At their most recent meeting, the Pershing County Commission heard from representatives of the Nevada Public Agency Insurance Pool (POOL/PACT), who announced the launch of a new program designed to return more direct value to rural public entities. The initiative includes grant opportunities for local governments, streamlined application processes, and expanded risk management services, all intended to help counties like Pershing stretch their budgets further while keeping insurance costs under control.
“This is designed to be simple, fast, and flexible,” said a POOL/PACT representative, emphasizing that she would personally assist with grant paperwork if needed. “We want to double or even triple the value of local grants through added services and matching funds.”
While liability and property premiums have increased across the board in recent years due to inflation and market shifts, Pershing County saw a modest increase of 2.68% in total insured values. The county added six vehicles and 10 employees this year, with two law enforcement retirements noted. The speaker credited the county’s diligence in operations and safety for keeping increases minimal.
POOL/PACT representatives also praised Pershing County’s proactive participation in training and risk assessments, calling the local staff “close-knit, dedicated, and invested.” They highlighted the importance of county leadership across departments, including public works, law enforcement, and administrative offices, in maintaining strong operational standards.
Grass Valley Fire and Road Conditions Raise Concerns
Commissioners also discussed mounting concerns about overgrowth and fire hazards in the Grass Valley area. County staff noted that despite repeated efforts to maintain roads and vegetation, conditions have worsened, with encroachments making roads nearly impassable in some areas.
“We’ve got people living out there long-term with very limited access,” said one department head. “We need to get a guy out there for a few days with shade, water, and basic resources and see what we can do.”
The road department reported challenges with fast-growing weeds, lack of rain, and increasing complaints from residents and emergency responders. Commissioners expressed concern that without more structured access and maintenance, emergency services could be jeopardized.
Airport and Derby Field Updates
At Derby Field, the new taxiway construction is complete aside from a final coat of paint, which will be added later this summer. The taxiway is already open for use. Battle Tested Solutions (BTS), which leases space at the airport for testing purposes, is reevaluating a planned site expansion after bids came in over budget.
An updated lease agreement between BTS and the county was approved, extending their terms and reaffirming their commitment to the airport site. BTS will return to the Airport Advisory Board on June 26 to provide project updates.
Department Reports and Budget Actions
County departments provided regular updates, including:
- Buildings & Grounds: Camera wiring is underway at the Grass Valley Community Center. Weeding and summer prep work were completed at the museum.
- IT Department: Staff is working on replacing aging servers and evaluating internet providers to improve reliability and reduce costs. New wireless links may soon connect the senior center and other county buildings.
- Library: Summer programs are underway, including reading challenges and public craft sessions. A Friends of the Library prize will be awarded to the patron who reads the most minutes during the summer reading program
- Museum: A bid for major preservation work at the Marzen House was denied after coming in at $236,000. Commissioners directed staff to explore additional funding options and potentially re-bid the work.
In financial business, the commission approved several budget augmentations using retained earnings and unspent funds from FY2024. These included:
- $12,000 for a radio receiver purchase by law enforcement
- $1,030,000 to the building fund and adult probation programming
- $85,000 to the road fund for equipment purchases
The board also reaffirmed its existing ARPA fund allocations and approved cost-of-living and merit increases for unclassified county employees for FY2025, contingent on completed evaluations.
Appointments and Closing Business
Commissioners approved routine board appointments and heard brief reports from elected officials and liaisons. A request to repaint interior walls at the Marzen House was discussed, along with updates on Frontier Days planning and internet service expansions.
The meeting closed with acknowledgments of department collaboration and the upcoming need for a special session to approve the final tax rate.
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