[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[0:00] Point the jail at noon, or thereabouts, and we won't be returning until around 2 o'clock. So we have an opportunity to visit it and see it in operations.
[0:14] Captain Cunes is here, but it's Captain Stork now that's in charge of the jail, right? So, okay.
[0:21] Yeah, so anyways, so and we will be eating the food that the inmates eat, so that'll be
[0:28] We've done that before, so it's very nutritious so anyways, that's the reason that item is on for two o'clock
[0:36] We're not taking their food. No, we're eating the same food as they
[0:40] Okay the same meal. Okay with that. I have nothing else
[0:45] to mention in regards to
[0:48] housekeeping. So we allow three periods of public comment. One at the opening of the meeting,
[0:56] opening public comment. We have a section after the closing meeting called closing public comment.
[1:02] And then we take public comment on all items that are mentioned on the agenda as or public comment.
[1:10] So those are three opportunities. If you wish to offer public comment or an agenda item,
[1:17] that is marked for a possible action in our regular agenda and you cannot stay until that item is heard.
[1:28] We encourage you to use the podium at that time at this time to offer your opening public public comment on that item.
[1:36] Understanding that if you then choose to stick around you forward at your forefoot or your time for that item.
[1:42] But so we limit public comment to three minutes per speaker.
[1:47] We use timing lights operated by our Vice Chair, Commissioner Tolbert.
[1:54] When you approach the podium, we ask you to print your name so we can get it accurately in the record.
[1:59] State your name for the record and then we will start your time.
[2:03] You'll hear the light will turn yellow and you'll hear a slight beep.
[2:09] at when you have 30 seconds left and then at the end of public comment, your three minutes,
[2:15] you'll hear that obnoxious red light go off. Okay, so we actually to conclude your comments
[2:21] and sit down at that time.
[2:25] We also ask you to limit your public comment to matters that are within
[2:29] the jurisdiction and control of the Board of County Commissioners must be addressed to the
[2:34] chairperson and the Board, not the members of the public, so the Board may take future action on
[2:38] items that are raised by the public. So at this time public comment we taken on
[2:43] those items there within the jurisdiction and control of the Board of County
[2:47] Commissioners. It looks like Mr. Meyer is lining up to do that.
[2:53] Welcome.
[2:56] Thank you, Mark.
[2:59] Commissioners. My name is Nick Meyer for the record. I want to
[3:03] address the agenda item of compensation. The compensation schedule that
[3:11] was adopted by the board in 2022, is excessive and completely out of sync with compensation
[3:17] and other rural counties in Nevada, Idaho and Oregon.
[3:22] Lion County, our neighboring county, has a population of 66,000 people, larger than Douglas
[3:30] County, and their county manager has a salary of 2,000, 16, excuse me, $216,000, which
[3:39] far less than what the board is recommending we pay our county manager. Plus, Lyon County does not
[3:47] have an assistant county manager. While Douglas has an assistant county manager with a $200,000 salary.
[3:55] This is just the tip of the iceberg. In addition to these excessive salaries, Douglas County is
[4:01] paying 100% of the retirement benefits for these positions, which amounts to $100,000 per year for
[4:09] county manager, and 72,000 for the assistant county manager, and we have to pay that every
[4:16] single year. There isn't a single private or public company in America that pays 100% of
[4:22] an employee's retirement at 36.75% of their salary. The bottom line is that compensation is excessive
[4:30] and out of sync with other rural counties. We're top-heavy with administration and paying too much.
[4:38] Where is the performance review of the county manager?
[4:42] Where is the performance review of the assistant county manager?
[4:46] Are they online? Have their goals and objectives been posted online?
[4:53] On what basis is the board recommending a merit increase?
[4:57] The one thing we know is that the county manager failed to...
[5:00] File for a stormwater grant, on time, resulting in the county missing an opportunity to fund a stormwater project.
[5:09] And why didn't the county manager with her staff, step up to develop and propose a stormwater utility tax, instead of the board having to spend $140,000 on a consultant, who came up with a plan that was so unfair that it was rejected soundly.
[5:27] These salaries and retirement packages are an insult to the citizens of this county.
[5:34] We have residents in this county who are having difficulty making rent and need the food
[5:38] bank to make ends meet.
[5:43] My recommendation is that the board created a task force of current and retired business
[5:47] executives to review and revise the compensation structure in this county.
[5:52] We have plenty of business executives that are experienced in just that.
[5:56] They can also set up a structure of performance reviews against goals and objectives.
[6:01] Mark my words, these excessive salaries and retirement benefits are going to bite us in the behind,
[6:08] and drive this county into a fiscal crisis.
[6:10] This should be the top priority of the board.
[6:14] Thank you.
[6:16] Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
[6:28] Good morning, Ellie Waller.
[6:30] I have lots of questions.
[6:32] But first, a clarification is the jailed tour,
[6:35] I'm hearing noise out here, open to the public as well.
[6:39] You're going to answer later.
[6:44] Next, I commit crimes.
[6:48] OK, so I have lots of questions today.
[6:51] Who on community development staff
[6:52] addresses questions about Tahoe-related issues?
[6:56] November 2025 was the last update on the Barton Proposed
[7:00] South Shore Area Plan Amendments and Environmental Impact Statement is their more recent info.
[7:06] Kale, Complete Streets Project, is it still on track to be completed in October of 2026?
[7:13] There has been a stormwaters takeholder group formed in the valley, when will a Tahoe group
[7:18] announcement to apply come forward?
[7:21] Who on staff is now assigned to the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Advisory Planning Commission
[7:27] besides our at-large person, Garth Alling,
[7:30] who I thought we were going to get presentations from.
[7:33] Typically, it's a land use planner from community development.
[7:38] Next, what is the status of the developers addressing
[7:41] Vista Grande Road intersection?
[7:43] Be nice to know.
[7:45] When will the individual community plans within the master plan be addressed
[7:50] and vetted by individual communities now that the Tahoe area plans
[7:54] are underway?
[7:55] When will there be an update from the roads workshop of April 2025?
[8:02] And lastly, something of great value to me, because I attended several meetings, and that's
[8:09] why you haven't seen me here, is the citizens from both California and Nevada, all the local
[8:15] jurisdictions got together.
[8:16] We were successful at the legislative oversight interim committee on the Tahoe Regional Planning
[8:21] agency on getting evacuation issues elevated till a bill draft request, which will be
[8:28] forwarded to session.
[8:30] Thank you.
[8:32] Thank you.
[8:38] Good morning.
[8:39] Justin Center on behalf of Roots and Wings parents in Lake Tahoe.
[8:43] This week, the Park Service Department and Roots and Wings parents had a productive meeting.
[8:48] But we found it very important that we should reframe the narrative of this school.
[8:52] This is a school.
[8:53] This is a preschool.
[8:54] It's not a daycare, it is a preschool.
[8:57] And the reason it falls under Parks and Rec is because
[8:59] the job of Parks and Rec is to provide essential life
[9:03] and hand-seeing services to its constituents.
[9:05] And that is exactly what this program does.
[9:08] Despite the narrative that is being presented,
[9:10] the population of young families and toddlers in Lake Tahoe
[9:13] is increasing.
[9:14] Toddlers make up 44% of our current child population,
[9:18] and that number is only growing with record numbers of births,
[9:21] projected record numbers of birth at Barton Hospital. One of the possible solutions that have been
[9:26] presented to the board was a privatization model versus the current public model. When we switch
[9:34] from a private, from a public model to a private model, we start prioritizing profits over education
[9:40] and to see what that actually looks like in real life we don't have to look very far.
[9:45] With tall high schools, the number one rated high school in Nevada.
[9:48] Zefer Coe is in the top 20% roots in wings is a award-winning school.
[9:56] The reason being is because those schools at a foundational level do the roots in wings.
[10:00] Children are learning how to read and how to write and how to succeed in the academic world.
[10:08] When you look down here in the valley, where there's a privatization model, none of the schools crack the top 40% in a state that ranks number 40 in the nation.
[10:22] That's unacceptable, and that shows you what happens when you prioritize profits over education.
[10:28] So how do we actually fund this?
[10:30] What was presented to the board from staff was a tuition high?
[10:35] In order to fully cover the amount that is needed,
[10:38] it would cost families $75 a day.
[10:42] Private nannies are cheaper.
[10:45] The problem that we had as parents was that there are revenue streams
[10:48] right in front of Parks and Rec that are not being looked at.
[10:51] Right now, the Douglas County Rex Center charges roughly 50% of what South Vic Tahoe charges for the Rex Center.
[11:01] If for a modest rate increase of $2.44, would a cup of coffee used to cost?
[11:07] We can fully use those funds to fund roots and wings.
[11:11] If you want to use this as an actual revenue-generating source,
[11:14] raising this amount, eight dollars a month per person, a hundred dollars a year would generate
[11:20] half a million dollars for this county budget problems go away for parks and rent. So there are
[11:27] other avenues to explore and I'm really hoping that staff will actually explore that
[11:31] versus just trying to pass the buck under the parents. Thank you. Thank you.
[11:40] Rachel Christensen,
[11:42] I'm here today because I believe the residents of Douglas County deserve accountability from the
[11:48] our county and protect our tax dollars. Today you have the opportunity to get the county manager
[11:52] a performance review and potentially erase. I'm asked you to look carefully at the record before
[11:57] you reward the performance. Under the county manager's leadership Douglas County has become entangled
[12:03] in one costly controversy after another. There's the Mueller Parkway lawsuit involving concerns
[12:09] over roadway designs during his right away and compliance with existing agreements.
[12:17] There's the
[12:17] legal expenses and in certain surrounding, a major county project. Then there's
[12:22] China Springs where serious questions have been raised about the county
[12:25] managers oversight spending and transparency. A federal lawsuit now names
[12:29] county manager and two commissioners. Then comes the stormwater fee. The county
[12:34] spent the past year developing and promoting a county wide fee only put it on
[12:38] hold after residents raised raise serious concerns about affordability, fairness,
[12:43] accountability and how the fees were calculated. Now we're going back to the
[12:46] board. And there's the Knox excavating and painted rock mine matter. The county manager was
[12:52] directly involved in that agreement. And later over seeing its enforcement, that
[12:56] agreement has now broken down with Knox claiming the county breached it and speaking of the
[13:01] difficulty they have had with Jennifer Davidson. Now this commissioners directing the county
[13:07] manager to negotiate a new path forward. When we are entrusting the county manager with millions
[13:12] of tax payer dollars.
[13:14] These are questions that deserve answers, not a race.
[13:18] The commissioners responsible for the person running the county.
[13:22] When the multiple major projects, financial decisions and controversies repeatedly require
[13:26] BOC's attention, taxpayers have the right to ask whether management is being held accountable.
[13:32] Commissioners, this isn't about anti-counny manager, it's about accountability, and that
[13:38] brings me to you.
[13:39] You're the elected officials, you're the one who ultimately answered to the voters.
[13:44] The county manager doesn't have to stand for election. You do.
[13:49] When the taxpayers see lawsuits, financial problems, controversial fees and agreements that break down,
[13:54] they don't get to vote on the county manager's job. They vote on yours.
[13:59] Your job is not to protect someone's position or reward someone simply because that's what's always been done.
[14:04] Your job is to protect the taxpayers.
[14:08] The county manager's base salary is already over $250,000 with the total pay and benefits.
[14:13] Over 352,000.
[14:15] That's the highest pay county manager in the state.
[14:18] This time when we are repeatedly told the county needs more money taxpayers deserve
[14:21] to know why this performance warrants and even larger paycheck.
[14:25] Our anniversary date isn't June when her review has traditionally taken place.
[14:29] yet this year, the review was moved to immediately before a holiday weekend following intense public
[14:35] controversy over the stormwater feed. Residents noticed. So today I'm asking you to listen to
[14:40] the people who elected you. Don't give a raise simply because it's expected. Don't give a glowing
[14:44] review simply because it's easier. Look at the results. Look at the consequences. We're not just a
[15:00] Good morning, county manager and commissioners, Dave Foberson, resident room straf. First off, to Jennifer, having a public evaluation, has got to be the hardest thing to ever be done. And you've done always done this for grace through the years, I've seen it. So, keep on doing that. I wasn't planning a talk today, but I wanted to get some stuff on the record, because in my time at East Fort Fire, Douglas County, mercy and management, and the state emergency management. I think I've seen eight county managers here at Douglas County.
[15:30] county. Larry got recycled once, so I think maybe seven, if you counted that way. A lot of
[15:36] these folks that were here before Jennifer, can't sit on the road. They were hills that
[15:41] didn't want to die on is what I heard multiple times. People wanted to close a fire station
[15:45] in TRE because they didn't think those people paid enough tax dollars to have a fire station
[15:49] down there was a different one county manager. Jennifer takes on these hard ideas. Jennifer does
[15:54] a great job building community report. Whether she agrees with them or not, she's still doing
[16:01] a lot of public outreach. So I encourage you I'm not going to talk about salary because that's
[16:05] up to you guys, but I think she deserves high marks for what you're doing and some goal tightening
[16:10] and some more support from all of us to help her do a better job. But thank you for what
[16:21] you do for
[16:30] the time that that comes up but whoever came up with the idea of having a public review of an
[16:37] employee must have thought of the most brutal thing you can do. I've done a lot of employee reviews
[16:45] and this is the most brutal way to do it. I think if it was the commissioners that came up with it,
[16:51] we shouldn't have a yearly review of you folks where we get to speak directly on that. My purpose to
[16:58] up right now was I noticed in the paper this past week about a certain entity that's being proposed
[17:05] in Carson City. And the only reason I bring it up is because we've got one being proposed, not being
[17:11] proposed, it's being put here. A community performing arts center, which has changed its name many times.
[17:19] But Carson is now proposing a new community performing arts center at the high school,
[17:26] A new auditorium, 500 seats plus one theater, and primarily for use for students and all that, but open to public performances and everything else.
[17:39] The only reason I bring this up is they were very honest about the price, 32 to $36 million for one stage performing arts center.
[17:52] If that goes through, which I doubt that it will, but if it does, they will now have two
[17:57] performing arts centers up there, competing with one that we're in the process of trying
[18:03] to come up with the money to put together.
[18:07] We've already spent 10% of that 32 million.
[18:11] So who knows how far that's going to go?
[18:13] Just wanted to bring that up so that you're aware of it, sure that you were, but 32, the 36 million
[18:19] is a more appropriate cost for what we are looking at down here with more than one stage
[18:27] and a 250 to 500 seat theater and stuff. So we had to be very careful about how we're going
[18:33] about that. Thank you.
[18:37] Thank you.
[18:55] Good morning, Julie Duda. On Tuesday, I met with the Treasurer, the Treasurer Assistant,
[19:02] the COO and the Comptroller to discuss action for improving transparency of the LGIP money market.
[19:13] I thank all of them for their support and cooperation.
[19:17] It's a dynamic transition with a possible resolution of a separate LGIP money market report with actual balances and monthly transactions.
[19:30] This action to improve LGIP transparency is directly connected to the people who took a stand
[19:42] and contacted commissioners and the county manager to all those people good job.
[19:50] When completed, this will be a win for the people of Douglas County.
[19:56] To be clear, that commission...
[20:00] Chair and county manager were responsive and made the meeting possible.
[20:07] To briefly review the transparency issue, during the stormwater campaign, research determined the LGIP, money market balance was 103 million and the county investment total was 227 million.
[20:26] The county monthly investment report failed to report the LGIP money market balance of 103 million.
[20:36] Instead, although the balance fluctuated about 40 plus million was reported.
[20:45] The transparency upgrade now in progress will prevent this incomplete LGIP reporting.
[20:55] Another topic to consider is the county messaging during the stormwater campaign related
[21:04] to the FEMA flood mitigation grants awarded to Douglas County.
[21:10] The disinformation or propaganda message was, county funds may not be available for the required
[21:18] match.
[21:19] People want to know who stated this and was it a strategy to get the fundamentally flawed
[21:29] stormwater enterprise tax approved?
[21:34] Going forward, please stress the importance of truthful and accurate disclosures to the
[21:43] public.
[21:45] Thank you, Mr. Duda, and thank you for your recognition and take an advantage of the
[21:53] opportunity to visit.
[21:56] Is there any additional public comment?
[22:01] Okay, I'm not seeing any additional public comment, I'm going to bring it back up here.
[22:06] I know that.
[22:07] It's on my list here.
[22:11] Our county clerk treasurer wishes to offer some public comment also, so I asked her to wait
[22:16] until closing public comment or opening public comment was concluded.
[22:21] So Ms. Bergenz.
[22:23] Thank you, Chairman.
[22:23] I appreciate the opportunity.
[22:26] I, I, I, I, I was, I'm going to use your name, but since you told everyone that we spoke,
[22:32] I'll just throw that out there.
[22:34] I wanted to address the public comments that were made at the previous board meeting that I was
[22:39] unable to attend.
[22:40] I was not here, the, the previous board meeting.
[22:43] Those comments raised concerns regarding the transparency within the county's investment
[22:48] report, specifically referencing three sub-accounts that are contained within LGIP.
[22:54] LGIP, which is the local government investment pool, is separate from the counties.
[22:58] They are investment accounts, but they're separate from the county's investment accounts that are
[23:02] through meter.
[23:04] I think it's just important to provide a little clarification for the record.
[23:08] The accounts that were referenced are associated with bond obligations and the molar
[23:13] Parkway project.
[23:15] These are not general investment accounts with funds available for discretionary use.
[23:21] The monies within those accounts have been specifically allocated and are restricted for
[23:26] their designated purpose.
[23:28] They are maintained separately precisely so that those funds can be properly accounted
[23:33] for and used for the obligations and projects for which they are intended.
[23:37] I also want to clarify something regarding the responsibility of the county's investment reporting.
[23:44] As the elected county treasurer, the responsibility of the investment of county funds and the reporting of those investment falls completely under my office and my statutory responsibility as treasurer.
[23:57] The Board of County Commissioners receives those reports, but the Board does not prepare
[24:03] them, manage the investments or direct me to incurring out those statutory responsibilities.
[24:11] I take transparency and accountability very seriously.
[24:16] If there is a question about something contained in an investment report or if someone believes
[24:20] additional information or explanation would be helpful, I absolutely welcome those questions.
[24:26] In fact, I encourage them, but I would respectfully ask those questions be directed to me.
[24:34] Since the public comment was made, I have met personally with the individual who raised the concerns.
[24:39] We went through the funds in detail, including what those accounts represent,
[24:43] why the funds are held separately, and the restrictions on the use.
[24:47] We also had a very productive discussion about ways my office could provide additional information
[24:53] in the reporting to make it easier for members of the public to understand exactly what they are looking at.
[25:00] I appreciated the conversation and the opportunity to hear another perspective. My office is now working on a plan to provide additional transparency and context within our investment reporting going forward.
[25:12] Transparency does not simply mean providing numbers. It also means making sure those numbers are presented in a way that people can understand.
[25:20] It is difficult for the commissioners to respond to concerns that are on a report that is prepared under the authority and responsibility of another elected official.
[25:30] More importantly, directing those questions to my office gives me the opportunity to provide those facts.
[25:36] Explain them what they have. Accounts represent and address those concerns directly rather than allowing questions or misunderstandings to remain unanswered on the public record.
[25:45] I am accountable for the work of the treasurer's office, and I am always willing to answer
[25:51] for it.
[25:52] Going forward, I simply asked those questions regarding our investment reports to me so that
[25:57] I have the opportunity to provide the information and the transparency that the public
[26:01] deserves.
[26:02] Thank you.
[26:03] Thank you.
[26:05] I did want to take an opportunity to address a couple of the things that were asked by
[26:09] are public. Number one, Ms. Waller asked about the public jail tour, and I honestly don't
[26:15] know the answer to that. It is not okay. So, okay. Secondly, Ms. Rachelson referred
[26:25] to a lawsuit that has been filed against the county regarding activities and accusations
[26:34] of the trying to Springs Youth Camp and named myself our Vice Chair and our County
[26:43] Manager. I think that can't go unspoken too, okay? Those allegations happened in
[26:52] early 2000. Early 2000s, okay? None of us were involved with the county. I can't
[27:01] that for a bit. You weren't there then, okay. The only reason that we were named is because
[27:08] of the titles under our names here and under Jennifer's name. So it has nothing to do with us.
