clark County. We are too small to get the efficiencies we need for things like traffic lights and upgraded roads but too big to remain rural. Further, as water becomes more of an issue and if the population starts to grow again we will need the muscle of Clark County to make it work or there will be much bigger problems ahead. (We cannot even get a coherent water company to work throughout the area.) Besides that, most of us rely on Clark County to keep up the majority of the roads we travel every day or days out of every week to make living. That alone would argue for representation on the Clark County Commission. Realistically merging Pahrump with Clark County is the only idea I have heard in a long time that makes sense (and it is sad). Let Amargosa and Tonopah be the rural hotbeds for Nye County.
Uhhh no thanks.. I didnt move here to pay HIGH clark county fees and taxes.
You want citizens up in arms? Push this agenda.
i agree robot….
if i wanted to live in vegas i would have moved there instead of buying my house here. clark county and las vegas can go steal other people money…. i’m having enough issues with the theives in power here in pahrump.
And don’t forget, if you were to merge with Clark Co., the brothels would have to close. They are not permitted in any county with a population greater than 400,000.
Don’t forget, if we become part of Clark County then all of us would have to start getting smog checks and the costs associated with the DMV would skyrocket.
More roda signs,light pollution,no Guns allowed reg fire arms and a Constant On patrol,restricted this and that! etc ,etc.etc.
Careful what you wish for – you may get it.
Keep Nye as it is and take a positive approach on finding revenue, such as:
Resurrect Yucca Mountain – the Mina Route, bring in the shared use railroad costing over a billion dollars to open the 500 mile Hwy 95 corridor to mining and economic development, export the technology of the transmutation, reprocessing, and recycling of nuclear residuals world-wide from Yucca, put the people back to work that Obama promised to replaced when he and Harry (who could care less about the middle class in this dismal economy)shut it down…we’ve had no results in replaced jobs yet!!! This will help diversify Nevada’s economy as Man devises ways to harness these residuals into many things, including, but not limited to desalination plants off the coast of CA shipping water to LV much cheaper than draining the acquifiers of Northern Nevada (farther away than CA). Also, in the next NV legislature, take the farm back and eliminate the 78% tax cut incentives to future renewable energy companies costing State coffers millions (they already have plenty of incentives – close proximity to the market, no personal or corporate taxes in NV, low property and sales taxes and cheap land – and recognize that nuclear energy costs just a little over six cents a killowat hour while renewable energy costs from 17 to 25 cents a killowat hour, and place some pebble reactors in the remote areas of Nevada to far out produce renewables using far lest public land. In rural counties like Nye, we can find the revenue to make many of the separatists happy, providing the services, tax base, and jobs we need – send this message to the congressional deligation who serve other gods as opposed the majority of working people in Nevada!!!
I won’t repeat the same issues the rest of you raised as they are all valid.
Bottom line is this. Eastley has been a commissioner for years and she can’t run again. She has set her sites on a run at the legislature and this will be one of her campaign talking points. I find it amazing that the woman has the gall to bring this crap up now from her home in Tonapah, when she has had years to bring it up. She can care less about us down here now that she will be leaving.
In a nutshell I say no..hell no Joni. Move the county offices down here to Pahrump and lay off the staff in Tonoapah. We can save some expenses there.
O.K. If “Nye” promises to keep Sheriff Tony and his gang of bullies, I vote to merge with Esmeralda. The devil we know has to be worse than the devil we may get.