Supervisors to weigh V&T bill, sewer extension contract, internal audit

Besides an item exploring the local effects of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on homelessness, the Board of Supervisors will consider a bill draft request (BDR) related to the V&T Railway Commission and a contract for the Southeast Sewer Extension Project, among other items.

The meeting starts at 8:30 a.m. Thursday in the community center.

First up, supervisors will consider a BDR for the upcoming 2025 Nevada Legislature requesting the state take on staffing for the V&T Railway Commission.

“The BDR proposes to amend Nevada Commission for the Reconstruction of the V&T Railway Act of 1993, as amended, to provide the Commission with an Executive Director that will carry out various duties, including certain administrative duties and clerical accounting services, in addition to other duties as determined necessary by the Commission. The BDR also obligates the State Attorney General's Office to provide legal services for the Commission. Draft BDR language will be provided as late material,” reads a staff report.

Currently, the V&T Railway Commission is led by officials from Storey County and Carson City, and operations are performed by contractors. During their Aug. 1 meeting, supervisors discussed the burden the V&T places on local governments and even considered the legislative dissolution of the commission.

The city’s BDR must be submitted to the Legislative Counsel Bureau no later than Sept. 1, according to staff.

In other action:

• Supervisors will evaluate a contract with Rapid Construction Inc. for phase 9A of the Southeast Sewer Conversion project. The total contract amount would not exceed $2,444,444.44, according to the agenda.

“The project includes extending sanitary sewer to thirty-two homes in the southeast area of Carson City, including residences along Snyder Avenue, Gentry Lane, Ethel Way and Hudson Drive,” the agenda states.

A staff report further states: “This project is the next phase of the mitigation program developed to address rising nitrate levels discovered in the groundwater in the southeast area of Carson City and is identified as phase 9A of the 12 phases originally identified in the program. Carson City has received $1,000,000 in federal funding through congressionally designated spending, and an additional $1,000,000 in federal funding through ARPA to complete the project.”

In March 2023, supervisors waived sewer connection fees and related permit and inspection fees for property owners who abandon septic tanks and hook up to city sewer in the area. The incentive period was set at 48 months after property owners receive notices of availability of city sewer. The deadline for connection was also set at 48 months.

• Supervisors will review a resolution authorizing the transfer of the city’s 2024 Private Activity Bond Volume Cap to the Nevada Rural Housing Authority (NRHA).

According to the agenda, state law and policy allow the city to allocate a share of state money “set aside for tax exempt loans to fund industrial development and affordable housing projects.”

“This program provides lower-interest financing for eligible projects and the bond cap can be transferred to another government agency. The city has received no other requests for the allocation, and the NRHA is requesting the city’s portion of the allocation. Carson City’s share of the 2024 Bond Cap is $3,628,723.16,” according to the agenda.

A staff report notes: “Should the city take no action, the city’s share of the bond cap will revert back to the state pool of funds, which is then distributed to applicants on a state-wide basis.”

• Supervisors will consider the fiscal year 2025 Audit Work Program as recommended by the Audit Committee and a not-to-exceed contract of $110,000 with internal auditor Eide Bailly LLP.

“Eide Bailly LLP made recommendations for future projects at the Audit Committee’s July 9, 2024 meeting based on their risk assessment procedures performed,” according to the agenda. “The Audit Committee discussed those recommendations and, based on the budget available, selected various projects that are being recommended to be included in the FY 2025 Audit Work Program.”

Items selected for internal audit include purchasing and contracts management, payroll processing and the city’s take-home vehicle policy, according to a staff report.