[27:16] It's just that when an individual sues us, they name the chair, the vice chair, and the county manager,
[27:22] all the time, okay. But those allegations are our 25 years old, okay, and did not involve,
[27:28] I wasn't even a resident of this county at that time, and it was not on the Board of Commissioners.
[27:34] Okay, so I think that the public needs to understand that that aspect of that lawsuit, okay?
[27:42] So anyways, with that, I'll shut up.
[27:48] Thank you.
[27:51] No, I know.
[27:52] I know.
[27:52] Okay, with that, I'll close public comment unless another commissioner had anything they wish to add.
[27:59] Okay. Very good. I'll close public comment and I'll move Dietham for approval of the agenda.
[28:05] So I'll entertain a motion to approve the proposed agenda as presented.
[28:10] Some move.
[28:12] Motion by Commissioner Hall, second by Commissioner Tolbert.
[28:17] All those in favor of the motion signify by saying aye.
[28:21] Aye.
[28:21] Motion passes five to zero. Thank you. Approval of the previous minutes, entertain a motion to discussion to approve the draft minutes of the special meeting on August 4, 2026, and the regular meeting on August 6, the 2026 of the Board of County Commissioners.
[28:38] So moved.
[28:40] Second.
[28:41] Okay, motion by Commissioner Turcini and second by Commissioner Rice to approve the draft minutes as presented. All those are favor signify by saying aye.
[28:50] Hi. Motion passes by to zero. Thank you. We will now, this board also sits as the liquor board and so at this time we have two items on the liquor board agenda. So I'll recess as the Board of County Commissioners and convene as the Douglas County liquor board. This is generally there are six members that serve on this board.
[29:12] are Douglas County Sheriff, Sheriff Coverley serves on this board, but he's not here today,
[29:19] so we'll have five little to be able. So item seven one for possible action,
[29:24] discussion to approve the addition of Vice President and General Manager,
[29:28] Eric, Eric, is that I do not? Eric Allen, Noel's to the existing onsite unrestricted retail,
[29:36] retail, package retail, and Kater's liquor license with the entertainment endorsement and
[29:41] Restricted Gaming License for Premier Entertainment Tahoe LLC DBA Valley's Lake Tahoe. Eric Ellen Knulls has signed a lit waiver of notice of hearing Premier Entertainment Tahoe LLC DBA Valley's Lake Tahoe is located at 55 U.S. Highway 50.
[30:00] 890-89449 being presented by Administrative Captain Captain Kunz.
[30:08] Our office for the record is applicant has completed all required paperwork and passed their background check in the Sheriff's Office.
[30:14] It's not opposed to this application.
[30:17] Any questions of Captain Kunz?
[30:21] Since he none, all those in favor? Well, I need a motion.
[30:25] I shall move.
[30:28] Second.
[30:28] Okay. Motion by Commissioner Rice,
[30:30] they're going to buy Commissioner Tarkinian
[30:32] to pass item 7-1 as presented.
[30:39] All those in favor, signify by saying aye.
[30:41] Aye.
[30:43] Motion passes 5-0.
[30:45] 5-0 and 1.
[30:48] That's been 5-0-1.
[30:50] Please, sure.
[30:50] It's not here.
[30:51] Okay.
[30:53] Just trying to get all that correctly into the record.
[30:55] Okay, item 72 for possible action, discussion to approve the addition of Vice President General Manager, Eric Allen Knowles, to the existing adult characterized business license for premier entertainment Tahoe LLC DBA,
[31:10] Valleys Lake Tahoe, Eric Allen Knowles has signed a favor of notice of hearing, premier entertainment
[31:17] Tahoe LLC, DBA, Valleys Lake Tahoe is located at 55 U.S. Highway 50 State Line Nevada,
[31:24] 8 9 4 4 9, Captain Coons again.
[31:28] Captain Coons of the Sheriff's Office for the record and this app can is also completed,
[31:31] required paperwork and pass the background check. Sheriff's Office is not opposed to this
[31:35] application.
[31:36] There you go, entertain a motion.
[31:38] Move the approval.
[31:39] Unless you have questions.
[31:43] Second.
[31:43] Motion by Commissioner Hales, second by Commissioner Tolbert to approve item seven two as illustrated.
[31:51] Any discussion?
[31:53] No discussion.
[31:53] All those in favor of seeing if I be saying aye.
[31:56] Aye.
[31:57] Okay.
[31:57] Motion passes five zero and one.
[32:01] Thank you very much, Captain Cooze.
[32:02] Thank you, sir.
[32:04] Maybe we'll see later on.
[32:06] You got it.
[32:09] OK.
[32:11] So at this time then, a CNC liquor board items are concluded.
[32:15] We'll adjourn as the Douglas County liquor board and reconvene as the Board of County Commissioners.
[32:21] And we have the consent calendar items A through G, entertain a motion to approve the consent calendar as presented.
[32:31] I move approval of consent items A through G.
[32:34] Second.
[32:38] Okay. Motion by Commissioner Hales.
[32:41] Seconded by Commissioner Rice.
[32:44] To approve the consent calendar items A through G as presented.
[32:48] A discussion. All those in favor signify by saying aye.
[32:53] Motion passes five to zero. Thank you.
[32:56] Now, when I go into the administrative agenda,
[32:59] the first item on the agenda is item 111 for presentation only.
[33:04] ceremonial presentation of Proclamation 2026-P-1050 proclaiming the month of September 25 as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in Douglas County and I've asked Commissioner Hales to present this to our President or whatever the title is of the Suicide Prevention Network, Debbie, and I always butcher your last name, so I'll just call you Debbie.
[33:42] to be able to do this. I am always amazed at the wonderful work of Suicide Prevention and so very grateful for all the good things you do.
[33:54] Douglas County Nevada Board of County Commissioners Proclamation Suicide Prevention Month September 2026.
[34:02] Whereas Douglas County recognizes September as National Suicide Prevention Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness of Suicide as a serious public health issue.
[34:11] promoting prevention and education, reducing stigma, and fostering hope and connection through our community.
[34:20] And whereas suicide was the tenth leading cause of death in the United States in 2024,
[34:27] claiming 48,824 lives nationwide in Nevada, 676 lives were lost as suicide,
[34:36] representing an age-adjusted rate of 19.61 deaths per 100,000 residents compared with a national rate of approximately 13.7 per 100,000, placing Nevada among the states with the highest suicide rates in the nation.
[34:55] And whereas every life lost a suicide has a profound and lasting impact.
[35:00] In fact, on families, friends, first responders and communities.
[35:06] And recognizing morning signs, having compassionate conversations and connecting individuals with appropriate
[35:12] resources are important steps in prevention. And whereas the suicide prevention network,
[35:18] a local non-profit, established in 1999, and based in Minden, provides suicide prevention
[35:24] education, intervention, and support services including peer grief and PTSD support groups,
[35:32] community outreach referrals and resources for individuals and families throughout Douglas County.
[35:38] And whereas reducing stigma and encouraging open conversations in our homes, schools,
[35:44] workplaces and community can help individuals feel supported and empowered to seek assistance
[35:51] With resources such as the Suitside Prevention Network, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and Local Behavioral Health Programs available to provide help and help.
[36:04] Now, therefore, be it proclamed that the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners nearby recognizes September 2026, a Suicide Prevention Month in Douglas County.
[36:15] Commence the Suicide Prevention Network and its community partners for their continued prevention,
[36:21] education and support efforts, and encourages all residents to recognize warning signs,
[36:27] reach out with compassion, and help foster community where those who are struggling know that support and hope are available.
[36:36] Thank you.
[36:45] This is such an honor to be recognized for our Suicide Prevention Network.
[36:50] Can I get you to pull the microphone?
[36:53] Thank you.
[36:54] Can you hear me now?
[36:57] Again, thank you for the recognition.
[37:00] It's a such an honor to be here today.
[37:04] Since becoming a nonprofit in 2002,
[37:08] Suicide Prevention Network has had one purpose
[37:11] to help save lives and remind people in our community
[37:16] that they do not have to struggle alone.
[37:19] For more than two decades suicide prevention network has worked to create a community where
[37:27] conversations about suicide and mental health are no longer hidden in the shadows.
[37:34] Through education, prevention, outreach and support, we have built partnerships throughout
[37:40] Douglas County and help create culture where it is okay to say, I am not doing okay.
[37:49] As long as there is one person in our community who feels alone overwhelmed and believes their life doesn't matter, we have more work to do.
[38:02] Suicide prevention network is more than the work of an agency.
[38:06] It is the strength of a community that chooses to care for one another.
[38:11] It is found in connection, in compassion, and in the simple but powerful message that no one should struggle alone.
[38:22] Every time we reach out, every time we truly listen, and every time we remind someone that they matter.
[38:35] We strengthen the safety net of our community,
[38:41] and sometimes just that one connection can save a life.
[38:48] I imagine there are people in this room today whose lives have been touched by suicide in some way.
[38:54] Maybe it was someone they loved, someone they worked with, someone they worried about,
[39:02] or perhaps there was a time when you yourself felt that you needed someone to talk to.
[39:11] We are incredibly proud of how far we have come, and each day we wonder who is going to walk into our office doors.
[39:21] The challenge of finding funding to keep our services going, creating new programs as our
[39:29] community needs have changed, and sometimes carrying home
[39:38] the heartbreak of the people that we
[39:41] have touched in our agency.
[39:45] But through it all, we never lose sight of why we are here.
[39:50] Behind every program, every dollar raised, and every person we reach out, what matters the most of life.
[40:00] We must keep talking, we must keep listening, we must keep reaching out and no matter how far we have come, we must never be comfortable believing we have done enough.
[40:16] This proclamation is a wonderful recognition of where we have been, but also see it's the commitment where we still need to go.
[40:28] On behalf of the families who have lost someone they love, the individuals who have allowed us
[40:35] to walk beside them during their darkest moments, and everyone at Suicide Prevention Network,
[40:43] our staff,
[40:51] our Board of Directors, our volunteers, our supporters, we are so grateful to you.
[40:57] And to Douglas County and you, Douglas County Commissioners, for recognizing us and letting
[41:06] us work so hard in the community that we all live in.
[41:12] But most importantly, thank you for standing with us as we continue this work.
[41:19] Because together, we continue to save lives, strengthen families, and build a community where
[41:26] no one has to struggle alone.
[41:30] The work continues, the fight continues,
[41:34] and so will we.
[41:35] Thank you.
[41:45] Sure, I'd like the staff to come up.
[41:56] I just wanted to say on the public record
[41:58] Jennifer Davidson County Manager,
[42:00] the only reason why I'm not wearing purple and solidarity
[42:02] with your team today, Debbie,
[42:04] is because I didn't want anyone to think I was bruised
[42:06] by my evaluation that's coming up later.
[42:10] So we'll get a quick photo and then we'll move on.
[42:48] Thank you for Commissioner Hales for
[42:51] Take care of that and I did I misspoke in my reading at item to the agenda. I don't know
[42:58] misspoke
[42:59] Well did you catch that error?
[43:01] Okay, it's twenty twenty six not twenty twenty five as I think I stated. So anyways
[43:07] Going backwards a year. So
[43:09] anyways, okay item
[43:13] 12.11.2 for presentation only, presentation on Carson Valley Health updates and activities being presented by the newly appointed, along now.
[43:30] Six months? Oh my gosh, where are you been? Okay. The new chief executive officer, Carson Valley Health, Shannon Rogers.
[43:42] It's
[44:15] been a few minutes of your day to talk about some of the activities going on at
[44:20] Carson Valley Health.
[44:21] I could talk about this for hours, but I will not, because I know you have a-
[44:24] Can you, uh, uh, you're not usually this quiet at a board of chamber or meeting, but they can
[44:30] to speak up.
[44:33] Maybe.
[44:36] How's this?
[44:37] Any better?
[44:37] Okay.
[44:38] Great.
[44:38] Thank you.
[44:39] So again, thank you for the time this morning.
[44:40] I will be happy to share a few things that are going on at Carson Valley Health.
[44:44] But first and foremost, I would like to commend Debbie and our team, that was a very touching presentation, and we truly are stronger together.
[44:55] By way of introduction, if I haven't had the opportunity to meet you guys before, I am Shannon Rogers.
[45:00] The Chief Executive Officer here at Carson Valley Health, been in that role as just identified for about six months now.
[45:06] But I've been with the organization since 2004, so 22 years. I've served in a variety of capacities. Those are on your screen.
[45:13] And I put those on there because I think it's important to share that the first decade or so of my time with the organization was spent creating community relationships and building programs to serve our community.
[45:24] So I think that's really set up a good foundation for myself and for the organization to succeed.
[45:30] So a little bit about person valley health, we are a private not for profit hospital system
[45:36] here in Carson Valley located in Gardnerville and as a not for profit hospital, we are
[45:42] required to reinvest all of the profits from our operations into the community. So that's
[45:48] what I'm going to talk to you guys about a little bit today, how we are doing that.
[45:52] We do have a local leadership team up on your screen there that I'm very fortunate to
[45:56] work with. They're a very experienced team and they all if you're locally. I would also like to share that we have a governing board, a form member governing board of also local residents and healthcare experts. So we're very fortunate to have the leadership that we do.
[46:11] We are part of the Barton healthcare system and we're proud to be a member of that strong healthcare system supports not only the Carson Valley, but the South Lake Tahoe and surrounding neighborhoods.
[46:21] I think you'll find as healthcare continues to evolve in Northern Nevada that partnerships are going to be even more crucial as we attempt to coordinate care and share resources to best serve our communities.
[46:38] We do cover all areas of the Carson Valley so we have some clinics up in Minden.
[46:42] We have our main campus in Gardnerville at the south end of Gardnerville.
[46:46] And then we have a small clinic out in Wellington serving the top has range of states community.
[46:51] We have an internal joke that if we build it, they will come.
[46:54] Every time we put up a new facility or add a new service, we get very busy, very quickly.
[46:58] I think people are very surprised at the amount of patients we serve at our small hospital.
[47:05] A large driver of that growth has been our specialty services that we've brought into the community.
[47:09] I think as an aging population, these services continue to be more and more crucial as we serve our residents.
[47:20] We take our role in the community very seriously.
[47:22] We have, of course, like all organizations, a mission and a vision and values, I always put up our vision here.
[47:28] I think it's the most important thing to me is that we're here to strengthen our community.
[47:32] Again, we're stronger together and we do more than just serve the patients that come into our building.
[47:37] We do a lot of work out in the community and we take pride in that.
[47:41] One of the ways we support our community is we are one of the areas largest employers.
[47:45] So we have a significant economic impact on the Carson Valley.
[47:49] We employ 641 people. 129 of those are nurses. I always can ask that question.
[47:56] That does not include the 200 plus physicians that we work with who we contract with to provide services to our community.
[48:04] All that said, those employees contribute about 42 million dollars in payroll.
[48:09] The money goes into the pockets of your friends and neighbors who live and work here and it goes back into the community through that way.
[48:17] Some things behind the scenes that some people don't always know is we also contribute about
[48:22] $8 million dollars in uncompensated care as a non-profit organization.
[48:26] We have the privilege and the responsibility of taking care of anybody who walks through our doors that
[48:31] needs emergency or essential health care services.
[48:34] We're proud to do that, but that does come at a cost of about $8 million to the organization.
[48:40] We also contribute about $1 million in community health improvement initiatives.
[48:43] those are the screenings and discounted services that we provide.
[48:50] Some recent achievements I want to share with you guys, first and foremost we were very proud
[48:54] to have received to be only one of three hospitals in the state of Nevada to have received
[49:00] the CMS 5 star rating and that is indicative of the work we've done on our quality metrics,
[49:07] our quality of care, and our patient safety. So we were very proud of the work we've done there
[49:11] And we hope the community is too.
[49:15] I also want to share something that we've talked a lot about.
[49:17] And I know as one of the reasons we were asked to come speak today is our recent
[49:20] Level 4 trauma center designation.
[49:23] That occurred last fall.
[49:25] And we are the first in the state of Nevada to achieve that designation.
[49:29] And I want to share a little bit about what that means.
[49:33] So what it is required of a Level 4 trauma center is to have a system to respond to
[49:39] traumas can be anything from a fall, with internal injuries, or head injury,
[49:46] or a motor vehicle
[49:47] accident, there could be a number of things along those lines. But what we had to go through to
[49:54] become designated is to have a system of response to these traumas with our partners in the field,
[49:58] so before they come to...
[50:00] Question Valley Health for Care. Have a system within the hospital to address them without delay, and then with other regional facilities where patients may have to ultimately be transferred, if depending on the significance of the trauma.
[50:13] We also had to provide special training to our staff and also provide the right equipment to support these types of care scenarios.
[50:22] So we've invested in all of those things.
[50:25] We now have all of our emergency room nurses are trauma certified,
[50:28] so you will get the same level of care at any time of day
[50:31] that you come into our facility.
[50:33] We've also invested in some medical imaging technology.
[50:36] We recently acquired a second CT, which is a
[50:41] essential piece of imaging equipment in a trauma scenario.
[50:43] So we have that backup.
[50:46] And what that is done for our community and our organization is we have seen
[50:49] 18% increase in trauma has come through our facility that would have gone elsewhere before, and we've seen a decrease of transfers out of our community hospital. So we are able to keep more patients being cared for locally.
[51:04] So looking ahead, we are working with our partners up at Barton Health for a system wide 10 year facility and strategic plan to determine the best course of action for new facilities and new services for our growing region.
[51:19] that will be coming out in the months to come and we're very excited about some of the opportunities we are exploring.
[51:26] I can share from the Carson Valley Health side that will focus primarily on increased behavior of health services and increased oncology cancer care services.
[51:37] So we're very excited to bring those opportunities forward.
[51:42] And in closing I think we take our responsibility to care for our community very seriously.
[51:49] we are committed to investing in community and we're committed to doing what it takes to keep
[51:54] care-label. That concludes my presentation and I'm happy to answer any questions.
[52:00] Wow. You do a lot and very comprehensive and you know I don't know that our community understands
[52:07] it and certainly I know the only time I go to the hospital is when I'm taking my wife generally
[52:15] So, anyways, commissioners, commissioners?
[52:20] I really love keeping care local.
[52:23] I think that's great and appreciate so much what you do.
[52:28] As I read through the presentation in preparation,
[52:32] I focused on this statement.
[52:33] First, critical access hospital in Nevada designated as level four trauma center.
[52:40] So, I didn't understand what a critical access hospital was.
[52:43] It's why I looked it up, but maybe you would explain.
[52:47] Yes, absolutely.
[52:48] A critical access hospital is actually a designation from the federal government.
[52:53] And it is to support hospitals in rural settings,
[52:56] who oftentimes have a higher level of overhead than hospitals.
[53:01] Overhead her volume compared to our more urban hospitals in the state.
[53:06] And so we do have a different reimbursement structure to support that type of care that we provide.
[53:13] So basically what we know about this is you're the first more rural, maybe phrased, imprecisely, but more user-friendly as the first rural hospital to be a level four trauma center.
[53:26] Yes, perfectly phrased.
[53:28] Okay.
[53:28] And I just think what this means to us is shorter time if there's an accident or incident here, shorter time between that and getting treatment, which is
[53:41] by it's very nature life saving and so this is a very exciting and it represents a lot of hard work
[53:50] by everyone including all the nurses who had to do the additional training and just everyone in your organization
[53:56] and it's just great. So thank you.
[53:59] Thank you. Yes, and any sort of emergency but particularly trauma is minutes matter, seconds matter, and so to your point all of this work is really advancing the level of care that we can provide.
[54:10] Thank you for those comments.
