County manager updates projects at CEDA breakfast

Churchill County Manager Jim Barbee spoke at the Aug. 28 breakfast meeting of the Churchill Entrepreneurial Development Association (CEDA) and gave an update of activities and events occurring this year in the Lahontan Valley.

Barbee congratulated the CEDA board for reimplementing its monthly business breakfasts and told the association’s members and guests the national and local economy are presenting challenges for the county.

“We’re making an evaluation to know where the economy is going,” he said, adding the economy has been showing a small slide.

Financially, Barbee said most of the incoming taxes have leveled off to small slide, but added the county is also sitting on “a lot of cash and a number of one-shot funds.”

“We pulled back on our budget last year,” Barbee said, emphasizing the county has seen a downward trend with most taxes.

For the next five months, Barbee said the two recently elected commissioners are undergoing training to give them a better understanding of the commission and what projects require their attention. Matt Hyde, a member of the school board who was elected to District 1, and Eric Blakey, the new commissioner in District 3, should “hit the ground running,” said Barbee. The two commissioners, along with Chairman Myles Getto, will be sworn in during the first meeting of January.

The Fallon Range Training Complex modernization, which was approved in the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act, has consumed much of Barbee’s time. He has been working with both the Bureau of Land Management and the Navy to resolve issues pertinent to the expansion and modernization that need resolving.

“We continue to work with the Navy and BLM ensuring the grazers that are in permitted areas remain whole,” he pointed out. “We’re very excited with the progress the Navy has made and how they’re doing with the evaluation, and a hat tip to the skipper for doing that work. It’s greatly appreciated and recognized by the county, acknowledged by the county.”

Barbee said it’s now the grazers time to receive a good payout. Currently, Barbee said he’s been meeting with Capt. Shane Tanner, commanding officer of NAS Fallon, on several issues including grazing and road improvements that are part of the NDAA.

As discussed at previous hearings, Barbee said work will be done on Sand Canyon Road which runs through part of Bravo 16, the area the SEALS (Navy Sea, Air, and Land Teams) use for training. He said the road will be newly constructed with a surface consisting of gravel. Another road, Lone Tree Road that leads into the southeast section of Bravo 16, will be reconstructed to handle heavier vehicles.

Barbee’s focus turned toward Interstate 80 on the process to change the checkerboard pattern of land that was developed during the early days of the railroad crossing the West. During the late 1800s when communities, began to spring up along the railroad lines in the western states, the U.S. government awarded parcels to the railroads.

Barbee said every other section is private, the other section is federal and the section consists of a 20-mile swatch. He said the federal government is allowing local governments to take sections of land privately owned and trade those for federal sections of land that are found in the valleys.

Barbee said big swaths can be developed along the rail line or along I-80.

“We are trying to create a model to deal with checkerboard,” he said.

Barbee touched on a variety of topics during his 25-minute presentation:

 • The courthouse improvements and expansion will cost up to $30 million and add courtrooms and staff.

The current courthouse, said Barbee, is more than 50 years old and has confined space and doesn’t serve the population effectively. The county’s population is now 26,000 residents.

“His (Judge Thomas Stockard) caseloads are up in the district. I could see the addition of a second district judge,” Barbee said.

• Barbee said Churchill County Social Services and the Public Works, Planning & Building departments are moving to 270 S. Maine St. A ceremony is planned for Sept. 5 from 3-5 p.m. He said the move will provide “curbside service” for both agencies.

“The left side (of the former Frazinni Building) is social services, and Central Nevada Health District will be next door. We’re moving about 25 staff, eventually, to Maine Street,” Barbee said.

• Housing developments approved by the commission in 2022 are moving forward. He said the project on Coleman Road is going through escrow between the county and a private buyer and the Birch Lane projects moving slowly.

Barbee said the county is focused on the expanding needs of the base and encouraging more housing in the area for Navy personnel.

“You work in the community, you should be able to live in the community,” Barbee said.

• Barbee gave an update on economic development and the Rafter 3C Complex, which has been attracting many events. He explained a program the county has been using to track visitors and where they visit in Churchill. County during their stay.

Barbee said the Rafter 3C projected a public impact of $5 million in its first year, but instead did $8 million worth of business. He said the in the second year of business in 2023, the Rafter had projected $10 million in business, but the economic impact rose to $12 million.

“Our goal is to see that expand each year,” he said.