State disaster funds sought for Six Mile Canyon road repair

Heads in Storey and Lyon counties are turning toward the state and its disaster relief fund for a way to pay for repairs to Six Mile Canyon Road.

Frank Siracusa, director of the state Division of Emergency Management, said his office has received a letter of intent from Storey County officials that indicate they plan to apply for disaster relief funds, with the stipulation that any funds received from the state would be repaid should the county obtain federal assistance.

The road, which serves as a shortcut from Dayton to Reno through Virginia City, was severely damaged during rainstorms and flooding over the New Year's weekend.

Pat Whitten, Storey County administration and budget director, said state officials have pledged to help the county access a loan, or front the money until the county can obtain federal funding.

"We've gotten a call from the governor's office saying they would view such a request favorably," Whitten said. "We're looking much more positive right now. We just have to be patient as we go through the process."

According to Siracusa, the process involves Storey County first making application to the Division of Emergency Management for the disaster relief funds. That department will then review the request as well as county financial records to ascertain whether or not Storey can pay for the road itself.

"Once we receive it, we will review their application very quickly," he said, estimating that the review process will take between a few days and a week. "We will then submit to the state Board of Examiners a recommendation, and from everything we're told, we will probably submit a recommendation it be approved."

Siracusa said the state was assisting county officials in putting the application for aid together.

If the request is approved it then goes to the Board of Examiners, made up of the governor, the state attorney general and the secretary of state, which meets about once a month.

If approved by the board, the request is then scheduled to be heard by the state Legislature's Interim Finance Committee at their next meeting, Siracusa said.

"Once the Interim Finance Committee approves it, they will receive the funding," he said. "Then if and when they get reimbursed, then they would reimburse back to the state of Nevada."

The Storey County Commissioners are still planning a joint resolution with the Lyon County Board of Commissioners requesting federal financial assistance that will be sent to the state's federal delegation, according to Bob Milz, chairman of the Lyon County commissioners.

"We did a little research and found out that in 1980 this was actually a State Route 79, and to everyone's knowledge, still is," Milz said. "Then it was to be repaved and the state pulled the funds and told Storey County it was their responsibility."

He said if the road is a state road, the disaster declarations issued by Gov. Kenny Guinn and President George W. Bush means the federal government will pick up the cost.

Assemblyman Tom Grady, who has been acting as liaison among Storey and Lyon counties and the state, said although state funding was not certain, it looked promising.

"It's not a done deal by any means, but the governor's office and the folks seemed to feel pretty positive," he said. "I would guess it'll be probably about a month before we hear anything definite."

-- Contact reporter Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee@nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111 ext. 351.