[54:15] So you'd mention the expansion and the increase in mental health and since we have suicide
[54:21] prevention here today and I could maybe split. Can you elaborate on that and there's also
[54:25] you doing work, but I'm not sure the success is in your youth mental health services.
[54:31] So could you touch that?
[54:31] Yeah, absolutely. Currently we have outpatient, behavioral health services both for all
[54:38] and then we have a specific geriatric program, that clinic, that service is very, very busy.
[54:44] We continually work to recruit providers to take care of the needs in our community.
[54:50] One thing I didn't mention is Carson Valley Health was a recent recipient of some of the rural health transformation funds,
[54:57] and what we will be using a portion of that for.
[55:00] Here is to recruit more behavioral health providers amongst other types of providers, but really focusing on behavioral health
[55:07] therapists and providers to come in and do that hard work for us. So that's one thing. It's a service line we
[55:13] already offer. What we're looking at in the expansion plan is to continue to build upon that service,
[55:18] but also add an inpatient behavioral health unit. So if patients do need to be admitted, we can offer them
[55:24] specialized care.
[55:26] Thank you.
[55:30] This is Rogers.
[55:31] So I know that our Sheriff's Department has a collection point.
[55:36] Is it collection point for unused and expired medications?
[55:40] Do you offer those same services at your hospital?
[55:44] We do.
[55:44] We do have a collection box outside of our emergency room.
[55:47] So it's available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
[55:50] And it is in conjunction with the Sheriff's Office.
[55:54] So I think that's an important thing to highlight for our residents who have, you know, as our population ages, we may have unused or expired medications.
[56:05] Please do not dispose of those improperly.
[56:08] They need to be disposed either at the Sheriff's Department or at Carson Valley Health, right?
[56:12] Is that a service exist also at your clinics?
[56:15] It does not.
[56:16] is there's some very specific regulations around that so we do want to keep in our 24 hour location
[56:23] that's monitored. Very good. So I hope our public is picking up on that idea. So thank you.
[56:28] Any other questions, commissioners? Commissioner Rice, I know you're in the hospital.
[56:34] Not in this hospital, but you're in that sort of any observations or questions for
[56:39] is Rogers? No, I just wish that our county insurance covered me to go to local care centers,
[56:51] but that's another story and I'm not going to go and do it.
[56:56] But I think this video is here today, just socially zeroing that. So yeah, thank you. Okay.
[57:02] If there's no other questions or comments or observations, thank you very much for your
[57:07] presentation and hopefully we can do this on a little bit more often basis.
[57:11] I look forward to that.
[57:12] As things change down there.
[57:14] Yeah.
[57:15] Thank you.
[57:16] Thank you.
[57:16] What you bring to the community.
[57:21] So five minute break.
[57:24] Quick break.
[57:26] Let's take a five minute break.
[57:27] Go come back at.
[57:29] I have 11.
[57:30] 11.
[57:33] Okay.
[57:35] Great.
[1:06:59] All resources out of it. So that's why we wanted to secure funding before entering this county to make sure that we are not trying to pull any resources or dollars out of the community.
[1:07:10] But most importantly, we need people. We need adults who are willing to say, I have a little time to give and I'm willing to make a big difference in the life of the young person.
[1:07:20] You don't have to be a perfect role model. You don't have to have all the answers. You just have to be willing to show up, be consistent, listen, and care.
[1:07:28] That's what being a big is really about.
[1:07:31] So today I want to thank the commissioners and the many community leaders who have already
[1:07:36] welcomed us back in our helping champion this effort.
[1:07:39] And I want to extend an invitation to everyone in Douglas County if you've ever thought about
[1:07:43] mentoring a young person now as the time.
[1:07:47] We are actively recruiting big brothers and big sisters and we would love to have you join us
[1:07:51] in the power of mentorship back in Douglas County.
[1:07:54] We're excited to be back. We're excited about the partnerships. We're building and most importantly. We're excited about the young people whose lives will be impacted because adults in this community chose to step up.
[1:08:05] Thank you for welcoming big brother's big sisters back to Douglas County. We look forward to be in part of this community for many.
[1:08:13] I'm happy to answer any questions.
[1:08:15] Thank you. Commissioner's questions. Commissioner Rice.
[1:08:20] Yes, one thing I didn't hear mentioned is the facilities that they have and how they acquired
[1:08:27] definitely.
[1:08:29] You might be referring to Boise and Girls Club, big brothers, big sisters, only has one facility
[1:08:34] and we are located in Reno, Nevada on Mill Street.
[1:08:38] Okay, mine is not understanding because we just open a Boise and Girls Club over or off of
[1:08:44] the Assurance.
[1:08:46] Yeah, separate agencies, but we are partnered with Boise and Girls Club throughout the community and across the country.
[1:08:53] Okay, thank you.
[1:08:57] Sure.
[1:08:59] I figured you didn't want to get bigs.
[1:09:03] The first question is what is it, what's the commitment?
[1:09:06] Yeah, the commitment over what review what that is and then what's the process to become a big?
[1:09:11] Yep.
[1:09:11] Yeah, so the commitment to be a big is four to six hours a month and you commit to at least one year in the program right now our program is recognized as one of the top one percent in the country among 240 other big brothers big sisters for our quality in our impact, which means that we are keeping our matches together on average for four years, but we're asking for volunteers when they sign up to commit to four to six hours a month and what we call two a minimum of two match outings.
[1:09:37] So you're spending time with your little every other week for a couple hours each month,
[1:09:42] for a minimum of one year. The process for signing up to become a big is if you go to our website,
[1:09:47] there's a link at the top that says, become a big. You click on that, you'll
[1:09:51] an inquiry in my staff will contact you within 24 hours. You'll complete a orientation and
[1:09:57] interview from a little background check and...
[1:10:00] Training before you're enrolled into the program.
[1:10:06] And what if I have over committed by time now, but I know that somebody might be a good mentor?
[1:10:13] How do I get them involved?
[1:10:14] Yep, there's also a link on our website called nominate a big.
[1:10:18] And so you can click on that and you can nominate anybody to be a big.
[1:10:21] And honestly, that's our biggest success rate of how we recruit bigs.
[1:10:25] So 60% of the people that are nominated to become a big actually fall through in the process
[1:10:29] Because what you'll do when you thought you're nominated a big form is you're going to tell why you think that other person is a big
[1:10:35] So then we're going to call that individual and explain to them who nominated them and why and once they see that somebody else believes that they can have an impact
[1:10:43] They're more likely to sign up to become a big
[1:10:49] Well, you know, I was just going to make it. So you don't have to be as big as he is to do this, right?
[1:10:55] Yeah, our youngest our youngest big is 18 and our oldest big is 84
[1:10:59] So it's a wide range of individuals that sign up.
[1:11:03] So there's not like a prototypical big brother or big sister out there.
[1:11:06] It's anybody who has the time and is willing to give back and spend time with the young person in the community.
[1:11:13] I just want to clarify, when you say four to six, you're saying four, two, six, not 46.
[1:11:21] Yes, four to six hours a month.
[1:11:24] So you're spending time with your little maybe twice a month for a couple hours each time.
[1:11:28] And I just want to note that a few years ago, which is probably a few, actually more than a few,
[1:11:34] as time is accelerating, but I did serve as a mentor for a couple of high school girls one after
[1:11:42] the other. And it was there was not a process or an organization in place that made it easy to do.
[1:11:55] So while I had the desire, I had to work hard to put it in place, and so I'm really, really pleased that this is that you are here and that Commissioner Tolbert has worked to bring you here.
[1:12:10] And I'm excited for the good that you will do. You slash we will do because I will nominate some bigs.
[1:12:17] Wonderful. Maybe eventually be a big. Maybe in about four and a half years.
[1:12:21] Hello. Wonderful. We're excited to be here and thank you so much. Yes, and all who are spare time, right? So, yeah. So, okay. Very good. If no other questions, Danny. Okay. Thank you so much for coming in and thank you for bringing this program to Douglas County. Very important. Yeah. Thank you for having me.
[1:12:46] Okay. Don't overlook that folks. If you're looking for something to do in our county.
[1:12:53] We'll go to item 12.1 for presentation only, introduction of ordinance 2026-1672, an ordinance
[1:13:02] creating chapter 20.850 of the Douglas County Code pertaining to art in public places, and
[1:13:08] a zoning text amendment to section 20.660.050 in of the Douglas County Code decategorizing
[1:13:18] murals as a use of community significance. This is the first reading, but brought by community
[1:13:25] services director of Raqadi. And joined by Mr. Art Community Development Director, Tom Dolare.
[1:13:33] Good morning, Raqadi Community Services Director. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to
[1:13:37] talk about to present the first reading of the title 20 art code. This was a joint effort by community
[1:13:46] services, community development, AJ Hames from the DA's office, the town of Minden, the town
[1:13:53] of Genoa, Main Street, Gardnerville, Carson Valley Arts Council.
[1:13:56] We all came together and reviewed this, and it's been in the works for quite some time
[1:14:01] as a result of the approval of the public art plan, which happened in 2023, and so we are
[1:14:09] happy to be able to bring this forward, and I will come back, I think the first meeting in
[1:14:13] and do a full presentation, but I'm happy to answer any questions if there are some.
[1:14:21] I do have one just to clarify because there's been the public comment out there.
[1:14:30] So the co-incidence of the time with the mural at the Arts Center.
[1:14:34] So that actually went through the existing process to be done,
[1:14:38] which even highlighted more of the need for this,
[1:14:40] is that correct. I just want to make sure we will this isn't trying to go fix something that
[1:14:45] was already done. This is that one went through the proper channels that are in place in
[1:14:50] our trying to improve those channels.
[1:14:53] Brooke A. D. Community Services Director. Yes, thank you for the question. Creating a public art
[1:15:00] Code in title 20 has been something that has been talked about for several years. This has been in the works for at least the last year with the individuals that I have identified. Creating a program moving forward for how you get murals and public art. The mural at the community art center went through the existing, what is entitled 20 today, process through a special use permit.
[1:15:25] We went to the Planning Commission, we went to the board town board of Minden,
[1:15:30] we went through all of the appropriate steps as identified in the code today. This is setting
[1:15:34] new standards moving forward. Yeah, and so what I would like to say in that regard is
[1:15:43] this is something that I recognized when I first became a commissioner in 2021 and started talking
[1:15:50] with the folks with being street gardenerville in the Chamber of Commerce in discovering that our
[1:15:56] mural ordinance is tied up in our sign ordinance in title 20. And I've been trying to work on this
[1:16:03] for six years now, I often say that government works slower than a sloth covered in molasses
[1:16:10] in the dead of winter, okay. But this is finally coming and I'm so glad to see it. And yes,
[1:16:17] the timing is very coincidental as nothing to do with that. So anyways, I'm glad that we're
[1:16:24] finally separating that out. It's so I look forward to the actual ordinance coming to us
[1:16:31] in another month or so. So anyways, thank you for finally doing that. Hang in in there, okay.
[1:16:38] Thank you. Any other questions, commissioners? Okay. Thank you very much for your
[1:16:44] on this. Okay, and I stay in your seat. Okay, we're going to go into 12.2 for possible action
[1:16:55] discussion to review the Roots and Wings pre-school program at KL Community Center and provide
[1:17:01] direction regarding possible changes to the program and peace structure for the 27-28 school year
[1:17:07] being brought forward by our Community Service Director for Katie.
[1:17:14] Good morning. Thank you again
[1:17:15] for allowing me the opportunity to be before you to talk about our roots and
[1:17:20] wings pre-school program, as Mr. Center stated in public comment, we did have a
[1:17:26] meeting earlier this week on Tuesday with our Parks and Record Advisory Board.
[1:17:31] And where some direction was given at that time, I'm going to share a lot of the
[1:17:34] information with you all today that I shared with them.
[1:17:38] And then I will let you know what sort of direction and advisement the Parks and
[1:17:44] advisory board had given for you guys to then decide how we move for it. So this conversation
[1:17:52] is about our roots in wings preschool. This is a preschool that is up in our kale community center.
[1:17:59] And so a couple things that we're going to talk about today is why this program is so valuable
[1:18:05] with the financial status of the program is, which is why we what has brought us here today to
[1:18:11] talk about it. And in talking about the model, there are a number of individuals in the program
[1:18:19] who are California residents and so this has come up multiple times where how do we support
[1:18:25] California residents and what sort of fees do we charge? So I'm going to talk about all of those
[1:18:29] things as we go through the presentation.
[1:18:36] Commissioners, if you have questions of the city during
[1:18:39] the presentation, please go ahead and take the opportunity to do so rather than waiting until the end.
[1:19:00] Thank you.
[1:19:02] So the Roots and Wings pre-school has been around for over 30 years and it is an extremely
[1:19:11] valuable program to the residents up in Douglas County up at the around our care area.
[1:19:19] It has provided early learning opportunities to many children in the community, help children
[1:19:27] confidence independence it really gets them ready for school. This program does fill a gap in the
[1:19:33] Tahoe area. There is no other program like it. It is for primarily three to five year olds and it's
[1:19:42] goal is to get children ready for preschool. They use a play-day play-based development curriculum.
[1:19:51] So everything that they do every day, every activity is very intentional, every toy they have in the facility is intense.
[1:20:03] We've heard at the Parks and Record Advisory Board, we had several parents come up and give public comment about the positive impact this program has had on their children who have transitioned. Many of them have multiple children, so they are bringing multiple children through this program.
[1:20:20] And those that have moved on to kindergarten, they talked extensively about how ready their children were and how they are selling when they finally go into school because of all of the base foundational skills that they've learned in this program.
[1:20:36] This program is very clear that it has a community value. Nobody is questioning that.
[1:20:44] But what brought us here today was when we started evaluating the cost for the program, the revenue for the program, which is what I'm going to get into a little bit more.
[1:20:54] But this is a very important very valuable program that has impacted many children for the last 30 years up at the Douglas County area in Staling.
[1:21:09] So when the program started it was a county program and then it was a contracted program and then it went back to being a county program.
[1:21:16] What was discovered at the time it became a contracted program is that it just really wasn't feasible, then, to be a successful operation as a contracted entity.
[1:21:29] Historically it had covered all of the expenses for program staff and materials, but there's been a lot of things that have happened over the last few years, which has caused that shift.
[1:21:39] This is a voluntary part-time pre-school program.
[1:21:43] It's primarily intended to introduce children into the classroom setting.
[1:21:48] It is different than our kids' club, our rad camps, our before and after school programs,
[1:21:54] which are intended to provide support for families as they are working.
[1:21:59] This program is three hours a day.
[1:22:02] They go 36 weeks out of the year, so they mirror the school calendar.
[1:22:07] So it is looking at and providing services to two different kinds of different kind of group than the kids club program.
[1:22:17] Over the last 30 years, there has been a decline in population, a young families and school aged kids up at the lake.
[1:22:22] I think we see that when we're looking at the school where at one point what tell is able to have a football team and then a few years ago they had six kids graduate as a senior class.
[1:22:34] So there has been a decline, which I'll show you in our enrollment and kind of where our enrollment sits.
[1:22:42] And over the last couple years, most of the costs is around salaries, and so I'll talk about that, but that is a lot of the cost and the cost for the program has increased.
[1:22:55] So, here's a financial overview of where we ended last fiscal year, so I'm talking July 1st,
[1:23:03] 20, 25 through June 30th, 2027. The total program cost was about $222,000, and we brought in about
[1:23:13] $71,000 in revenue. The program serves on average 13 kids a day. It is licensed for 21 children a day,
[1:23:24] And although there are 21 to 24 families enrolled,
[1:23:28] they don't all come every day,
[1:23:29] so we haven't been able to meet our capacity each day.
[1:23:34] There, we do look at the data,
[1:23:36] and there probably is about 30% of,
[1:23:38] during this year, 30% of the children
[1:23:40] were California residents.
[1:23:42] This year we have 24 families enrolled
[1:23:44] in about 11 of them are California residents.
[1:23:47] So when you look at how much the program costs,
[1:23:51] So when we're looking at the $222,000 that is salaries and supplies and materials to operate
[1:23:58] the program, at the end of the year, the county contributed about $150,000 to this program.
[1:24:09] Why did we start talking about this all of a sudden?
[1:24:13] The room tax revenues have stabilized.
[1:24:16] They are not increasing at the same rate that our salaries are increasing.
[1:24:20] And so all of us department heads have been directed to do five year projections.
[1:24:25] Look ahead, evaluate all of our programs, look and see, are we capturing the revenue that we need to support the programs within our department and so we started looking at the preschool and that's why we are here to assess it.
[1:24:39] We haven't met our 21 child capacity limit. The revenues aren't coming in to support salary costs.
[1:24:47] And so that is why we're having this discussion today.
[1:24:52] At the end of the last school year, we sent letters to the family saying,
[1:24:55] we were going to evaluate the program to see if it was something that was going to continue.
[1:25:00] And if it was, maybe we were going to have a later start. And we got a lot of feedback from a lot of parents that were very upset because this is such a treasured program that there wasn't outpouring of support for it. And so what that did, it caused us to sort of hit pause and say, okay, this program is funded for this fiscal year. So July 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2027. Let's go ahead and operate the program as is this year, because it is funding.
[1:25:30] And let's look at how we structure the program in future years to help offset some of that cost and versus the inability.
[1:25:41] So a couple things that we have done so far to reduce that gap from the amount of revenue that we're bringing in to the cost of the program.
[1:25:50] So we adjusted our staffing so we have one preschool director and last year we had three preschool teachers this year.
[1:26:00] We are going down to two preschool teachers still complies with state licensing requirements. We're still meeting our ratios.
[1:26:08] But we have two teachers in the program now.
[1:26:11] And we're looking to hire some on call staff to be able to bring them in, in case we have a teacher that sicker goes on vacation because we can't go below those two.
[1:26:21] We need to be able to keep our ratios.
[1:26:23] We've also trained several of our front desk counter staff.
[1:26:27] So our preschool teachers are actually a rec leader seniors, which is also what our front counter staff is.
[1:26:34] So we have trained some of our front counter staff to also fill in if needed.
[1:26:38] We did launch an enrollment campaign to say, hey, Bruton Wings preschool is open.
[1:26:43] Please apply.
[1:26:44] I think there is a disconnect between our communication and the community out there.
[1:26:51] Everybody thinks that this program is full and there's weightless.
[1:26:54] And so maybe people aren't even trying to get in.
[1:26:56] And so we're making some efforts to say, hey, we have a preschool.
[1:27:00] We are open.
[1:27:00] We have capacity.
[1:27:01] Please come and sign up.
[1:27:04] I'm not sure if we've had any additional kids sign up
[1:27:07] Since we've launched that campaign, but we're going to continue to do so.
[1:27:11] We did have a community meeting with all of the parents of the current children that are enrolled in the program.
[1:27:19] We met with them to hear their questions, to hear their concerns.
[1:27:23] We did do a budget presentation with them to say, hey, here's the status of the room tax.
[1:27:28] Here's the different buckets of money that room tax goes into, so they had an understanding of that.
[1:27:33] And then we release the survey for two weeks of the preschool families to say, what kind of model works best for your family?
[1:27:43] Is it a five day week? Is it a three day week? What kinds of things do you like about the program?
[1:27:49] Do you dislike about the program? And so I do have some of those survey results here.
[1:27:54] So we've really been engaging with the families to say to really help us come up with the solution to continue this program moving forward.
[1:28:09] So a little bit more about the Roots and Wings program.
[1:28:12] It is a licensed preschool for children ages two to five.
[1:28:15] We typically take them at three, three to five.
[1:28:19] They do 36 weeks out of the year.
[1:28:22] Their program is from nine to 12 in the morning.
[1:28:24] They do pay $34 a day.
[1:28:26] We have the capacity for 21 children and it has operated
[1:28:33] in the community center since about the mid-90s.
[1:28:36] The things that parents like the most.
[1:28:37] Sorry, Brooke, and how many are California kids?
[1:28:42] I right now we have 24 families registered and 11 are California, but I'll go into the breakdown of how many kids we have each day and a couple of future slides.
