By Mark Waite
County Commissioner Dan Schinhofen wanted the county to put an asphalt overlay or skin patch on Homestead Road from Gamebird Road to Manse Road, so motorists could keep driving on a smooth surface.
But Nye County Public Works Director Dave Fanning said last week that section of Homestead Road is on a list of projects being considered by the Capital Improvements Plan advisory board.
He suggested the Regional Transportation Commission use some of its four-cent gas tax money in the fiscal year beginning July 1 for Schinhofen’s other request, reconstructing a one block section of Calvada Boulevard from Highway 160 to Mount Charleston Drive.
Wulfenstein Construction was awarded a $3.17 million contract in July 2011 to reconstruct Homestead Road from Highway 160 to Gamebird Road, which included widening it to three lanes with a bike lane and improvements to the Highway 160 intersection. That was paid using impact fee money, overseen by the CIP board.
As work was winding down on that project last March, Wulfenstein Construction received another $1.057 million contract to reconstruct Dandelion Road between Highway 160 and Calvada Boulevard. That was paid for with RTC gas tax money.
Schinhofen said he’s been getting inquiries about continuing the Homestead Road improvements south of Gamebird Road.
“I’ve had a lot of people who live on the south side ask me about this because they come across Homestead and it’s a very nice pavement and they cross Gamebird and it’s like a washboard,” he said.
It would cost about $85,000 to buy the cold mix and apply it with a grader for a quick overlay, Fanning said, but he added that wouldn’t suffice for that section of road.
“I would recommend not to do that due to the fact the road is deteriorated. We need to physically rebuild that. Some of that cost is on the developers,” he said.
Nye County approved a 2006-2015 capital improvements plan that outlined a list of roads to be addressed, using money developers pay in impact fees. Homebuilders pay $1,298 of the $1,961 in impact fees for a single-family residence for street impacts.
While construction has dwindled to a near standstill, the county still has $3.37 million left over in impact fee money as of the end of the third quarter 2012 according to a treasurer’s report.
County commissioners put a moratorium on impact fees last year in the hopes it would attract development.
“The monies put into this pot were actually supposed to be spent within a 10-year time frame after they were acquired by the county, from 2006 to 2015, Fanning said.
The Capital Improvements Plan advisory board will meet next Tuesday, one of their agenda items calls for putting Manse Road at the top of their improvements list, with road construction to be completed by the end of December 2015.
“If the CIP board chooses not to do that we’re going to be out of money if we do another road,” Fanning said.
RTC member Cameron McRae agreed it wouldn’t be a good idea to do a skin patch of Homestead Road with RTC money, unless someone comes together to share costs.
Instead the idea of reconstructing Calvada Boulevard gained traction, as an entrance to the center of county government. The plan is to tear up the existing asphalt and repave it from Highway 160 to about 200 feet west of the intersection of Mount Charleston Drive.
“I think this would be a great candidate. We are actually the proud owners, the county are proud owners, of the Calvada Eye property,” Fanning said. “It would give us a chance to do a little more improvements at the intersection, but improvements to the road, and it would be a nice value into the Calvada Eye, into this property.”
It would allow the county to touch up a few problems as well, like a water box that’s too shallow, he said.
Fanning said the reconstruction wouldn’t include curbs, gutters and sidewalks, Schinhofen suggested getting quotes with and without sidewalks.
McRae said the county could continue sidewalks around the corner from Highway 160 and bike paths, improvements that would enhance the entrance to the focal point of county government.
Fanning said the improvements could tie into walking trails County Commissioner Butch Borasky hopes to get constructed around the Calvada Eye.
Nye County pulled out all the oleanders and pine trees from the median strip on that section of Calvada Boulevard last year. Valley Electric Association volunteers spruced up the area around the fountain and the entrance sign at the intersection of Highway 160 and Calvada Boulevard.
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- Mark Waite / Pahrump Valley Times – Motorists may have to tolerate alligator cracking and other deterioration on Homestead Road south of Gamebird Road for a while longer.
