Tattoo shop in the ink

Cody Deegan was allowed to move forward his home-based tattoo business Thursday after Churchill County commissioners addressed concerns from neighbors during a public hearing at regularly scheduled meeting.

Mills Crossing subdivision resident George Thomas filed an appeal of the Planning Commission’s decision to issue a special use permit to Deegan to operate a home-based tattoo shop at 4399 Cardinal Way. The Planning Commission determined the home-based tattoo shop would not be detrimental to public health and safety, and approved the home-based business with the stipulation certain conditions be met. Deegan is limited to one customer per day, no signage, cleanliness of the shop and maintaining personal hygiene and disposing all waste or non-reusable items through proper methods.

Commissioner Pete Olsen made a motion to affirm Planning Commission’s decision and require Deegan to submit a monthly report to the Planning Department to verify the business continues to limit to just one consultation and one client per day and certified compliance with provisions of the special permit.

Deegan agreed to submit reports to the Planning Commission.

The motion passed unanimously.

“Operation of a tattoo shop, no matter how low the visibility, is not compatible with a neighborhood environment. Surrounding residents have purchased properties expecting that no commercial or for-profit enterprises would be maintained on any lot in the development,” Thomas wrote in his appeal.

Deegan explained to commissioners he is only able to handle one customer per day, adding that appointments usually take about 3 hours. He further indicated that with one customer per day, he would not be able to afford a commercial shop.

“I don’t feel I am doing anything wrong,” he said. “I run a very respectable business, I feel I am a very respectable person, and I feel my customers are very responsible people. I’m just trying to make a living.”

Planning Director Michael Johnson noted in a report five special use permits have been issued for home-based businesses and 16 conditional use permits within the subdivision. Five of which are still open.

Commissioners also discussed or took action on the following items:

• Approved Churchill County’s petition to intervene in the State Board of Equalization appeal filed by Magma Energy at Soda Lake. Magma has filed for a review of the assessed and taxable value of its facility. Magma was assessed a taxable value of $21,061,626 and an assessed value of $7,371,569. Magma is claiming a taxable value of $3,300,000 and an assessed value of $1,155,000. Reductions of this magnitude would result in extremely large losses of tax revenue to the county.

• Heard an update on the Northern Nevada Development District from Maurice Washington, Northern Nevada Development Authority deputy director. Washington explained to commissioners Churchill County has had 17 site visits through the first three quarters of the 2012-13 fiscal year.

• Approved a proposal to renew Nevada Public Agency Insurance Pool (NPAIP) insurance. The total program cost is $388,210.78, a reduction from the two previous years ($416,911.73 for Fiscal Year 2013 and $413,499.55 for Fiscal Year 2012).

• Accepted a $6,225 grant from Welfare Set-Aside funds to Churchill County Social Services to support emergency rent and utility assistance for local residents.

• Tabled consideration of an application for a Union Pacific Railroad grant to purchase an electronic marquee at the Churchill County Fairgrounds. Danny Gleich of the Parks and Recreation Department will return for the June 19 commissioners meeting to present additional facts and figures before the application is submitted.

• Approved $15,000 in community support to the Fallon Youth Club, to be divided between the 2012-13 and 2013-14 fiscal years (July 1 begins the new fiscal year).

• CC Communications appeared before commissioners for the first reading of proposed Local Regulated Tariff changes. The second reading will be heard at the July 1 commissioners meeting. Among the changes proposed are $2 for a residence or business monthly rate, 25 cents per line per month for a 911 surcharge and $2.50 per trunk per month, and $14 for a residence line.

• Confirmed Cari Norcutt’s appointment to the Churchill County Social Services Advisory Committee.

• Accepted the annual report submitted by the State of Nevada Department of Health Division of Child and Family Services.

• Accepted Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funds to provide general community activities for the 2014 fiscal year.

• Acknowledged receipt of USACE’s Breach Inundation analysis report on the USBR Newlands Project V, L and S line canals.

• Approved a reversion to acreage map for the Patua Project, located north of Hazen, subject to all provisions of county code.

• Adopted a policy for the distribution of greater than anticipated CTX revenues for Fiscal Year 2012-13.

• Approved pay tables for county employees for the 2013-14 fiscal year.