[1:28:53] That's okay.
[1:28:55] The things that the families really like about this program is that it is three hours a day.
[1:29:01] One of the other things that have happened to cause us to look at this program was Douglas
[1:29:06] County School District opened up a pre-K program at Zebra Cove Elementary School.
[1:29:11] And we thought, wow, this is great.
[1:29:13] If this program were unable to continue, families have another option, resources are so limited
[1:29:18] at the lake that we thought if we could really get some families to sign up for the Zebra Cove
[1:29:24] program, that would be a really great alternative if we were unable to continue this program.
[1:29:30] What we heard from the families is the program at Zefer Cove and the program at Roots and Wings are not apples and apples.
[1:29:38] They are different programs.
[1:29:40] The program at Zefer Cove Elementary School is really for four and five year olds and it's an all day program.
[1:29:47] The program at Roots and Wings, we can take three to five year olds.
[1:29:50] So it's really that that gap of finding a place for three year olds to go to be able to get some pre school and prepare them for a full
[1:30:00] Day, class room, and it's a part day program. It's three hours a day. We did get a lot of feedback from families that they really did not believe that there's three
[1:30:09] year olds were ready for a full day program. So that's what this program does. It meets that needs for those families.
[1:30:17] And this is a public operation. So county carries the staffing costs, the licensing, the operating costs, all of those things.
[1:30:28] Now, Douglas County does at the Community Center down here in the Valley, we do have a preschool.
[1:30:34] It's called Sage Brush Sprouts, but Sage Brush Sprouts operates on a very different model.
[1:30:39] This preschool is contracted through the county and they hire their staff, they train their staff, they really operate independently.
[1:30:50] So, Roots and Wings?
[1:30:52] So the only thing we really provide at Sage Busbals from a county standpoint is the facility.
[1:30:59] Do they pay us for the use of that facility?
[1:31:02] Yeah. So Sage Busbals is a year-round program and it's a full-day program.
[1:31:08] They do have half-day options and they do do some pre-school curriculum,
[1:31:14] but they really are a daycare model where roots and wings is a pre-school.
[1:31:19] It is just a preschool, they do preschool curriculum.
[1:31:23] The way that Sage Brush Browse works
[1:31:24] is that we have a contract with them
[1:31:26] to operate the program.
[1:31:28] County staff does all of the enrollment.
[1:31:31] We collect all of the funds.
[1:31:33] And then we give the revenue minus 11%,
[1:31:37] we keep 11% of the revenue back to the preschool teacher,
[1:31:41] who hires her staff, who pays her staff.
[1:31:44] So when you look at this revenue,
[1:31:46] The Sage Brush Browse Browse pre-school brought in $193,000.
[1:31:51] Last fiscal year.
[1:31:53] There's space.
[1:31:54] Is that model not work up at a bit kale?
[1:31:57] I, we could well talk about that in a little bit.
[1:32:01] So if you look at the Sage Brush Browse and the amount of revenue they brought in,
[1:32:05] there are a couple caveats and differences between that program and Roots and Wings.
[1:32:10] One is that it's a year-round program.
[1:32:12] Roots and Wings does 36 weeks a year, Sage Brush Browse does year round.
[1:32:18] Two, their spaces bigger so they can hold more children.
[1:32:23] They are able to serve more kids because if you look at the rate,
[1:32:27] the rate isn't that different.
[1:32:29] They do $35 a day for part-time, $40 a day for full-time.
[1:32:33] But they do require a five-day a week enrollment,
[1:32:36] where Roots and Wings has a minimum of a two-day enrollment.
[1:32:38] So, looking at Roots and Wings, it's a program that goes from 9 in the morning till noon.
[1:32:45] 36 weeks out of the school year, $34 a day, and then parents get to select what days they
[1:32:50] bring their kids as long as it's a minimum of two. But when they enroll, and I say, I wanted
[1:32:56] to have my kid come on Tuesday and Wednesday. They're locked into Tuesday and Wednesday, the whole rest
[1:33:00] of the year. They can't decide Tuesday, Wednesday, this week, Wednesday, Friday and next week,
[1:33:05] their locked into those days. And so at $34 a day the rate that we have
[1:33:11] $72,000 of revenue was brought in through the county-operated model.
[1:33:24] So this is how our enrollment
[1:33:28] has looked over the last couple of years. So in 23, 24 is when we had a shift where Shelley
[1:33:35] who was our preschool director.
[1:33:39] She had been doing it since it opened, retired.
[1:33:43] We had several staff that left when she left.
[1:33:46] And so we've had to sort of rebuild the program.
[1:33:49] But if you look at the enrollment,
[1:33:53] we are average about 13, 13, 14 kids per day in the program.
[1:33:58] Even looking back a few years ago, some other things
[1:34:03] that have changed since the 23-24 when Shelly retired a lot of her staff with her, we really
[1:34:10] struggled to fill those positions because the preschool teacher positions were 19 hour a week
[1:34:16] positions that don't have any benefits. So we had one preschool director and we had one 29-hour
[1:34:24] teacher who are running the program. They did an amazing job. They were still able to serve this
[1:34:32] number of kids. And what we did on the counties end is we said, Hey, we're really struggling with these
[1:34:37] 19 hour week positions. We need to do something to get a better pull of recruitment. So we combined
[1:34:44] some 19 hour positions, making 29 hour positions, which now receive benefits. So that cost increased.
[1:34:54] But we still struggled and we had, it took us a year to hire one of those, it took us a year to hire one of those.
[1:35:00] Now, where we are, we have two pre-school teachers, a pre-school director, pre-school started today, or no yesterday was the first day, and we're ready to go this year. But over the last couple years, there had been some struggles with staffing,
[1:35:17] we did some combination of some positions, and that kind of increased our costs too. But here's a look over history about how many kids we've had in the program.
[1:35:30] year after year.
[1:35:34] We did some research also on is our rate, how does our rate compare to
[1:35:39] other preschools in the county? How does it compare to the state? How does it compare
[1:35:44] to national preschool rates? The data that you see on here is from 2022 on the United
[1:35:54] States when it is from 2025, but we actually called several preschools in Douglas County and
[1:35:59] We're kind of right there with what they are charging.
[1:36:03] So it's like the average is about $34 a day,
[1:36:06] which is what we're charging right now.
[1:36:08] So when we're trying to figure out,
[1:36:11] are we priced too high?
[1:36:13] Are we priced too low?
[1:36:15] We're kind of right in the range
[1:36:17] of where other people are pricing.
[1:36:19] It is a little bit difficult
[1:36:20] because most of the models that we look at
[1:36:23] are daycare models.
[1:36:24] This is such a unique model that is only preschool
[1:36:28] for three hours a day.
[1:36:37] So looking at what we're charging, looking at our capacity that we've
[1:36:42] had for the preschool, we put together some numbers to say, hey, if the county wanted to
[1:36:49] needed to recover 80% of the cost and we had 14 kids per day in the program, we would have
[1:36:59] charged $60 a day for the families.
[1:37:03] If you wanted to recover 100% so there have been comments I've heard about California residents
[1:37:10] should pay the full price if I believe Mr. Senator referenced this this morning that
[1:37:18] if we said we have to cover 100% of the cost, yeah the rate would have to be $75 a day.
[1:37:24] if we continue to be at this 14 average of 14 kids per day.
[1:37:30] What's happening right now?
[1:37:32] So this year, we did increase the rate by $1,
[1:37:36] which is getting us an additional $10,000 in revenue from last year.
[1:37:41] So we've been able to lower the cost of the program
[1:37:43] by eliminating one staff that by about $40,000.
[1:37:47] And we've been able to bring in $10,000 more in revenue
[1:37:51] by adjusting the cost by $1.
[1:37:53] But here are, if we continue at the pace that we're at with about 14 kids a day, here's some ideas of rates that we need to be charged to determine how much of a county contribution there would be to support the program.
[1:38:13] If we were to be at capacity and we were to have 21 children a day in the program, which is the goal,
[1:38:21] in order to cover our full cost, which is that $180,000, we would charge $50 a day.
[1:38:28] If we wanted to, if we needed to recover 80% of our cost, we could charge $40 a day.
[1:38:34] So if we were even at full capacity and charging $34 a day, we would be able to increase our revenue to about $123,000.
[1:38:48] So there are a couple of factors that play one is being able to get it capacity,
[1:38:51] but two is to be able to find a rate that addresses the amount of funds that the county is contributing to this program.
[1:39:04] So Commissioner Gardner had asked about what if we did a private contracting option appear at the lake.
[1:39:13] We know that they tried that before and it didn't quite work, but you know it's been 30 years, so is there an opportunity to look at this again?
[1:39:22] I do have somebody that is interested in a contract option, but let's talk about some advantages and some disadvantages.
[1:39:30] advantages. Some advantages would be that all of the day-to-day preschool staffing and
[1:39:36] recruitment, all of that goes to the contractor.
[1:39:41] They would have the contractor with
[1:39:44] likely support a different service model, which might look a little bit more like a day
[1:39:49] care model with preschool. Really the only way for a private preschool director to make
[1:39:55] this possible would be to offer a year-round program a full day.
[1:40:00] Program, which up at the lake, there are really limited options for programs. The feedback that we got from the families, if we go to a contract model,
[1:40:12] are they going to have the same teachers? No, they probably won't because the new preschool director will hire their own teachers.
[1:40:19] Well, we have the same curriculum, maybe, because in the process of negotiating with a contractor we can set some parameters about what type of preschool we would like to see what are the hours, what are the rates.
[1:40:36] Those are all things that get approved by the county as we go into the contractor.
[1:40:41] So we would still approve like the tuition and the operating schedule.
[1:40:44] some disadvantages. We've looked at the history and have said, hey, we've been averaging
[1:40:49] about 14 kids a day for a year after year for multiple years. Are there enough, is there
[1:40:55] enough demand at the lake to make this a successful model for our private operator? They might
[1:41:04] struggle to hire qualified preschool staff. When we're looking at average wages up at the lake for
[1:41:12] free school, boys and girls club, it's $30 an hour, $25 to $30 an hour. Are they going to be able
[1:41:19] to hire staff to support that wage? There might be gaps in services with the contract model. So
[1:41:26] if the contractor decides, well, this isn't working. I need to cancel my contract. You know,
[1:41:32] then we don't have that service anymore. The preschool director is not required to follow county
[1:41:38] hiring processes, but the state licensing board does have requirements that need to be met.
[1:41:45] They need to be background check.
[1:41:47] They have to have certain types of training, but it is different than the county and
[1:41:51] so the county would not be involved in that.
[1:41:54] And then the contractive model would not be able to use county staff as backup.
[1:41:59] So if they don't have staff that shows up for somebody's sick, right now, we can pull
[1:42:04] from our front counter to be back up, they don't have that option anymore.
[1:42:11] So if there was a contracted position, let's talk about what that process looks like.
[1:42:18] So we would have to do a request for proposals, so we would put it out to the public and talk
[1:42:24] with people and engage with maybe some already existing preschools.
[1:42:28] have somebody that's already interested and get formal applications in. So what would happen
[1:42:37] is if we were to do that now, we would solicit, we would get some applications, we would negotiate,
[1:42:45] see if there's a good fit. If so, we could potentially go into a contract to start next fiscal year,
[1:42:52] or next fiscal year slash school year.
[1:42:55] If we're able to do that now,
[1:42:57] we'd have to work on like the licensing transition.
[1:43:01] We would talk with whoever was submitting an application
[1:43:06] through the RFP, we wouldn't negotiate rates
[1:43:09] and programs standards and all of that, like I said before.
[1:43:13] But there is time to explore an option like this
[1:43:16] to see, is there anybody else out there that probably could do this?
[1:43:22] Here are some results from the survey, so we had 21 individual responses.
[1:43:28] Now I don't know if that is 10 families with mom and dad or if they're all 21 individual families
[1:43:37] because it wasn't an anonymous survey but we did get 21 responses.
[1:43:42] 86% of them set a flexible day selection is very important or essential.
[1:43:48] So, they like being able to choose, however many days that best work for their families and when you look at the data
[1:43:55] Part busy as days are really Tuesday Wednesday Thursday. The majority of the families are enrolled in three days a week and they really like that mid week
[1:44:04] 90% of them said that they would remain enrolled if a three-day minimum commitment was required
[1:44:10] There are a lot of preschools that say you have a five-day minimum
[1:44:14] you pay five days, whether you come all five days or not, there are some that do three-day
[1:44:19] minimums. So right now we have two, so we could look at that sort of model. And six, only
[1:44:26] 67% said they would be somewhat or very likely to use extended daycare. Most of the families
[1:44:32] really appreciate that they can come in the morning, they go home, they have lunch, their kids are
[1:44:38] at home napping, they're not napping in some school location. But the themes that are really
[1:44:44] important to hear is that families choose the program for the quality of teachers, their reputation,
[1:44:50] the small class size, and the curriculum. It meets this age group of three year olds,
[1:44:56] it is a part-day program, those are the reasons why they really like it. And the
[1:45:02] Some of the other feedback that we got from the survey, there were families that said church California residents more.
[1:45:11] There were families that said, you know, a modest increase in our wages or the daily cost would be okay or maybe we make a raise this year and then we sort of do a little bit each year to get us to a certain point.
[1:45:28] The comment that was made previously by Mr. Senator, which we had talked about before about increasing the cost for a gym membership to support this program.
[1:45:40] Our gym memberships support the staff, the operator gym, they support the equipment that goes in our gym, our equipment replacement and maintenance.
[1:45:49] And so we are looking at doing some increases across the board.
[1:45:55] We're working with our Parks and Rec Advisory Board to come forward and with our fees and charges manual to propose some rate increases because it's been a few years since we've increased our memberships.
[1:46:07] But what has happened in those few years, staffing costs of increase, our facilities are getting older, our equipment needs to be replaced and maintenance.
[1:46:13] And so those fees really go to support those types of things.
[1:46:19] So where does that leave us after all of the discussion in the public comments and the parent meetings and the survey?
[1:46:26] The Parks and Record Advisory Board said we don't feel comfortable advising on any kind of rate right now
[1:46:34] They did direct staff to say go ahead
[1:46:38] Release the RFP. See if there are other interested
[1:46:41] Private operators if there's a way to make this work
[1:46:46] We want to go through that process, bring back the results and say here's what we found
[1:46:50] is this an option that would work for the families, it works for the community that works
[1:46:55] for the preschool director, and then to come back in January with the results of the RFP,
[1:47:03] they did give us some other things to look into as far as different funding options, one of
[1:47:11] families had said, you know, the kale parking lot during
[1:47:14] 4th of July is insanely busy. Why don't we charge that and
[1:47:17] have it go to the preschool? I don't know if all of these
[1:47:20] options are feasible, but these are the suggestions that the
[1:47:22] parents are coming back with to us with. And so the parks and
[1:47:27] record advisory board felt like, you know, there were some
[1:47:30] things that were presented that need to be vetted before we
[1:47:33] can make a decision. And that's where we left the meeting
[1:47:36] off on Tuesday and now I'm here before you to provide you with all of this information and answer
[1:47:42] any questions you guys may have.
[1:47:46] Thank you, Miss Edie.
[1:47:49] West did you get all that?
[1:47:55] I'm certainly dead.
[1:47:56] I have just a couple of questions.
[1:47:58] Number one, on the California side, if one of our residents goes over there to use one of their
[1:48:06] facilities, do we have to pay more than a resident?
[1:48:09] Yes.
[1:48:10] Spark 80 community services director. Yes, the South Lake Tahoe community center. We actually took our parks and record advisory board. Last month there for a tour. And that is what we found is they have a different rate for an amount of residents. Well, California residents and non residents. So basically anybody coming in who is not a resident of that area does have to pay a higher rate.
[1:48:34] I think they would agree at appropriate for us, but it was just saying,
[1:48:41] as far as the charging
[1:48:43] for parking on the further July, good luck with that one.
[1:48:49] Anyway, no, I got all that.
[1:48:51] I just want to be very cautious that the people at the lake don't see this as another
[1:48:58] Well, we're we're we're doing away with programs here and moving them down to the valley and we're not getting our prayers here. I want to really guard against that perception.
[1:49:11] Thank you.
[1:49:13] Thank you, Mr. Rice.
[1:49:15] Michelle.
[1:49:16] Do we have any idea of the numbers of kids in terms of potential increases?
[1:49:23] It's because right now we're having an average of how many a day, 14, and it has room for 21.
[1:49:31] It would really help the program if we boosted that to 21.
[1:49:35] Do we have any idea of, I mean, I've heard that the birth rate has increased and that maybe there is a new flock of toddlers
[1:49:47] whose parents might be looking for this service. Do we do we know? Are there numbers out there?
[1:49:53] I know you said you're trying to get the word out that there are openings, but how's that going?
[1:50:00] And do you have any data?
[1:50:03] Pricatee Community Services Director, I don't have any data right now, but I think that is one of the things that we need to vet to come forward in January and get information on.
[1:50:14] Mr. Senator and his presentation has been able to gather some data.
[1:50:18] I will say anecdotally, many of the moms who came to speak at the preschool have children who've come through the program,
[1:50:27] have children that are in the program and have children that are expected to come to the program.
[1:50:33] Many of these families have multiple children and so there are definitely multiple families
[1:50:39] that are wanting to bring their kids here in the future. What the number looks like, I can't
[1:50:44] tell you right now. Okay. Then just a couple of quick comments.
[1:50:57] I
[1:50:57] service services so I would support a change there.
[1:51:03] That said, I really support, I want to support families.
[1:51:07] Families here in the Valley families at the lake.
[1:51:10] So if we end up not recovering every single dollar,
[1:51:13] I'm okay with that.
[1:51:14] I want to support families.
[1:51:16] There's there's there's merit.
[1:51:19] There are advantages in having young people in our communities.
[1:51:23] And I want to support that.
[1:51:25] but appreciate the work you're doing. Thank you. I've got a couple questions, a couple statements.
[1:51:30] First of all, it is unfair for us not to charge California more. I think that's been the
[1:51:37] view of the board. The problem is that some of them want to drop out, which makes it even more
[1:51:41] difficult for us to to feel those spots. But you can't subsidize California in an expect
[1:51:46] Nevada tax period. It won't get any benefit out of it to feel that's okay. But there's going to be
[1:51:55] are so into this program. There's a lot of them that has spoken. I think part of them need to get
[1:52:00] out and promote the program and get out of the kids to come. And that should be a big portion of
[1:52:05] it. This is a problem I have. I agree with everything Commissioner Hell is saying about this
[1:52:09] is an important program. You want to take care of the children this and that. But we're talking
[1:52:13] about $145,000 for, you said there's a 24 kids in the program now,
[1:52:20] 11 are California, so for 13 kids, the county's spending $145,000 for them out of the
[1:52:27] wrecked parks and wrecks program. How does that compare to other dollars that are being spent
[1:52:31] for the parks and wrecks program? And finally, I haven't heard anything from you about
[1:52:36] how much money is in the parks and wrecks fund and continue this program, does it dilute
[1:52:42] what we need to be done in those other areas.
[1:52:51] I'm I'm contemplating how to answer which to answer.
[1:52:57] Um,
[1:52:59] okay.
[1:53:00] I wasn't really a question.
[1:53:01] Okay.
[1:53:02] Unless you know.
[1:53:03] All good points to look at.
[1:53:05] Thank you.
[1:53:07] So, you know, I had the benefit of sitting in on that meeting
[1:53:09] with the Parks and Rec Advisory Council.
[1:53:13] So, um, one of the things that I took away from that that I didn't have
[1:53:16] And I don't think I would have from this meeting that I got from that, is that this program is
[1:53:26] specific, and it's comparing it to a preschool is not really what it is.
[1:53:31] It's more, like if you consider it in art class, that the county provided in people came into,
[1:53:37] because it's specifically preparing kids for school.
[1:53:40] And the parents are driving the kid to their at 9 o'clock and then hanging around doing whatever and picking them right back up at noon so that they can participate in this program.