For those folks who want to drive on better roads, but did not vote for the increased gas tax, I say – keep on driving on your crappy roads, because that is what you deserve! Keep trying to align your front wheels, spend more on trying to maintain your vehicle and keep on buying car tires that will wear so much more quickly as you drive along these roads that have fallen into disrepair. Whenever I hear folks carping about the condition of the roads, I always ask if they voted for the gas tax increase in order to better maintain the roads. You can only imagine what their answer ALWAYS is . . . .
With the money wasted on studies alone in this town, thanks to our town manager, we could have rebuild all the roads in town ten times over. While I understand that Pahrump isnt in charge of these roads, given the amount of wasteful spending in this state, that argument isn’t going to float. You want better roads, lets clean up government waste both on the local and state level.
Don’t tax me because your leftist leaders in Carson city cant spend correctly and waste money on social programs.
@boos mom
I don’t think you understand the people who have lived here a long time. They will not vote for any new taxes nor will I. I lived on a gravel road for years and I don’t care if I live on a gravel road until I die.
After seeing the town board spend money friverously over the last few years, I feel the local goverments have too much tax money and don’t need anymore. We are in a depression and all governments are looking for more money because they want to keep the ponzi scheme going a little while longer.
“After the vote is in for the 2016 presidential election, a third party candidate will occupy the white house”……..William Wallace
For William Wallace and DennyW, you say you understand the Town of Pahrump has nothing to do with the roads, yet you go on to rail against their funding studies and such. Roads and infrastructure are the responsibility of the BOCC.
But, let’s try and understand why anyone would be against studying an issue before acting on it. To the uninitiated, an issue may seem simple on it’s surface, but most of the time it is not. There are many connecting elements that need to be taken into consideration and the best way to identify these elements is to study the issue. Most of the time local issues can best be analyzed by someone outside the decision making structure to ensure there is no bias and the issues can be studied on the merits and not political positions.
This doesn’t mean money we don’t have to spare should be spent on studies, but putting something off usually results in higher costs in the future to enact the same studies and/or activities.
Another priority is Manse road from Homestead to just past the LDS stake building. Many residents use Manse to access Hwy 160.
“the county still has $3.37 million left over in impact fee money” at the Tuesday “meeton” the paper that was given out said the county now has $2,057,445.38. Now that impact fees are not being collected when that’s gone ????????????????????
We have a lot of crappy roads here in Pahrump, but Manse has to be one of the worst. From Hafen to Homestead is so bumpy it is like one continuous patch to the point a gravel road would be better. We should be focused on the roads with the highest traffic rate and go for them first.
One other thing, it’s amazing how a simple spelling error brings out the best in some readers. Is this the best they have to contribute?
If the spelling comment was directed at me, I posted a correction but apparently the PVT saw fit not to include it. Fact remains that there is apparently only $2,057,445.38 left in the kitty.
BTW, the correction was “meeton” sb “meeting”.
My apologies.
Gotcha. I know what you mean, several of my posts have been lost in cyberspace. I don’t suspect anything nefarious, but,..??
Actually, I feel we are very lucky to have access to this blog where we can post our comments, for or against an issue, and it doesn’t cost us a cent. I belong to other news blogs where they limit the responses and have a “goon squad” of PC mavens who go over everything with a fine tooth comb.
I thank the PVT and it’s parent company for hosting this, even if things DO get a bit contentious from time to time. But that’s the real fun, isn’t it?
How about fixing the dirt and gravel roads first so we can breath fresh air?
I have to wonder how people survived before all these types became “allergic” to dust.
Think about it, millions of years, man had no problem with this menace of dust.
We must be devolving or people like complaining more.
I cant imagine the internal conversation that went on the day Charles moved here.
“Well I want to move to Pahrump, oh no roads, lots of dust? Its ok, I will make them conform to my needs and pave all the roads”
The EPA has been on that problem Charles. We had our street chip sealed a few years ago, as our area was singled out to reduce dust. Excessive dust is illegal.