Commissioners revisit discussion on I-11 corridor

Churchill County commissioners revisited discussion at their last board meeting on the I-11 (Interstate-11) Intermountain West Corridor Study during a presentation from the Western Nevada Development District.

The I-11 study was completed in 2014 in cooperation between the Arizone and Nevada Departments of Transportation after two years of investigating the importance of the designated corridor between Phoenix and Las Vegas.

This included a potential interstate connection between Phoenix, Ariz., and Las Vegas, which is currently being explored while planners are considering future construction possibilities.

WNDD Executive Director Ronald J. Radil discussed several ongoing programs and activities when interest in the I-11 project arose, particularly through Commissioner Bus Scharmann, who said one of the WNDD meetings he sat in on was one of the first times he saw the serious interest that Humboldt County and several other counties have in I-11.

“So we were able to talk with them, and since then were also able to talk with Boise, Idado where there’s a real interest in the I-1,” Scharmann said. “The whole talk of it really started at a WNDD meeting.”

Since the study began, several groups in Churchill County have expressed interest or been involved in the discussion, including the Churchill Economic Development Authority as well as the Churchill Area Regional Transportation group (CART).

“On the other issue, the regional transportation is something too because (CART) is one of the best in the state, especially for small counties,” Scharmann said. “We were looking for it possibly being a model to expand as long as it didn’t affect our local service. It’s hard to figure regional transportation in such a wide area, taking 50-60 miles, but I do agree it’s something we need to look at in the future.”

Radil’s presentation also included a thorough discussion of the Comprehensive Economoic Development Strategy, a document the district maintains which WNDD rewrites every five years detailing feedback from members of the group on new projects and initiatives, new strategies and new goals.

Radil said the CEDS is becoming a little bit more important particularly in regards to farming legislation from 2014 as well as United States Department of Agriculture rural development.

The commissioners also discussed or took action on the following items:

Recognized Churchill County employees for years of service for the 1st Quarter of 2016.

Heard an update of current activities, plans and actions related to the Carson District of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) by Stillwater Office Field Director Terri Knutson.

Approved proposal to provide professional appraisal services for a Conservation Easement on property owned by John Torvik and Vella L. Torvik.