[1:53:51] It is not daycare whatsoever. It is a specific specific and there there's one lady was coming from Meyer. So she's driving a couple hours a day for three hours for her kid to come to this program because it is unique and it is very successful.
[1:54:09] in what it does, when the kids come out, they are, you know, evidentially, it's what we've been shown advancing, and ahead of the class when they get into the class. So that's why the parents want to do it.
[1:54:19] And the other thing is there's a public perception, and I think because they have wait list, and that was one of the things, well the wait list is not a wait list to get in.
[1:54:28] It's more of a reservation for your two-year-old to get in when they're three. And so I think that has gotten out there's like, oh, I've been on the wait list for over a year.
[1:54:36] Well, they've been on the wait list over here to make sure that their three-year-old gets in when they're three, not because it's all full, but, you know, when you, you know, and
[1:54:45] and not to knock our generation, but I do it all that I work with the kids all the time.
[1:54:50] Are the younger generations tend to see a roadblock and stop and say, oh, like, you know, there's a roadblock.
[1:54:56] And so when these things are going out there, they're not looking for, oh, well, if one of the final...
[1:55:02] So I think that public perception is something we need to overcome in order to fill these because there are allegedly a lot of parents that would like to get their kids into it, but they haven't even tried because there was a persona that this program is so elite that they can't get their kids in.
[1:55:19] So that's another one I think, with we could bust through that, we would probably get more
[1:55:25] and more enrollment as far as that goes.
[1:55:27] But I also really want to make sure we think of it more of a program that we are offering
[1:55:32] that is highly successful in its results.
[1:55:35] It's just finding a way to fund it, and I don't know what that exact answer is, and that's
[1:55:40] why I think the advisory board also said, whoa, we want to keep it if at all possible.
[1:55:45] We would like to see if we can find a way to forward to make its cover itself and then if we have to get rid of it
[1:55:52] or cut it as far as the county goes the last resort would be going to a third part of your privatization.
[1:55:59] So that's why I think we're there.
[1:56:01] I think there's a lot of things to vet.
[1:56:03] And maybe that parking thing could be if those parents run it like the school does for the other one.
[1:56:11] those of the school people are actually the ones out there
[1:56:14] making the work.
[1:56:16] So there's a lot of things to be vetted in that scenario.
[1:56:20] But that's kind of where I want to make sure
[1:56:22] but he kind of got the perception that I was the benefit of
[1:56:25] that it's not just a preschool for people to have a place to have their kids
[1:56:30] during the day.
[1:56:31] It's not.
[1:56:31] It is a specific program that they take their kids to
[1:56:36] to benefit their kids.
[1:56:37] It's not a thing of a more like an art program
[1:56:41] or the basketball program or something like that.
[1:56:43] That's a part of Kale and who Kale is.
[1:56:46] So that was on my comment.
[1:56:48] OK.
[1:56:50] So first of all,
[1:56:57] I want to say that I concur
[1:56:59] with the Park and Rec recommendations.
[1:57:03] I don't know enough about this program
[1:57:06] to make a lot of judgments at this time.
[1:57:10] So I think we need to gather a lot more information.
[1:57:14] But I need to ask the basic question that poses to me is, is this a function of
[1:57:24] county government?
[1:57:27] I think we need to address that.
[1:57:28] Is this a function of county government?
[1:57:30] Because I'm not sure it is, okay?
[1:57:34] And should we be involved in a preschool program?
[1:57:38] Commission rice is indicated that we don't want to cut a service that in the lake that is available on the county floor, but we're not offering a preschool in the county floor.
[1:57:51] Okay, it's a different program.
[1:57:54] So it's not like we're doing that.
[1:57:59] So I have to question why this program is if you run by the Douglas County School District who is in the schooling program in the schooling process.
[1:58:07] that's their function.
[1:58:10] So, and I want to also understand, are we a singular program, or is this service be an
[1:58:18] offered in South Lake Tahoe or other research surrounding jurisdictions?
[1:58:22] Is this a program available in Washow County, Lion County, Carson, Story County, those
[1:58:33] only jurisdiction in this area and maybe we need it if they are doing this then maybe we need
[1:58:40] to take a look at their model. But my other thought process is rather than offering it on
[1:58:46] if we're going to offer it as we go into the 2728 budget year. Why do we make it available for five
[1:58:54] days when we only require the kid to be there for three days? Why don't we limit that to Tuesday,
[1:59:00] Wednesday Thursday versus a five-day availability so that we can have the majority, you know,
[1:59:07] that's economies of scale, right? Where we are offering the service for Tuesday, Wednesday,
[1:59:14] Thursday or whatever the dates may be. If it's three days, or we require a five-day program,
[1:59:20] one of the two, I do concur with what my fellow commissioners are indicating. I believe at least three of
[1:59:28] have expressed it, and I don't know that Commissioner Tolbert disagrees, but the aspect of us,
[1:59:37] Douglas County, Supplementing, the cost of non-nobattle residents, I don't know that that's
[1:59:46] fair to our residents. I don't know that that's a proper use of taxpayer dollars. So, I do know that.
[1:59:54] Of course, it's not, it's not a proper use of, you know.
[2:00:00] And we've done that. We've used that model in our warrior way, parking structure with the school district.
[2:00:08] And we say that if you're a, and about a resident, a Douglas County resident, then you don't pay for that fee.
[2:00:15] But other people coming from other jurisdictions outside of Douglas County are paying for that fee. So anyways, those are my concerns.
[2:00:23] So I would encourage that we not really necessarily take, I don't know that we have enough information
[2:00:31] on this to really make a motion or do anything on that.
[2:00:36] The primary reason I think we put it on here for possible action is to allow the public
[2:00:41] to speak to this item and it's been a robust discussion, a very comprehensive illustration
[2:00:48] of the program, but I once again, is this, is this an essential service of Douglas County?
[2:00:57] I don't know. I need to be convinced otherwise. So, can you add a couple of thoughts that have
[2:01:03] occurred to me? Okay.
[2:01:08] Or we do need to go public comments. Right. At a cost of 150,000 last year
[2:01:14] My little math exercise shows me that was over $6,000 per child that the county paid over
[2:01:23] in above, you know, what was brought in.
[2:01:27] And if there were 11 California children, that $63,000 that went to non, that this county
[2:01:33] residents, I salute you for seeing this as a problem and trying to solve it because that troubles
[2:01:40] me.
[2:01:41] But I think you're well on your way.
[2:01:45] Regarding the idea of raising revenue on a little uncomfortable with that,
[2:01:49] I'm a little uncomfortable with any one group saying,
[2:01:53] Oh, so the county's considering cuts to our program,
[2:01:56] therefore we want to devise ways to bring an income that help just us.
[2:02:02] I'm uncomfortable with that.
[2:02:05] That's not to say good ideas might generate revenue,
[2:02:08] and maybe we should do them, but I'm uncomfortable with one special interest group, figuring
[2:02:16] out a revenue source and claiming it as their own. So I really like the idea of recruiting
[2:02:24] and filling up, or if we have to, cut back to three days a week, and families would have to
[2:02:29] adjust to whatever three days you were able to move to to get the program more cost neutral,
[2:02:38] not that it has to be completely that way, but thanks for letting me out those additional.
[2:02:43] It seems like you're here for our thoughts, so those are my thoughts.
[2:02:49] Okay, any other questions before we go to public comment?
[2:02:52] Okay, let's go to public comment.
[2:03:03] Jim Jackson, I'll share the title of Grinch with you, Grinch Degarner.
[2:03:08] I'll share the title of Grinch with you.
[2:03:12] The program may be a very important program to a very few number of people.
[2:03:16] I relate back to when our son was in this position.
[2:03:22] We found a very good private school for him to go to.
[2:03:27] A very expensive private school.
[2:03:30] We knew that going into it.
[2:03:32] County wasn't paying for it.
[2:03:34] We paid for it.
[2:03:36] But you have a problem of very few students in a very large cost
[2:03:41] and you're not going to get the two to come together from what I see of this.
[2:03:46] by the time you start charging enough to either California residents which should actually charge more,
[2:03:54] they'll start finding other alternatives. If you set the price it hears where it needs to be,
[2:04:00] to maintain this, they're all going to say it costs way too much money. Well, that's up to them
[2:04:07] to decide is it worth it for their kids or not. That's an individual choice. It's not something
[2:04:14] that I think the county can answer.
[2:04:17] We hear constantly, the county does not have enough money to provide things to the rest
[2:04:22] of the county, roads, flood control, all those different things that benefit a large number
[2:04:29] of people.
[2:04:31] So, here we have a very few number of people getting a fairly large amount of money.
[2:04:38] And like you were saying, they think it's their revenue source.
[2:04:42] Now it's not. It's the revenue source for the whole county. It's a tough decision to make but I think it needs to be looked at more on a business side.
[2:04:53] What do you need to charge to provide this service? And if we can't charge that much, then that service can't be provided.
[2:05:01] That's tough saying, but that's just the way it happens to be.
[2:05:05] I don't know what your solution's going to be, but I do think that you have to consider, is it a county government function to do this, or is it a school board function?
[2:05:17] School boards got its own problems. They're closing schools because they don't have enough money.
[2:05:24] The population is getting older in the county, not younger, and everything.
[2:05:29] So I don't think you can look at future enrollment as going up.
[2:05:35] I don't know.
[2:05:35] Like you said, we don't have enough information to really make any decisions on it at this
[2:05:39] point.
[2:05:41] But I think it needs to be considered like you were saying, is it a county function first
[2:05:46] and foremost?
[2:05:47] If it's not, then the county's out of it.
[2:05:50] if it is, then you got to figure out how to get more out of the people benefiting from it directly.
[2:05:58] Thank you.
[2:06:06] Good afternoon, Nile Woller. I wasn't going to comment today, but it's interesting how this
[2:06:11] is playing out and it sounds like it's an exceptional model for maybe a contractor that needs to
[2:06:21] explore a business. We've discussed and it was an exceptional presentation, Brooke. Honestly,
[2:06:32] it's got to be a hard decision. This is also precedent setting for future issues that might
[2:06:41] come to this county. I'm deep in the Barton process and there's recommendations to use our
[2:06:49] transit center for a potential parking for them.
[2:06:53] So it's the same kind of thing.
[2:06:55] If this county continues to be brought forward with issues
[2:07:01] that benefit some of the aspects of families in any kind
[2:07:11] of arena and the budget challenges continue,
[2:07:16] we do need to make some hard decisions
[2:07:18] and it starts with this one. Thank you.
[2:07:23] Thank you. Additional public comment?
[2:07:27] See, no additional public comment or bring it back to the board.
[2:07:33] Additional comments, questions, observations.
[2:07:37] We don't, we're not required to even know it's possible action.
[2:07:42] It's as possible action.
[2:07:43] I think, if there's no motion, I think you've the city gotten some direction from us in regards to that, and you've gotten direction from the Parks and Rec to Advisory Council as well, and so I guess we need to expect you back at a later date to discuss how you feel the program needs to go and your observations or suggestions.
[2:08:15] Is that right?
[2:08:17] Yes.
[2:08:17] Okay.
[2:08:18] With that.
[2:08:19] Thank you very much.
[2:08:20] We appreciate it.
[2:08:22] And go forth and see what you can find out.
[2:08:26] We're going to take a quick break.
[2:08:29] We're going to come back.
[2:08:30] And we're going to go ahead and do the county managers and your performance evaluation.
[2:08:36] And then we'll take a break for lunch.
[2:08:38] Thank you.
[2:12:51] Okay.
[2:12:53] It is 12.15. I'm going to reconvene the meeting. At this time, we're going to go into the item 13
[2:13:06] for possible action, which is the annual performance review of our county manager. And we've made
[2:13:15] decision as a board of commissioners today. We will maintain our time frame as we will not hear the item on knocks until too, but we are we've concluded that we are going to not go to jail today.
[2:13:35] Okay, we're going to postpone that for a future date to be determined.
[2:13:41] So anyways, with that we'll go in, so we'll do this item and then we're going to take a break until two o'clock and we'll resume our meeting at two o'clock.
[2:13:52] So item 13 for possible action, conduct the annual performance evaluation of the county manager, Jennifer Davidson, including the grantee.
[2:14:05] including the granting of a merit pay and setting additional goals, expectations, or priorities for the county manager and addition to those currently identified in Douglas County's strategic plan.
[2:14:17] Notice requirements consistent within RS chapter 2, 41 regarding the discussion of Ms. Davidson's character and competence have been provided to her.
[2:14:26] This is being presented by our Human Resources Director, Christine Vito, and Mr. Davidson.
[2:14:36] Christine.
[2:14:37] Chairman Gardner, Members of the Commission, Christine Vito, Human Resources Director
[2:14:40] for the record.
[2:14:42] The item before you is the annual Performance Evaluation of County Manager, Jennifer Davidson,
[2:14:46] who completed her third year in the role on June 10, 2026.
[2:14:51] Under her employment agreement, the board is required to review and evaluate her performance
[2:14:55] annually. The required notice regarding the board's discussion of her character and competence has...
[2:15:01] The Board may also consider a merit pay increase based on our performance in the meeting. I'm sorry, in meeting the goals, priorities and expectations established for the prior year.
[2:15:14] Consistent with the amount available to other exempt management employees, the Board may award a merit increase of up to 3%.
[2:15:22] Performance is evaluated based on county's organizational values of integrity, accountability, customer service, leadership, communication, teamwork and respect.
[2:15:32] Your materials include Ms. Davidson's summary of accomplishments and update on the county strategic plan for employment agreement and county performance evaluation form in policy.
[2:15:46] I also provided as supplemental a survey that was conducted in 2024 by Washow County Human Resources of county and city managers in Nevada.
[2:16:01] I have not been provided the updated report for 2026. They do do this on a buy annual basis.
[2:16:11] So this is the most recent information that I've been provided.
[2:16:14] With that, this item is before the board for discussion and possible action.
[2:16:21] Thank you.
[2:16:22] You have a presentation, Ms. Davidson.
[2:16:25] Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the Commission.
[2:16:27] I don't have a presentation today, but I do have a few brief comments for your consideration
[2:16:31] before we have a discussion.
[2:16:35] Thank you for the opportunity to discuss my performance evaluation today.
[2:16:39] This past year has been one of the most demanding of my 19 year professional career.
[2:16:43] But it is also reinforced my commitment to leading this organization with integrity, accountability, and a focus on continuous improvement.
[2:16:53] Before I touch on our operational priorities, I want to pause and explicitly acknowledge and think that apartment heads and leadership teams sitting in the audience today.
[2:17:02] I'm deeply grateful for your presence, your support, and your daily dedication to this community.
[2:17:08] I would describe our efforts this year as a whole lot of heavy lifting and a whole bunch of collaboration and I could not do my job without them.
[2:17:20] To the board, I want to assure you that the feedback guidance and direction you provide during this evaluation today will not rest on my shoulders alone.
[2:17:29] It is heard directly by the leaders of this organization and together we will act upon it.
[2:17:35] As detailed in my written review, our organization achieved critical milestones this past year.
[2:17:43] Together we broke ground on the Justice Center on time and under budget.
[2:17:47] Delivered a balanced operating budget despite projected revenue shortfalls without cutting core services
[2:17:52] and expanded inclusive community infrastructure across this county.
[2:17:57] These successes reflect the resilience and professionalism of our exceptional workforce.
[2:18:02] At the same time, meaningful leadership requires confronting missteps with humility.
[2:18:08] The feedback I received regarding the proposed stormwater utility rates demonstrated that our communication and processes fell short of expectations of both the board and the public.
[2:18:19] I accept full responsibility for my role in that process,
[2:18:22] recommending that we pause together further input and support the creation of the stormwater task force because it was the right path forward.
[2:18:31] That experience highlighted our most critical opportunity for growth, modernizing public engagement
[2:18:37] and building public trust.
[2:18:40] Municipal decisions often carry extensive background history and technical context, placing
[2:18:46] the responsibility squarely on us to bring residents up to speed early and clearly.
[2:18:52] Moving forward, my focus is to embed proactive transparency into our daily operations, explaining
[2:18:58] the reasoning behind staff recommendations, making financial data accessible, and clearly
[2:19:03] demonstrating how public feedback shapes policy before final votes occur.
[2:19:09] Internally, we will continue refining our workflows, breaking down department silos, and
[2:19:14] advancing key priorities like Mueller Parkway and the public safety radio task force.
[2:19:20] I remain fully dedicated to leading this organization in alignment with our core values,
[2:19:25] integrity, accountability, customer service, communication, leadership, teamwork, and respect.
[2:19:33] Thank you for your continued partnership and leadership. And trust, I look forward to our
[2:19:38] discussion today.
[2:19:42] Thank you, Mr. Davidson.
[2:19:46] I think what we probably need to do is
[2:19:52] go commission right commissioner, like we did last year and you could give your input and feedback
[2:19:57] and then after
[2:20:00] We have that discussion, didn't we should go to public comment, allow public comment, and then we come back and discuss further action. Okay, everybody give it that. I don't know who wants to start. I, you always get seem to be put in the position of starting because you're down on a other end for me, but I don't want you to feel compelled to do that. Commissioner Rice, who would like to lead us off today on this discussion?
[2:20:30] I would be more than happy, too, okay. Thank you.
[2:20:36] All right. I heard comments comparing her salary to that of a neighboring county.
[2:20:45] And my first question to myself was, would I trade county managers?
[2:20:50] And my opinion was not only no Bethelno, and one of the things that I have delighted in seeing
[2:21:03] I'm losing words, one of the things that I am constantly being reminded of is that when
[2:21:20] Jennifer sees a problem, she tackles in.
[2:21:26] If that problem becomes a bigger problem, she doesn't internalize it and take it personally,
[2:21:34] She falls back, regroups, looks at it again, and then comes up with a better answer.
[2:21:42] I admire that in her.
[2:21:45] I admire that in anybody, but she has shown me that she's capable of doing that on far more
[2:21:56] of one occasion. As far as any criticism I have ever,
[2:22:07] we, she's not responsible for civil
[2:22:11] suits against the county, and I think that anybody that has followed this process understands
[2:22:19] that she's not the problem, the problem of my elsewhere.
[2:22:25] And I give her climax.
[2:22:29] She has always kept me informed and issues they're going on.
[2:22:38] And has never let me down the wrong path.
[2:22:44] So I give her glowing remarks.
[2:22:49] And I wouldn't trade her for any county manager that I'm aware of and thank you for that.
[2:23:03] Thank you, Mr. Rice, that concludes your comments.
[2:23:07] I mean, I'm not precluding the fact that you want may one have later comments, but okay.
[2:23:13] I will have later comments.
[2:23:14] I just want to touch you off if you had other things you wanted to say at this time.
[2:23:19] No, that's it. Thank you. Commissioner Hills. Yes, I'm ready. And I've a lot to say. So settle in. I'm using the county manager performance evaluation template that I believe is consistent with other employees evaluation in the organization.
[2:23:39] And that is focusing on the core values.
[2:23:44] So starting with integrity,
[2:23:46] the employee demonstrates honest and ethical conduct
[2:23:48] through their actions at all times.
[2:23:51] Ethics is one of...
[2:23:54] Ms. Davidson's strongest characteristics.
[2:23:58] She is extremely knowledgeable,
[2:24:00] and she aligns her actions with her knowledge
[2:24:02] and her commitment to integrity.
[2:24:05] She personally leads the annual Ethics Training
[2:24:08] And in her daily conduct, I have heard many times where she pauses to say, okay, do I have
[2:24:17] an ethical conflict and let me articulate it and works through it immediately when something
[2:24:22] comes up because it's constantly on her radar.
[2:24:25] So excellent in the integrity category, accountability, the employee accepts responsibility
[2:24:32] for their actions.
[2:24:34] And I'm going to add to that, accepts responsibility for the well-being of the whole county because that's what her job is.
[2:24:41] And I see that every day.
[2:24:45] One example is she had planned a family vacation, which is important for her to do.
[2:24:52] And while she was gone, it became evident that we would have an opportunity as a county.
