County to consider sheriff’s paintball request

TONOPAH — Nye County Commissioners will again consider a request from Sheriff Tony DeMeo for a $401,600 “simunitions” training facility using paintball at the multi-purpose training facility at 2871 E. Mesquite Ave. when they meet here at 7 a.m. Tuesday.

The meeting can be viewed by video conference at the county commissioner’s chambers on the Calvada Eye, 2100 Walt Williams Dr. in Pahrump.

In other matters, commissioners will consider a request from Clark County asking to de-list the desert tortoise as an endangered species. Clark County Commission Chairman Steve Sisolak wrote a letter requesting support, stating they have spent $16 million since 2001 to minimize and mitigate impacts from urban development on the tortoise.

“Clark County has watched patiently as the federal government has spent more than $100 million on tortoise recovery efforts but is unable to report what progress, if any, has been made towards the recovering and de-listing of the desert tortoise,” Sisolak’s letter states.

Sisolak said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates there are currently 295,000 tortoises across its 26,000-square mile range. “Given this most recent estimate by the FWS it would seem reasonable that FWS declare the desert tortoise recovered and remove the species from the list of federally threatened and endangered species,” he wrote.

In other business, a public hearing will be set on a bill to amend the boundaries of the Pahrump Regional Planning District reducing the area of the district by 38 percent from 373 square miles to 231 square miles, removing Johnnie and a section of the northwest side. The Pahrump Town Board voted 4-1 not to recommend the change Dec. 10, followed by the Pahrump Regional Planning Commission Dec. 11.

But County Commissioner Butch Borasky told the RPC there is no road system in those areas and the chance someone would build is slim to none. Commissioner Frank Carbone asked why the RPC should control areas where nothing is going to happen, indicating areas north of Roadrunner Road have stayed the same for 20 years.

A discussion is scheduled on constructing flood channels at Gamebird and Yucca springs, including the possible awarding of a contract.

Commissioners will consider recalling Nye County Water District board member Tim McCall, the agenda states it is due to his inability to perform his duties.

Preliminary grant applications totaling over $2 million will be submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration for improvements at the Beatty and Gabbs airports under another agenda item.

A hearing will be set on a bill that would designate all highways in Tonopah for the use of off-highway vehicles.

Mark Sullivan, representing NV Energy, will make a presentation on the latest status of the ON Line Transmission Project, connecting Las Vegas and Ely.