Commissioners address dispute over safety hazard

Churchill County commissioners authorized the pursuit of a legal resolution for an encroachment and public safety road hazard Feb. 6.

Andrea Reynolds read a statement that explained how her husband, Jeremy, built a fence around their property at 3018 Pflum Lane in his spare time over the past year. She said one corner of the fence was built in the same location where the previous broken fence was being replaced.

In response to multiple complaints, the Churchill County Road Department determined that this corner of the new fence creates an encroachment on the county right of way and a public safety hazard due to obstructing the view of oncoming traffic at the intersection of St. Clair and Pflum Lane.

Deputy District Attorney Joseph Sanford said his office has been communicating with the couple.

“While the Reynolds received authorization from TCID (Truckee Canal Irrigation District) for access across their canal easement, no permit was sought from the road department and the fence, as constructed, would not meet the requirements for approval,” Sanford wrote in the agenda item documentation.

The county is requiring the Reynolds to remove the portion of the fence in question, but Andrea Reynolds said they have refused. They have offered to lower the fence height. They dispute whether that part of the property is actually an easement because they do not have that information on their deed or any other documentation. Reynolds said they also don’t understand how the new fence can cause a problem that wasn’t the case with the original fencing.

The commissioners unanimously approved to authorize the district attorney's office to take any and all appropriate legal action against the Reynolds. Commissioners Matt Hyde and Myles Getto commented it’s their job and responsibility to address issues of public safety that have been brought to their attention.

Commissioners also discussed and/or acted on the following agenda items:

• Approved to declare a nuisance associated with property at 3140 Alcorn Road. The complaint filed by Dave Strasdin against the estates of James Mackintosh, Thomas Mackintosh, Lana Smith and Zana Lee Ofcinik, all deceased, describes an unoccupied mobile home with broken windows and a foul odor, overgrown weeds, garbage and junk in the yard, broken and dismantled vehicles, collapsing sheds and dead trees causing a fire hazard. Public Administrator Bob Getto said he will coordinate with next of kin to clean up and sell the property.

Approved to ratify the hiring of a deputy public defender II at a step two salary instead of the budgeted deputy public defender I due to the shortage of qualified applicants.

• Approved for Chris Spross, assistant county manager, to continue with the recruiting process to fill a deputy public defender II and a deputy district attorney I/II position.

Approved a request to advertise for bids for the proposed Central Nevada Health District building improvements at 290 S. Maine St.

Heard a presentation of the Churchill County Behavioral Health and Suicide Prevention Plan by Churchill County Social Services Director Shannon Ernst and Jennifer McClendon, a consultant with Turning Point, Inc.

• Approved the reappointment of Cari Norcutt to a second term on the Social Services Advisory Committee until January 2028.

• Approved the appointment of Thomas Grady to the Churchill County Cemetery Board for a term ending February 2029.

• Approved to adopt a resolution for Churchill County to approve Mineral County as a member county of the Central Nevada Regional Water Authority.

Tabled a cooperative parking agreement with Elks Lodge number 2239 until the next regular meeting in order to receive additional information about possible estimated costs and shared responsibilities.

• Approved to put retirement contributions into a deferred compensation plan retirement fund which is not part of the Nevada Public Employees Retirement System for Commissioners Matt Hyde and Eric Blakey.

• After the meeting the commissioners were scheduled to conduct a tour of the remodeled old jail facility and the sheriff's office secure evidence storage facility.

Churchill County’s public meetings are available to livestream or replay on YouTube at the “ChurchillCounty” channel.