[2:25:00] To provide testimony to a Senate committee, Senate committee, about the lands bill, and she cut her vacations short to get home and to get herself ready and to get to Washington to provide really important testimony on our lands bill.
[2:25:18] She has made very strong progress on our strategic plan goals.
[2:25:22] Some public comment today said, you need it, you need to come up with some goals for her. Well, you know what we did.
[2:25:29] It's called the Strategic Plan and she works on it seriously and has made great progress on it and there's evidence of that in the board packet for today.
[2:25:38] Strong marks on accountability.
[2:25:41] Customer service, the employee delivery's efficient and effective service with an attitude of respect and fairness.
[2:25:47] I believe that Jennifer also excels in this category.
[2:25:50] I have seen her, I guess I should say, I don't think I've ever seen her be disrespectful or unfair to anyone within or outside the organization.
[2:26:02] She is efficient and effective in the things that she does.
[2:26:07] Leadership, the employee establishes the tone and direction for success, motivating and inspiring others to accomplish a shared vision.
[2:26:15] Well, if you've worked with Jennifer at all, you know that she has a deep commitment to Douglas
[2:26:23] County. This deep commitment is not just professional, but it's also personal.
[2:26:32] She is
[2:26:32] genuine in her passion to do what's best for the county and to improve the county processes.
[2:26:41] And I want to mention in this category that Mr. Davidson is an example of emotional maturity.
[2:26:50] There are plenty of times where it would be tempting to be angry, to be sarcastic, to be petty, to be vengeful,
[2:27:01] that she rises above that. She is confident and she is also humble.
[2:27:06] So I give our high marks in leadership.
[2:27:10] Communication, the employee ensures open dialogue through proactive listening and sharing of information throughout the organization and the community.
[2:27:19] Ms. Davidson does not shy away from difficult conversations.
[2:27:24] She sometimes has to give some thought to how to have those conversations and how and what to say.
[2:27:33] and she is a great communicator and she listens effectively.
[2:27:41] There was a glitch in communication, which I'll cover later.
[2:27:45] But strong marks in communication, teamwork, the employee works together with others to achieve
[2:27:50] shared goals. This is a parent in her letter where she gives credit and her letter in the board
[2:27:57] at regarding her evaluation, and she gives credit to the exceptional workforce who are Douglas County employees
[2:28:05] and department has committed to serving our community every day. She always gives credit to others.
[2:28:15] And often when I present a problem to her, very frequently, in fact, probably most of the times she'll say,
[2:28:22] Let me talk to the team. I need to work with the team and she brings the team in to do the work and she also brings in the team to get the credit.
[2:28:35] Rightly so.
[2:28:37] The employee treats all citizens employees and visitors with respect. I've already spoken to that. Yes.
[2:28:43] I want to mention a couple of things as Commissioner Gardner did.
[2:28:50] There was public comment that the knocks, the paint a rock mine, the China Springs,
[2:28:57] the Mueller, the Ashton Springs, there have been complications with all of those things
[2:29:03] this year.
[2:29:04] And you know, maybe if a county manager when they started their term got to start with a fresh
[2:29:11] county with no problems. And everything is just running great. If that had happened,
[2:29:18] maybe it'd be fair to ladies these complications at her feet. But none that did not happen,
[2:29:27] doesn't happen. And she has been given very complex challenges and has dealt with them.
[2:29:34] sometimes like changing a bus on a moving van, right?
[2:29:40] And has dealt with them well and they're ongoing challenges because they're complex.
[2:29:47] They're not of her making, they're not of this board's making,
[2:29:50] but we're doing the best that we can to deal with them with integrity
[2:29:55] and with an eye for the best interest to the county.
[2:30:01] It's also been said that there is a neighboring county with a lower salary, well, you know what?
[2:30:09] We have extra accomplishments we're working on. We have a lot big things we're working on.
[2:30:16] We also have extra complications because we have a lot of different communities, including the lake.
[2:30:21] The lake has a lot of challenging circumstances, not because the residents there are challenging, just because we have TRPA and we have other complex challenges and opportunities because we have the lake which is a different community.
[2:30:42] We also have South County. We have a lot of different communities that require a lot of us.
[2:30:47] And so it's not one cookie cutter situation is challenging.
[2:30:53] And I will say that when I look at this spreadsheet with other executor of officers pay,
[2:31:00] Jennifer is not. Jennifer is not out of line. It is not even in the top.
[2:31:07] So I do feel like her salary is fair.
[2:31:13] In the desire to meet an important strategic plan goal, which was stormwater, Ms. Davidson rushed a process and there was a big misstep and I am not going to sugarcoat it.
[2:31:32] There was a rate map that was posted that did not reflect the board's intentions.
[2:31:39] And it caused significant and legitimate anxiety to many, many residents.
[2:31:46] There was a loss of public trust.
[2:31:49] There was a meeting that was highly emotional, very lengthy, very difficult.
[2:31:54] It was a painful experience for all involved.
[2:32:00] This mistake was a costly one, but it has also been valuable in the lessons that it has taught.
[2:32:12] I believe that Mr. Davidson is willing and capable to grow because of that misstep.
[2:32:22] And in fact, has already started doing that, and I will say that the very moment that meeting ended,
[2:32:32] okay, maybe 10 minutes after the meeting ended. Ms. Davidson was already talking to me,
[2:32:39] telling me she was accountable, and she wanted to take responsibility for what happened,
[2:32:45] and she would work on that.
[2:32:49] And we have had several conversations between then and now.
[2:32:53] And I believe that what was a vulnerability
[2:32:58] will now become a strength,
[2:33:00] because of lessons learned through that really difficult experience.
[2:33:05] I think it would be foolish of Douglas County
[2:33:11] to allow that mistake to impact Ms. Davidson's
[2:33:15] career.
[2:33:20] Therefore, I will be in favor of a very strong evaluation with high marks in all
[2:33:30] categories. I will also be reluctant to give much of a merit pay if any, because that
[2:33:38] was a mistake that was very difficult for the county. And I believe that accountability
[2:33:45] requires us to that that's how I see accountability working is that they're not
[2:33:51] be a big merit increase but that her evaluation be given with very high
[2:33:57] marks.
[2:34:01] Okay so I believe my position on the county commission is not to be a
[2:34:05] robber or a cheerleader and praise everybody's work if the work isn't done
[2:34:10] right I think it's important that it's acknowledged and in corrections are made but
[2:34:17] I don't see a lot of that with what we're talking about with our county manager.
[2:34:22] So instead of going through the, the, the, the items that Commissioner Hells just did the integrity all the way through, I agree with, with almost everything Commissioner Hells has stated that I don't want to repeat it.
[2:34:32] I will state this. I've had one of the county manager I worked under and he told me I could not respond to
[2:34:40] residents, problems. I was to turn them over to the county manager, let him do it and he never did anything.
[2:34:47] And when Jennifer, this Davis and took over, the first thing she said was she was in favor of me reaching out to people
[2:34:53] and that she, as a county manager, helped direct questions to the right people and because of that.
[2:35:00] I have been much more successful in being able to help resolve issues, or even not resolve, but at least show
[2:35:05] people in the county that we care, and that we're trying to resolve issues. And it was a thousand
[2:35:10] percent turn around for what the previous County Manager has stated. So I listened to some
[2:35:15] of the comments that were made before the public comment before the meeting. And some of
[2:35:23] them surprised me. And I'm going to ask questions to try to get correct answers, because one
[2:35:26] was, I believe Mr. Mayor has said that she was a highest pay county manager in the state.
[2:35:35] And that's surprising. I didn't think that could possibly be the case. But you get the print out
[2:35:41] of where the current county manager, she's a second lowest, second lowest. And not almost close
[2:35:48] to the lowest, when you count the car allowance. So if anything, she's under what other
[2:35:54] County managers are making here and I'm not going to go along with what Commissioner Rice said and say she's much better than any other county manager and to say I don't know what these are the county managers do in the state they may be one of also.
[2:36:05] But we do know that Jennifer's done a great the Davis is done a great job for us and she should be at the second lowest of anybody out there.
[2:36:14] The only person I think was overpaid on this list is our government former governor sand of all shit 565,000 he's a pay cut.
[2:36:24] Actually, I wanted to say my mom thought he was so sharp and so good when she was on board
[2:36:29] regions, that she just loved the work he did for the University of Nevada Reno, so he
[2:36:34] probably does deserve that.
[2:36:36] Let me just go through some of the things when they say that there's all these problems that
[2:36:39] have happened under her tenure and she should be responsible for that.
[2:36:43] As has been stated, I think of Chairman Garland and most of those occurred beforehand.
[2:36:47] Molly Parkway, in my opinion, was a horrible agreement that was ripe for a lawsuit if all parties
[2:36:56] did work closely together, and that's been the case.
[2:37:02] The things that she has done is that we had a timeline on Molly Parkway that had started
[2:37:06] and we were running behind it wasn't going to get done.
[2:37:08] She somehow came up with her staff, which that's the thing I was going to say.
[2:37:13] The best thing I think Ms. Davis and does is she hires great people.
[2:37:16] I really love work with most everybody on this committee here.
[2:37:20] In fact, I was out the other night and I bumped into somebody who used to work at the county 15 years ago and she worked there for like 20 years, I think.
[2:37:29] She said she's never seen a better and more high quality staff at people and then it's working there now for the county commission.
[2:37:35] So that in itself should be the biggest focal point of what a leader does is hired really great people.
[2:37:41] But so what she's done is she's she started title 20 which had been delayed for years and years and years and the 30% finished.
[2:37:50] She got mole parkway started with along with the county staff and it's close to completion except for loss.
[2:37:55] That basically was going to happen no matter who was in there.
[2:37:58] The strategic plan was read done and that was delayed for a long period of time.
[2:38:02] The courthouse people fight what do you call it? It's not the courthouse.
[2:38:06] the justice center. We have been delayed and delayed costness all kinds of money because
[2:38:11] we have all the delays. She got that started. When I complain of our roads, I have a county
[2:38:18] former county commissioner. She always tries to bring up to me where you're going to find the
[2:38:21] money. What are you going to find the money? Well, the problem is it's our responsibility to repair roads
[2:38:27] as a county staff. You don't just say, hey, I don't have the money you kick it down the road.
[2:38:33] Same thing with storm water. Those items issues were prevalent within the county for decades and nobody wanted to touch him because it's so controversial when you say it was
[2:38:42] Miss handle yeah, it could have been done better, but at least Miss Davis had had the
[2:38:46] Courage to bring it forward and say something needs to be done because after decades of neglect all we've gotten is a more worse or worse problem and she's got that started
[2:38:56] Hires oh VHR issue. We were talking the other day how money coming into the
[2:39:03] like Tahoe for the parks of Iraq and how much more money had come in because of the regulation
[2:39:08] of VHRs.
[2:39:09] They found, well, I think you said 1100 people that had been doing it now, there's some
[2:39:13] most of them are having to pay their their costs.
[2:39:16] So that's a big achievement.
[2:39:17] I can go on.
[2:39:18] I don't want to spend the rest of the day doing that.
[2:39:20] I just want to ask you a few questions of what was brought up during the meeting.
[2:39:25] Let me see what they're at.
[2:39:27] Okay.
[2:39:27] System County manager.
[2:39:28] We already talked about your salary, they said it was extremely high and based upon the print
[2:39:35] out that we have here as a second lowest under Carson City.
[2:39:39] The Assistant County Manager, they said you we created a new position for her.
[2:39:43] She's going to pay 200,000, can you discuss that?
[2:39:47] Thank you, Commissioner Tarkinian, for the question, Jennifer Davidson County Manager for
[2:39:51] the record.
[2:39:51] The Assistant County Manager position, I believe was created for Steve Moker-Heithy back in,
[2:39:57] well, it wasn't created for him. He ended up being the...
[2:40:00] First Assistant County Manager in the position under T-Michael Brown in 2009, 2008. The point is that I didn't create the position. I did occupy the position before accepting this position, obviously. The position that I created was the chief operating officer in my office and Kathy Lewis currently occupies that. I'm very grateful to have her on my team, but we did that through a reorganization that resulted in salary savings.
[2:40:30] And we were able to eliminate a combination of other positions in order to pay for that.
[2:40:36] And the net result was $20,000 in savings to the general fund through that reorganization.
[2:40:41] And I think a much more successful or extracurricular for this organization, which will set us up for success years into the future,
[2:40:50] because we have been able to focus on financial sustainability for this organization and operational sustainability in my office,
[2:40:57] which is a cornerstone of what I asked for,
[2:41:00] asked to accomplish when I became the County Manager.
[2:41:03] The public speaker, it also meant
[2:41:05] that there are no other counties
[2:41:06] with the Assistant County Manager.
[2:41:07] Do you know if that's true or not?
[2:41:09] That's not true.
[2:41:11] Lying County does not have an Assistant County Manager.
[2:41:14] That piece is correct.
[2:41:16] It's a mixed bag across the state
[2:41:18] whether or not there are Assistant County
[2:41:19] managers for other organizations.
[2:41:21] OK.
[2:41:22] But they want us to discuss some of the other questions
[2:41:23] that they brought up in the discussion.
[2:41:26] I know we talked about this before, but can you repeat this?
[2:41:29] It can't blame when you, your office for the storm out of grant being missed.
[2:41:33] Can you just discuss that?
[2:41:35] Thank you again for the question, Commissioner Tarkini, and as I have stated publicly in
[2:41:39] the past, we ultimately made the decision not to apply for that grant.
[2:41:46] It would have been an NCRS grant, and I'm drawing a blank on the acronym.
[2:41:51] But in order to qualify for that funding, we would have had to have represented to the
[2:41:55] agency that we had exhausted all other funding sources.
[2:41:59] This organization through your direction, the direction of this county commission had set
[2:42:03] a side funding for maintenance on smelter Creek of around, I believe, 400,000.
[2:42:09] And we had not exhausted all of that funding.
[2:42:11] Additionally, it was the direction of this county commission that we would not take on maintenance
[2:42:16] responsibility of the Creek moving forward.
[2:42:20] And securing that grant funding would have required us to commit to taking on that responsibility
[2:42:25] for the foreseeable future. That's why we made the decision not to apply for that grant.
[2:42:35] Thank you, Commissioner Tarkinian. So because your microphone was a normal just stay state
[2:42:38] your question, I think you were asking me about China Spring. I previously worked for China Spring
[2:42:45] Youth Camp from 2009 to 2012. The lawsuit that was recently submitted, which is a public document,
[2:42:53] anyone who wants to obtain that information can read the complaint itself if you're interested.
[2:42:59] Talks about staffing issues in the early 2000s as Commissioner Gardner alluded to when I did not work out at camp.
[2:43:08] And then also some later on, I think the latest incident described in the complaint is 2021.
[2:43:18] Yes, I'm looking at our camp director who sees behind us.
[2:43:22] We were not transferring new camp to not fall under my jurisdiction or control as county manager until after 2021, when this board took action to bring the administration of camp under my office.
[2:43:40] That's all the questions I had. I do want to stay.
[2:43:42] We've had difference of opinion on a number of areas and I don't think that's a disqualification of competent or really good work.
[2:43:48] It's just the way people are. So although we have different of opinion, I do respect the way that you panel things. Thank you. Thank you.
[2:43:56] Thank you, Mr. Perkinian. Mr. Torr.
[2:44:00] All right, so we've struggled to be misdave it, send it all this and I already wrote it as Jennifer and I and we, so I'm, you know, just going to stick with that.
[2:44:09] So I think you know, knowing me, I spent a lot of time on this evaluation because I wanted it to be fair and not just to you,
[2:44:18] also to the public and to the employees you lead. So overall I'm just going to get that out of the way.
[2:44:22] I believe you had a good year, and I would rate your performance overall as exceeding expectations.
[2:44:28] One of the greatest strengths that you, of yours is that you're action oriented. This county
[2:44:34] has a lot going on, litigation, major projects, difficult policy issues, challenging budget,
[2:44:41] infrastructure needs, and the everyday work of the county government to boot. So I don't see you
[2:44:46] sitting on your hands waiting for those problems to go away.
[2:44:49] You engage in the difficult issues and you work to move them towards resolution.
[2:44:55] I also can't think of a significant board-directed deadline that simply fell through the cracks.
[2:45:00] And that tells me that something about the organization that you're managing, because the staff comes through and responds, even though I don't see what happens behind the scenes every day, I think that's still a testimonial.
[2:45:13] I believe you deserve a particular credit for the work you did on a lands bill for getting us moving on a stormwater problem that's existed for many years and for managing a team that works within a budget that is essentially marine, marine, flat for three years.
[2:45:26] I've heard you personally question whether an expenditure expenditure is a viable use of county funds and even whether a particular service is properly the role of county government so I appreciate that fiscal discipline.
[2:45:41] I also appreciate your relationship with this board.
[2:45:44] Five commissioners with five distinctly different personalities and perspectives and that's not always easy to navigate yet you do that very well.
[2:45:54] I've never felt that you favor one of us over the other, and you have been particularly helpful to me in navigating,
[2:46:02] open meeting law and understanding my role and what I'm supposed to be doing. So I appreciate that.
[2:46:09] I'd also appreciate that when there's bad news, you pick up the phone and tell me,
[2:46:14] we have an issue you need to be aware of. And that's a direct quote.
[2:46:18] And unfortunately, that happens, you know, probably more than any of us would like, but I think that's an important quality, you know, you don't want to tell the delivery it but you do.
[2:46:28] But there are areas that I believe we can improve.
[2:46:32] Again, storm waters probably the most obvious example.
[2:46:35] My perspective on that is I think the board trusted staff to understand the process, because of course I had never been through anything like that before.
[2:46:43] And then I think staff trusted the consultant and ultimately we learned that we had not adequately pressure tested what we were putting forward.
[2:46:51] And so, at the county manager level, I expect major initiatives with significant financial impacts on our residents to receive that pressure test and additional level scrutiny before they reach the public in the future.
[2:47:02] That didn't happen sufficiently in this case, but I give you considerable credit for owning your part in that.
[2:47:08] stopping and changing the process, I don't expect you or anybody to never make a mistake,
[2:47:16] but I do expect us to recognize them, own them, and learn from them so that we don't repeat them.
[2:47:23] I also would prefer a more proactive communication from the county manager's office on complicated
[2:47:30] issues. For example, when I ask questions, I get very good answers, and sometimes those are followed up
[2:47:36] I'm going to forward you this to review so I have additional materials to review but for me personally there's times when I don't know what I don't know
[2:47:45] I don't have a background in in government affairs and so therefore
[2:47:51] I may not know the questions to ask when we have our one-on-ones
[2:47:56] So or what questions I should be asking so and I think that's probably true of all of us in one time or another
[2:48:01] And so maybe probing questions to figure out what my capacity is, or in that, not to tell us how to vote, but to make sure that we understand the risk alternatives and consequences before we do.
[2:48:17] And my biggest goal for this coming year is something I've raised before, and that's the credibility of Douglas County's government.
[2:48:25] I've called it an image problem in the past, but I don't think that's quite right.
[2:48:29] An image problem is something you can address through communication, and I think credibility
[2:48:34] has to be earned.
[2:48:36] And although you didn't create this issue by any means, but after more than three years as
[2:48:41] the county manager, I don't think we can continue treating it as simply an inherited problem.
[2:48:46] So I've raised this concern before and have not seen specific organizational progress.
[2:48:51] So going forward, I think rebuilding the county's credibility is part of your responsibility
[2:48:57] as a leader of this organization and credibility comes from whether we apply standards
[2:49:04] consistently hold ourselves to the standards we expect from the public.
[2:49:08] We value real world experience alongside our technical analysis.
[2:49:12] We communicate with people before taking actions that could potentially significantly affect them.
[2:49:17] We give employees room to identify problems and are willing to say we got this wrong.
[2:49:25] I also don't want us addressing these concerns one complain at a time because then it ends after we investigate each one and we end up explaining why staff technically didn't do anything wrong and concluding that there isn't a problem.
[2:49:38] But we need to look at these for patterns so that we can find out where these are coming from and address that.
[2:49:45] So, and that examination should include the board too.
[2:49:49] You know, if we're contributing to these credibility problems
[2:49:52] through our direction or actions, I would hope
[2:49:55] and expect that you would tell us that as well.
[2:49:58] So, those are my three priority.
[2:50:00] Rebuild our organizational credibility and public trust from the inside out. Strengthen our proactive communication with the Board, so we understand questions, race and alternatives.
[2:50:09] And then strengthen the internal accountability and create a culture where employees can identify problems early before they become larger problems.
[2:50:18] And I believe these goals actually build on your strengths.
[2:50:21] You're willing to tackle difficult issues, your strong communicator, and you have demonstrated
[2:50:27] an ability to manage competing personalities and perspectives.
[2:50:31] So I have complete confidence in your ability to lead this work and believe that you, above
[2:50:36] others, have the leadership ability to make meaningful progress in this.
[2:50:41] So I truly appreciate the work you do, and I probably more importantly, the amount of difficult
[2:50:47] work you're willing to take on.
[2:50:48] And I look forward to seeing what we can accomplish over the next year.
[2:50:54] Okay.
[2:50:56] Thank you.
[2:50:57] I think it's Michael.
[2:51:00] So first of all, I wanted to address a couple of items that were brought up by the public
[2:51:09] because we've had some public comment earlier.
[2:51:12] First of all, I appreciate what you're saying, Mr. Jackson, in regards to the process
[2:51:18] and the fact that this has to be in front of the public.
[2:51:23] However, that's the way it is designed, okay?
[2:51:27] And it must be a public purpose process and so it is difficult for us, I think, and difficult for the individual that we are reviewing,
[2:51:44] that this has to be a public process, but that's the way the rules are, and so we live
[2:51:49] with that observation. Our county manager is collectively, and I will say collectively,
[2:51:56] our single employee, this board, single employee is the county manager, okay?
[2:52:13] And then
[2:52:13] about whether or not our county manager is over-compensated.
[2:52:20] I have reviewed the spreadsheets that Mr. Vito has given us,
[2:52:27] and Commissioner Tarcanian pointed out.
[2:52:33] And then I heard a rumor through social media earlier this week
[2:52:37] that we had the 7th highest paid county manager in the United States, and I couldn't believe
[2:52:47] that comment.
[2:52:48] And I took exception to that comment immediately.
[2:52:52] I serve on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Counties, representing
[2:52:59] the state in Nevada and our county.
[2:53:01] And I can tell you, I had known even previously that there were more, that would have placed,
[2:53:13] knowing the compensation of wash of county and Clark County, that would have given us
[2:53:17] three of the seven in the United States out of 3,069 counties.
[2:53:24] So I knew that was not a correct statement, okay?
[2:53:28] I'm not saying you're the lowest.
[2:53:29] But it's certainly not the highest and as a matter of fact, it's come to our attention that even the city of South Lake Tahoe, the city of South Lake Tahoe, recently hired a new city manager, $256,000 a year, that's more than our county manager makes.
[2:53:51] The city of South Lake Tahoe, not nearly the task, not nearly the workload, not nearly the amount of employees
[2:53:59] Is making more, okay
[2:54:05] Please don't write that down because I don't want you going to those entities. Okay, okay, so I concur with what could measure a rice is said, okay
[2:54:15] You've done a remarkable job and over the last several years that we've been involved
[2:54:20] I've had the opportunity to serve with you as Chairman, this is my second year working with you in that regard.
[2:54:32] County managers are a high burnout position and
[2:54:43] we've had ourselves, I believe, somewhere since 2000, maybe 2009 or whatever it is, we've had 12 changes in our county managers positions.
[2:54:55] Patrick Cates has served us for four years, was one of the longest standing, okay?
[2:55:00] But it is a high burnout position. And so that concerns me. And that was brought forward by members of our public three years ago when we hired Jennifer Davidson as our county manager that can she last for the long run? Or is this position going to burn around? And my comment was, is that it's not for me to determine.
[2:55:27] That's not for this board. That's for the individual data tournament. Okay. I can tell you
[2:55:34] it has burned out a number, a lot of accounting managers, not only in this county but other counties
[2:55:40] because the workload is enormous. And our public just sees a small fraction of that on a daily basis.
[2:55:49] I was asked by the other thing I wanted to mention is, I was asked by a member of the public
[2:55:55] What is your opinion going into today's meeting regarding a merit increase for our county manager?
[2:56:06] Well, I was instructed way back when in 2021, I believe by Mr. Richie, that there is a purpose for public comment.
[2:56:20] And that public comment is to listen to the public before you make a decision.
[2:56:25] Okay? So I have tried to follow that rule very, very closely. Okay? I want to hear what
[2:56:33] my fellow commissioners have to say because their opinions might change my feeling and we're
[2:56:40] not allowed to talk in advance of the meeting because it will have been meeting law and
[2:56:44] deliberate. So we don't. But I also treasure what the community has to bring forward.
[2:56:51] That was witnessed very, very clearly in a proper manner in regards to our stormwater utility fee back on May 28th.
[2:57:03] We listened to nearly 200 members of our public expressed a pleasure with us, and because of that discussion and because of what we looked at in the package we came to the conclusion that we weren't ready for prime time with that program.
[2:57:19] and we backed off and we created a stormwater task force.
[2:57:26] I know that our staff, including Ms. Davidson,
[2:57:35] and our Assistant County Manager, Wendy Lang,
[2:57:41] were, we had engaged the public very, very heavily
[2:57:45] in advance of that stormwater issue coming before us, and we did not anticipate the kind of pushback we got.
[2:57:56] And I don't think staff did either.
[2:57:58] So it was a right thing to do.
[2:58:00] It was great community.
[2:58:02] And that's the way this community or any government should work is is allowing the forum.
[2:58:08] The forum comes forward and you listen to your residents.
[2:58:11] You listen to your constituents and you base your decisions based on that.
[2:58:16] looking at all the data.
[2:58:19] So, the lawsuit, it was mentioned today, right? We, we, you know,
[2:58:27] we're, uh, lawsuit happy. Well, I can tell you this, I can't, I don't, I'm not aware of any
[2:58:33] lawsuits that we have instigated as a county or our county manager visited, not a single,
[2:58:46] not a
[2:58:46] been in tremendous public dollars right now defending those lawsuits because we believe that
[2:58:54] we have been ourselves wronged and we feel like we're in a position where we're strong on
[2:59:00] those and so unfortunately we have to defend those. We don't have a choice when those lawsuits
[2:59:06] are presented to us. We have to defend them okay and I appreciate the legal staff that does that.
[2:59:14] I said this four years ago, I think, three years ago, four years ago, I guess, five years
[2:59:22] ago when Patrick Kates came to us for his review, and I made this observation that the
[2:59:32] public nor does the commission really have an opportunity to see all the balls in the
[2:59:39] that our county manager has, and I stated a few, I looked at a few myself that I know
[2:59:48] that I'm working on, Landsville, Park Litigation, Painter, Rock, Mind, Snoutter Creek, Stormwater,
[2:59:54] for this degree on a title 20 master plan.
[2:59:57] Warm Springs, attainable housing, roots in winter.
[3:00:02] And now on our radar, getting a lot of public interest is data centers that we're going to have to add to. Those are just the ones that are on my list. I pale to understand, you know, how our county manager keeps all those balls in the air, and doesn't let them fall. But certain things that I have appreciated, and I said this probably, this will be the third time I've said it.
[3:00:30] No fault of Patrick Kates, so no fault of Patrick Kates, but I can tell you this, when I walked into the county manager's office before Jennifer was our county manager,
[3:00:48] unfortunately I felt like I was interrupting our county manager.
[3:00:52] I can tell you now today, I guess I have a very distinctive voice because even if the door
[3:01:00] is closed and I walk into the county manager's office and I say hello to Rachel or to
[3:01:05] Brooke, apparently my voice carries distinctively and the door opens if it's closed and
[3:01:14] here comes Jennifer Davidson, did you need to see me today?
[3:01:17] I don't know what she's doing. I don't know what phone call she turned off or computer, but she has the most
[3:01:25] Open door policy that I have ever witnessed in my entire career. Okay, always assessable always assessable
[3:01:33] Does she always do we always agree?
[3:01:37] Absolutely not
[3:01:38] First of all, I'll say that
[3:01:40] I don't always agree with the person I look at in the mirror every morning
[3:01:47] and certainly
[3:01:50] I don't, you know, a conversation I had with my daughter and she says, you know, it seems
[3:01:56] like you and Mama are always arguing and I said, no, we're discussing because just
[3:02:01] because two people are going down the path together doesn't mean they're going down the
[3:02:04] right path.
[3:02:05] So we discuss items, okay, and that's the type of thing that is, you know, Jennifer and
[3:02:12] I have not always agreed on all of you, and I think all of us can say that on the board.
[3:02:20] We have had some very robust discussions, including one this morning, for a half hour,
[3:02:28] including one this morning.
[3:02:32] I had my views, and she offered me suggestions of other ways to look at an issue, and I
[3:02:40] appreciate that. And I've told her that and I've told all the members of our staff, I do not want
[3:02:47] to have a conversation with any of our staff members or any of our employees where they feel like
[3:02:52] they need to tell me what they think I want to hear. I want to know their honest and open and straightforward
[3:03:00] opinion because my opinion is not always correct. More often than not, it is not correct. Okay,
[3:03:09] because I still learned things, but she does at the end of the day understand that this board
[3:03:16] creates the policy,
[3:03:19] and that's very important aspect. She understands that,
[3:03:25] not necessarily degrees with it, but she tries to carry it out, based on what we try to
[3:03:30] ask her to do. So I appreciate those aspects.
[3:03:38] She holds others accountable. And so
[3:03:40] Yes, I did, by the way, Commissioner Hills, I did, I did write some notes based on the rubric that we got. Okay, so integrity, absolutely.
[3:03:50] Accountability, yes, she does not only does she accept accountability, but she holds her staff and others accountable, okay, which is important. Customer service.
[3:04:03] We've had discussions about that.
[3:04:06] It's hard to see.
[3:04:08] We have a customer's residence that come in,
[3:04:12] and they're not necessarily happy with our customer service,
[3:04:14] but we really do try.
[3:04:16] We really do try.
[3:04:17] And I know her and her staff does do.
[3:04:19] So, tremendous leadership skills.
[3:04:22] I couldn't ask for more in regards to leadership.
[3:04:26] And trying to install or install
[3:04:29] our other employees, we're gaining their, and improving up on their leadership skills.
[3:04:36] Communication once again, I, I, I, I, I very proactive, uh, listener and, um, I, I appreciate that.
[3:04:44] And she works very, very hard to create teamwork within.
[3:04:49] And, uh, respect, this something that I know that we talked about on our, uh,
[3:04:53] Board norms of procedures about installing respect and I believe that.
[3:05:00] We bring that. So anyways, I think it's important also to point out, okay? This county is very anti-tax.
[3:05:14] We are in the process of building a $20 million road called Mueller Parkway.
[3:05:22] We haven't asked the residents of this county for a single more dime out of their pockets to do that.
[3:05:28] That has been achieved. We have as soon as we get the go ahead, we're ready to complete that road to the benefit of our county, but we can't do it until we get to go ahead from the judge, and that's going to be another six months, nine months, maybe, maybe. We have been hopeful that.
[3:05:50] We're seeing a brand new $50 million building go up this county, this building and the J-Lex
[3:05:59] Center.
[3:05:59] This county is building is doing what we needed to.
[3:06:03] The J-Lex Center is not ADA compliant and it creates a lot of problems for us.
[3:06:08] That had a 20-year lifespan and it expired in 2002, okay?
[3:06:14] So, we're building a new $50 million dollar justice center, under budget, under time, and not a single additional penny is coming out of the taxpayers' pockets.
[3:06:29] Those are huge accomplishments, huge accomplishments, and led by our county manager.
[3:06:35] So,
[3:06:40] as the commissioners has stated, we underestimated, we grossly underestimated stormwater
[3:06:49] and the issue that that would create and I appreciate that and we will move forward with that.
[3:06:56] But I think that the individuals in this community that don't understand what she does on
[3:07:05] daily basis, I would encourage you to set up an appointment and visit with her about that.
[3:07:15] I think that's important.
[3:07:17] And those who still want to distract from what she's trying to accomplish on behalf of
[3:07:24] our residents, I think those are single issues that are driving those feelings.
[3:07:32] So anyways, and it was also asked, I'm sorry, I had my notes, I'm a little scattered here but I appreciate your indulgence today on this but this is a very important aspect one of our responsibilities as a commissioner is regarding the perous allocations.
[3:07:52] And to my understanding and talking with human resources,
[3:07:56] our Perse allegations were a policy of this board
[3:08:01] some decades ago, a couple decades ago,
[3:08:04] regarding fully funding all of our employees, all of our employees,
[3:08:08] with their full purse.
[3:08:09] That doesn't just relate to our county manager,
[3:08:13] it relates to all of our employees.
[3:08:15] Now, whether or not we want to revisit that,
[3:08:17] I don't know.
[3:08:18] But and and we don't set those purse allocations. Those are set by Carson City, right? What the what the amounts are. So once again, those are kind of
[3:08:30] Unfunded mandates that we have to live with, but we do that. And we balance our budget. So
[3:08:37] Anyways,
[3:08:40] those are my feelings and
[3:08:42] I'm just sure. Yeah, before we go to public comment, I had to make a clarification. Okay, so I had a text.
[3:08:47] a constituent that said, what are you talking about with respect to the salaries of the county
[3:08:52] managers. So the printoff that we have only has three county managers on it. It has six
[3:08:57] city managers on it. So there are some of the county rural kind of managers around this. So when I say that
[3:09:02] she's a second lowest of all of them, it's what was on this printout that we got, which included six
[3:09:07] city managers and three county managers, not all the counties in Nevada. So that's my clarification.
[3:09:14] And I apologize for the misunderstanding.
[3:09:17] I did not mention the priorities that I have that I would like to see us include since we're
[3:09:24] talking about that.
[3:09:29] Comments?
[3:09:30] And you know, basically giving direction to going forward is, that's all my, you know, I
[3:09:36] don't want to preach.
[3:09:38] Okay.
[3:09:38] Very good then.
[3:09:41] I don't know that anything we've said needs a response, okay, but let's, let's go to public
[3:09:46] Let's listen to what the public has to say.
[3:10:01] All right.
[3:10:14] Good afternoon. I just want to take a couple moments to speak about Jennifer, not only as our county manager, but also as someone.
[3:10:22] State your name for the record, please. Every time Amy Bergen's Douglas County Click Treasure.
[3:10:30] I did write it down, though, so that Tonya gets the spelling right. I just want to take a moment to speak about Jennifer.
[3:10:39] not only as our county manager but as someone that I have had the opportunity to work with
[3:10:45] alongside and see behind the scenes and for close to a decade which is just time flies.
[3:10:54] I know I am standing here speaking for myself but I also know that there are a lot of people in this
[3:10:59] organization that feel the same way. Many of those people are employees and it is simply not appropriate
[3:11:05] for them to come to a public meeting and say some of the things that I have the freedom to say.
[3:11:12] So today, I hope I can be a little bit of their voice too.
[3:11:17] I see how hard Jennifer works.
[3:11:19] I see the long hours, the difficult conversations, the problems that land on her desk,
[3:11:25] and the weight that comes from being responsible for an entire organization.
[3:11:30] More importantly, I see how much she genuinely cares.
[3:11:34] She works for the people, the people who live in this community, and the people who work for this county.
[3:11:42] One thing I feel very strongly about is that our employees are our greatest asset.
[3:11:49] We can have beautiful buildings, good policies, new technology, and ambitious plans,
[3:11:56] but none of it matters without good people showing up every day to make it happen.
[3:12:01] And good people need good leadership.
[3:12:06] Leadership isn't just making decisions, it's listening.
[3:12:11] It's supporting people when things are difficult.
[3:12:14] It's taking responsibility when something goes wrong
[3:12:18] and giving others credit when things go right.
[3:12:22] It's being willing to have the hard conversations,
[3:12:26] make the difficult decisions, and still come back the next morning,
[3:12:30] ready to keep moving this organization forward. This is what I see Jennifer doing.
[3:12:36] Jennifer and I may not always see every issue exactly the same way and I actually believe that there
[3:12:42] is value in that. What matters is that there is respect, trust, and a shared commitment
[3:12:48] to doing what is best for Douglas County and I have tremendous respect for Jennifer
[3:12:54] because I know her decisions come from a place of genuine care.
[3:12:58] For this community, this organization, and especially for the people who come to work every day to make it to serve it.
[3:13:06] I hope as we evaluate Jennifer, that we remember, we aren't simply evaluating a position,
[3:13:11] we are evaluating a person who has an incredible amount of herself to this organization and this community.
[3:13:19] Our employees are supporting, they're worth protecting, they're worth investing in.
[3:13:23] And they deserve a leader who believes that too. I believe that we have that in Jennifer.
[3:13:30] Thank you.
[3:13:40] Jim Jackson,
[3:13:44] I've dealt with two county managers of the two I prefer the present one.
[3:13:52] Previous one was not trustworthy at all.
[3:13:59] I don't always agree with everything that Jennifer has done or said.
[3:14:04] If we did, I would think that would be not so good.
[3:14:09] When I had a staff that worked for me, I wanted them to tell me exactly what they thought.
[3:14:16] Whether they agreed with me or not.
[3:14:18] Because if everybody agrees with you, you're not getting the truth out of the situation.
[3:14:26] I think Jennifer has done a fairly decent job at communicating with us.
[3:14:31] There's been several issues up in our neck of the woods
[3:14:33] that we've been pretty hard on or about.
[3:14:38] But I think most of the comments that you as a board
[3:14:41] have said are very true.
[3:14:43] You've given her very high marks in all areas.
[3:14:47] I would agree with all of that.
[3:14:49] Making mistakes, you name one person
[3:14:53] in this whole county that has never made a mistake,
[3:14:58] you'd be lying.
[3:15:00] Mistakes happen and you grow from them. I made several big mistakes in my career and I grew from them. You learned from them. You don't ever fail at something, you never learn anything.
[3:15:15] Constance success isn't good. You need to have some failures to learn.
[3:15:24] If Jennifer is
[3:15:25] as important to you as you have all stated, she deserves an increase. It's 3%, that's not
[3:15:33] much, but it is recognition that she is important to you. You've stated that other places
[3:15:40] are paying more money, are you trying to chase her away? I hope not. I think she's pretty
[3:15:46] important to the county, everything. So it's real easy for all of us out here in the
[3:15:54] peanut gallery to take shots at or into complaint, especially on social media. You're
[3:16:01] doing it almost anonymously so you can say almost anything you want to. I was reading
[3:16:06] a bunch of them this morning and all I can think is I don't think any one of them could
[3:16:12] to do the job, but they can sure criticize it.
[3:16:16] So I just laugh at those things because they're so useless.
[3:16:22] So my recommendation is that you've given her a very high performance for you,
[3:16:28] and that you do give her the merit increase.
[3:16:31] So I want to deal with her over the next four years.
[3:16:36] Thank you.
[3:16:37] Thank you Mr. Jackson.
[3:16:38] Additional public comment?
[3:16:43] See, no additional public comment. We'll bring it back to the board.
[3:16:48] Do you want to now?
[3:16:51] I noted that on the agenda item page 391, the recommended motion is divided in three.
[3:17:03] And I kind of like taking it like that.
[3:17:06] The first part is approve that annual performance evaluation of Jennifer Davidson, Douglas County Manager.
[3:17:14] So, I would make a motion that we find that Jennifer Davidson has exceeded expectations as county manager during the last year.
[3:17:29] Okay, so we'll do this three part process so there's been a motion to find the county manager Jennifer Davidson as exceeding he said exceeding
[3:17:46] Okay expectations and that's been seconded by Commissioner Rice is there any discussion and regard in that regard
[3:17:56] see you in no discussion, although some favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Aye. Motion passes five to zero. Thank you.
[3:18:09] I turned to someone else to talk about merit. Or we can skip, we can skip to goals and do those next. I have thoughts on goals.
[3:18:21] I'm trying to get my computer back. I,
[3:18:27] I, I, I, we can do it either way. You can do your goals and expectations and priorities now.
[3:18:37] And then we can discuss merit or we can do merit and then do that, whichever the commissioners prefer.
[3:18:47] Any feelings?
[3:18:49] I personally would like to go to merit at the moment.
[3:18:54] Doing this process, I'm reminded that the prior county manager and one member of the board said,
[3:19:06] I give you a zero, you'll get a raise when I get one, and that is stuck with me for a very long time.
[3:19:16] And I, for one, seeing as our rate of inflation is anywhere from 68%, I think that 3% merit increase would be minimal.
[3:19:31] So, that's my top top American increase.
[3:19:38] Hey, I have a motion. Do I have a second?
[3:19:43] I think he, well, first of all, we don't have a second on that.
[3:19:49] You're proposing a 3%.
[3:19:51] I believe that as our maximum available is 3%.
[3:19:55] So, is that right, miss Vio?
[3:19:57] Okay, so last weekend.
[3:20:00] An entertain, a maximum of zero to, well, a maximum of three percent. So what, what is your motion so that we can entertain a second?
[3:20:10] I moved it. We grant a three percent merit increase.
[3:20:17] We have a second. Well, when you just second, and then we can have discussion.
[3:20:30] I mean, I was saying to say, okay, we can ask us for a second. And if there's a amendment, there's an amendment that's offered to,
[3:20:38] Okay,
[3:20:42] you're not going to, huh?
[3:20:45] Okay, for purposes of discussion, I will, I will, I will, I will second that motion myself.
[3:20:52] Okay, so we have a motion on the floor and a second in regards to a 3% merit increase.
[3:20:58] And now we can have discussion on that.
[3:21:02] I was going to,
[3:21:04] But then I was told that there was already a cost of living increase already, so that should be made clear.
[3:21:13] And then you discuss what's about over and above the cost of that.
[3:21:17] That is correct.
[3:21:19] A re-employee, I believe, got a cost of living increase by contract on the first of July if I'm not mistaken.
[3:21:30] and this we don't, can you, thank you for the question,
[3:21:34] Christine Vito for the record, that is correct.
[3:21:37] It was either allowed in contract or through a resolution
[3:21:40] that was approved by this board in 2023 or 24, I believe.
[3:21:46] And it was 2.9%.
[3:21:51] This year it was 2.9.
[3:21:52] Correct.
[3:21:53] So we've had, we did, that answers your question.
[3:21:56] I think Commissioner Rice and Commissioner Turkey,
[3:21:58] is that we've given all of our employees including our county manager at 2.9 cost a living increase already.
[3:22:06] So this is a merit increase over and above that cost a living increase.
[3:22:10] That is correct, but that are all also are subject to up to a 3% merit on an annual basis.
[3:22:18] Right. And my point is that even though we gave everybody a merit, I got to living
[3:22:25] degrees. Look what we gave them compared to what the cost of living increase really is.
[3:22:34] Everybody's going backwards and I think that Jennifer is more than earned a three percent
[3:22:44] merit increase just for the things that the members of this board have commended for.
[3:22:51] So that I'm sticking, that's my thought and I'm sticking to it.
[3:22:58] So with that in mind, I'm going to go back to Christine Vito,
[3:23:03] our human resources.
[3:23:06] Because well, I want to ask about the cost of living increase
[3:23:12] is based on what?
[3:23:15] It's Chris Vito.
[3:23:18] Christine Vito for the record.
[3:23:20] I don't have a specific citation in front of me,
[3:23:22] but it's based on the Western State CPI,
[3:23:25] as of December 31st.
[3:23:33] Thank you, Chairman Doug Richew with the District Attorney's Office.
[3:23:36] Just to be clear, under Ms. Davidson's contract,
[3:23:44] paragraphs seven B,
[3:23:46] her salary adjustments, consisted two parts.
[3:23:50] One is the, the cola, which is not tied to performance,
[3:23:54] And then her performance adjustment is based on the same methodology that all the other exempt employees receive.
[3:24:04] In other words, once the board has determined to see the expectations,
[3:24:10] me the expectations, the different categories, the three, the two, one or whatever,
[3:24:16] that actually informs what the increase should be under the terms of our contract.
[3:24:23] In other words, I think Commissioner Rice indicated that it's not possible to give someone
[3:24:31] exceeds expectation and not give them a raise.
[3:24:35] That's not according to county policy or her contract.
[3:24:39] So hopefully as you're having this discussion, that helps you.
[3:24:46] Commissioners.
[3:24:51] We want to grant a 3% merit raise. So what I read was
[3:25:01] Let me see, I read that language, because I wondered about that.
[3:25:05] Seven,
[3:25:10] that's Kola,
[3:25:16] seven C. In addition to the base salary set forth above county may award employee merit pay increases consistent with the amounts allowed.
[3:25:24] Other exempt management employees. Any merit pay shall be based upon employee specific job performance in meeting mutually agreed upon priority goals, priorities goals and expectations for the previous year.
[3:25:37] so it to section eight below. So I mean, I, I'm basing my statement on the expectation I
[3:25:43] had that we wouldn't have a glitch like we had.
[3:25:51] Are you? There was, there was a glitch,
[3:25:55] but it was corrected. And it, it takes a very strong person to say, okay, what's, I messed up,
[3:26:04] Let's go a different direction, which she did.
[3:26:09] Agreed.
[3:26:11] I wouldn't say it's corrected. I would say correcting will take some time. It is being corrected.
[3:26:19] And for me, I think the maximum 3% should be reserved for an exceptional, exceptional year where
[3:26:26] performance is above expectations across the board. And so I don't think we hit that across the board.
[3:26:33] We had a very good year and I would be willing to, you know,
[3:26:39] 2% or somewhere there, I think would be reasonable because it is,
[3:26:44] I agree with what we're saying with that.
[3:26:48] My rating of above expectations averaged to above meeting expectations,
[3:26:53] so that pushes me up into the above expectations.
[3:26:56] So I'm fine with a merit increase,
[3:26:59] But for just my personal opinion, is that it's got to be and how kind of I was raised in the employment world is you get that max when you are I can't you know you killed it and it's very hard to actually get to that max and so that's part of why you're working to get to that so that's where I would fall in this so my two bits are this I don't have any problem with her getting a 3% pay merit increase based upon her performance.
[3:27:28] I don't hold. Well, first of all, I didn't vote for your advisory board to look into that
[3:27:32] stormwater. So I'm washing my hands on that. But it isn't a matter of the job as you don't
[3:27:40] not express my opinion on it. My concern is this, we're asking the residents of Douglas County
[3:27:45] to pay more money for stormwater management. We've had to cut some things in the budget because
[3:27:51] our budget is short. When you're looking at this as a job and a manager for this,
[3:27:56] they're only going to give a merit pay raise if they have the money exceeds expenses and I think
[3:28:01] these sure our expenses are really tight right now and I think Patrick K said one year he
[3:28:06] didn't take a pay increase that he had because of the downturn in the economy I just think this
[3:28:13] is a tough year for everybody. It has nothing to do with in my vote or what she's misdave us and
[3:28:19] has done as a year but more in the tightness of the financial position of the county.
[3:28:32] All right. Well, I mean, we have a motion on the table. Are you offering an amendment or is anybody offering an amendment or are we going to take a vote on the three percent?
[3:28:50] I mean, since we're stuck here, I would offer an amendment to one and a half percent.
[3:28:58] I'll suck at that.
[3:29:03] Okay.
[3:29:07] Okay. So we have a motion to amend the motion.
[3:29:10] We have an amendment by Commission offered by Commissioner Hales, second by Commissioner Tarkain in to reduce the amount to from 3% down to 1.5% is that correct?
[3:29:22] Okay, so now we need discussion on that.
[3:29:26] Commissioner Rice, do you want to weigh in on that or I will?
[3:29:30] or I personally believe that she's earned every dime of that 3% and nobody is going to
[3:29:41] go through a year without making some missteps but when you correct those missteps, that
[3:29:48] sings something about the employee. And sing is how we have one whole employee. I think that
[3:29:55] He's done a commendable job, he is exceedant.
[3:30:00] Expectations, she is always available to any of us at any time when we asked to meet with her.
[3:30:09] And I think that that should be rewarded. So I'm sticking with my three percent.
[3:30:18] Okay. Other commissions?
[3:30:23] I personally feel like, you know, and we ran into this issue with with Patrick Kates.
[3:30:32] where we gave him a rating that was higher than 2% but then we did not, or we gave him a rating that was at at or above expectations and then we denied him a pay increase based that year.
[3:30:53] I and Commissioner Wes has indicated that that caused a lot of pain for him and I was
[3:31:04] part of that and it offered it it created a lot of pain for me also but I certainly would
[3:31:14] for to settle in the middle of between one and 3% at 2%, but I guess we can take a vote on it.
[3:31:25] That's just, let's vote on the one and a half, and then you can make a different motion if you want.
[3:31:33] Okay.
[3:31:34] Okay.
[3:31:35] So we have a motion on the floor to amend the original motion from 3% to one and a half percent.
[3:31:43] and so without further discussion we'll vote on that. All those in favor of the amendment of
[3:31:51] reducing amount of 3% to 1.5% signify by saying aye.
[3:32:05] Mr. Chairman. Those against the reduction from 3 to 1.5 is fails. Okay, that fails. So now I will
[3:32:17] offer a substitute motion.
[3:32:20] Mr. Chairman, I'm sorry.
[3:32:21] If I may win the link for the record,
[3:32:23] I am sorry to interrupt the proceedings.
[3:32:25] I've been with the organization for a significant amount of time
[3:32:27] and sat through many of these public evaluations.
[3:32:30] And if you are all willing, I may offer a compromise,
[3:32:33] which is a common practice of boards,
[3:32:35] is to offer your individual ratings
[3:32:37] and to average that total score.
[3:32:44] The, you know, and I appreciate your input there.
[3:32:49] However, we do have a motion on a floor and members of the public, which I consider you at this point in time.
[3:32:56] This went, I appreciate the comments, but this is a discussion for us.
[3:33:03] So anyways, I'm going to offer a motion to reduce the 3% down to 2%.
[3:33:15] So we have a motion on a floor to grant a three percent raise versus a three percent. That is an amended motion.
[3:33:25] Amendment and a second by Commissioner Tolbert. Discussion?
[3:33:31] Does that mean no discussion?
[3:33:33] Oh, yes.
[3:33:35] Okay, all those in favor. No, no, no discussion.
[3:33:37] Oh, you want discussion. I'm sorry.
[3:33:40] I want the vote to be unanimous, so I'm happy going to two.
[3:33:48] Okay, and let me sort of like two cents, and I voted my conscience, and I will have to
[3:33:59] re-link and vote for the two percent.
[3:34:04] And I think that now we're at ought to be, but I think it's better than one and a half.
[3:34:09] Okay, so we have a motion on the floor, an amendment to reduce it from 3 to 2, and since we've had all this discussion, all those in favor of a reduction from 3 to 2, signify by say an I.
[3:34:25] Okay, so that motion passes 5 to 0, now we go to the original motion as amended, which is to grant a 2% raise merit raise to Mr. Davidson for her performance.
[3:34:38] Okay, since he know whether to question all those in favor of a 2% raise, signify by saying aye.
[3:34:42] Hi.
[3:34:44] That motion passes by to zero.
[3:34:52] We have to do that.
[3:34:53] That's proper procedure too.
[3:34:54] I'm in the motion and in vote on the motion is presented.
[3:34:58] Mr. Davidson.
[3:35:02] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Members of the Commission, I appreciate and humbled by the merit increase and I thank you for that. I'm looking forward to hearing some feedback regarding your priorities now. I think that's the only remaining piece.
[3:35:15] That's where we're headed next. Okay. And so Commissioner Rice did you have any priorities or goals for Mr. Davidson and the next fiscal year.
[3:35:31] Commissioner Rice.
[3:35:35] I'm muted muted me. I would very much like to see KL complete street to get complete.
[3:35:45] That's one of the things that since I got elected the first time.
[3:35:50] It was on my radar and we went back to Washington DC and talked to the right people.
[3:35:57] we got a beautiful grant and unfortunately it's taken so long that things are in more expensive
[3:36:06] than they were, but I think that this is something that needs to be done because that street was never
[3:36:15] ever built to get the traffic that it gets now. So I would like to see that none although I
[3:36:24] be here to see it. Well, I mean, I'll be here to see it, but I won't be on this board.
[3:36:29] Thank you. Thank you. Yes, I'm glad you clarified that. Okay. Yeah. We certainly hope that you
[3:36:36] are able to visually see it. So, when it's done, Commissioner Hales, did you have this?
[3:36:43] I appreciate Commissioner Toberts, goals. And I'm looking at pages three and four of the goals
[3:36:52] that County Manager Davidson already set out.
[3:36:56] And I think what you lined out lines up with what
[3:37:05] County Manager Davidson already had articulated,
[3:37:09] and I support those goals.
[3:37:10] I support all the goals provided by Mr. Davidson.
[3:37:15] But I want to add a couple more because I re-read this
[3:37:18] plan and a few bounce to the top for me. The lands bill, very, very important. I would
[3:37:26] like to continue. I believe some of the things are going to complete, like the justice center,
[3:37:34] will complete and maybe some other things will complete and allow some bandwidth. To the extent
[3:37:39] there is bandwidth, I would like to pick up attainable workforce housing in a more robust way.
[3:37:48] And I was reminded that we have a river park, strategic
[3:37:55] plan goal.
[3:37:57] And that is very exciting to me.
[3:38:01] And I would like to work on that as bandwidth
[3:38:06] from more pressing matters allows.
[3:38:14] Yeah.
[3:38:15] I've said this over and over again, just say it again,
[3:38:18] stormwater, maintenance, and infrastructure, and road funding are the two most
[3:38:25] support things for this county at this point.
[3:38:27] They've been kicked down the road for far too long.
[3:38:32] I'd like to reiterate mine, because I love this community.
[3:38:38] I work in and out of the county on both sides of the counter, and I really appreciate
[3:38:44] that we have, I think it was said at the recently that we have the best staff in all of the nation.
[3:38:53] I think it was at the Parks and Rec advisory.
[3:38:55] I think somebody made that statement and I was like, wow, that's high praise.
[3:38:59] And I don't disagree.
[3:39:01] So I think it's important that we work to rebuild or actually just build the, you know,
[3:39:07] our county's organizational credibility.
[3:39:10] And that's got to come from the inside out, and to do that we have to, you know, just make sure we're applying standards consistently holding ourselves as standards.
[3:39:20] We expect from the public.
[3:39:22] We value the real world experience, you know, many of our ranchers alongside, you know, the technical, the just ideas, you know.
[3:39:30] And that we empower our employees so that they are in.
[3:39:35] They feel comfortable in their environment so that when they do see things that are like,
[3:39:39] ah, maybe not right, even if they're co-worker, that they're free to bring it to their administrators and so that,
[3:39:47] so that because we're all here basically the serve of the public and I know the county is an organization of its own and when you work for an organization you're to protect it,
[3:39:56] but we're going for the county it's unique because the county
[3:40:00] Many serves the public, you know, it's not like we make widgets and we can protect our processes of building widgets. We have to protect our processes of serving the public.
[3:40:08] And it pains me that, you know, we have to build credibility because I know so many employees personally and know how good that they are and how they come to work every day, planning and working to do a good job and support the public.
[3:40:24] And it's really not fair that we have that stigma other than it's happened here and there
[3:40:30] point, you know, once in a while, but, you know, you know, I say it all the time and it was
[3:40:34] what my very first job was, one O'Crap was where a five out of ways.
[3:40:39] So you got to build up those out of ways to gain the credibility and so I think that's somehow
[3:40:43] we work to do that.
[3:40:45] So those are the two big ones for me.
[3:40:48] And then we can always build communication and I know that's kind of personal for me to help
[3:40:53] you know what, what do we know, what is our knowledge base in every, every topic, which will never be perfect, but it's always something to build on.
[3:41:02] Thank you.
[3:41:04] So I appreciate that you gave us a spreadsheet in regards to completion or percent completion of the strategic plan and of course that that directly ties into your job description and so I appreciate this update.
[3:41:21] And we discussed this last year is that there's a key line up on that strategic plan and it says that it's a five-year strategic plan, not a one-year strategic plan.
[3:41:35] I, we have a lot of balls in here, and I don't know all the balls that you have in
[3:41:40] here.
[3:41:41] I just know the ones that are on my radar, and so I'm concerned about burnout, okay?
[3:41:51] And I don't want that to occur.
[3:41:54] And I feel like there have been times where maybe we've approached subjects on a more aggressive
[3:42:00] manner than we really need to. Okay? I would like us to, as I indicated last year, pump the
[3:42:08] brakes a little bit, okay? And slow the process down a little bit, and let some of these
[3:42:14] issues that we have in front of us come to a conclusion before we take on additional roles.
[3:42:22] In that regard, but there is one in particular, and you and I have talked about it,
[3:42:26] I've watched you in meetings that I've been in, in your office, and you have identified
[3:42:37] as I identified our website is really, really a need of an update, okay?
[3:42:47] We need to talk more about and illustrate to the public more about the good things we're
[3:42:54] doing rather than the constant issue that, you know, if you have a problem here, go here.
[3:43:01] If you have a problem here, go here, you have a problem here, go here, talk in about what
[3:43:07] we are achieving in the county because we are achieving many great things and many things
[3:43:13] that we should highlight and be proud of.
[3:43:17] So to me getting that website done is very important and I've been talking about this
[3:43:24] a long time. So and I know that we've hired a person in the IT department to create that
[3:43:34] and I hope that we're seeing progress on that. We're tackling Title 20 right now and that is a
[3:43:41] heavy lift also and that is I don't know how far along we are on that but I know we're looking
[3:43:49] at the 17th or maybe early October of looking at at least approving perhaps the formatting process
[3:43:56] of that, but there's still a lot of red lines that are going to have to come before us.
[3:44:02] With that being said, I, you know, that's that's an important aspect that's been something
[3:44:06] that's been lacking for a number of years. And so I look forward to that in the clarification of
[3:44:12] On the other hand, I think we had identified as an update for the master plan to be taken
[3:44:20] a look at in 2027.
[3:44:23] I would suggest that maybe this is music to Tom's ears, that we delay taking a look at the master
[3:44:32] plan until we have an offer, you know, and I remember the last time it was updated in 2020.
[3:44:38] It was rushed, it was heard,
[3:44:46] and I know commissioners were leaving the board and very interested in getting that title 20 or a master plan updated, but let's not rush that thing.
[3:44:57] Okay, let's not rush it. Let's take our time.
[3:45:00] And make sure we do it right. And make sure that we have enough public comments, public outreach, and enough thought process, put into that. And let's not rush that.
[3:45:13] So, but I know that we have a number of issues that we try to, we want to try to resolve. One of those is on the schedule today, pain and drop mine.
[3:45:22] But we need to get through the Park Litigation, hopefully the lands bill will be passed this year.
[3:45:28] And I just read a big article from Congressman Amade that he is hoping that that is signed into law early early in the next in January.
[3:45:39] Okay, I believe he said he's bringing it to Congress in September if I read that correctly.
[3:45:46] So that's good and hopefully we can get that done.
[3:45:53] And I spent a couple of hours giving end audit tour on Wednesday, or Tuesday, I guess it was Tuesday.
[3:46:03] And I think that was very fruitful, but there's a number of things that we have pending on there.
[3:46:08] And one of those is obviously the extension of Instagram day and completing that.
[3:46:13] So anyways, I think we have enough on our plate to do already without entertaining new ideas.
[3:46:19] Okay, get the Justice Center open, let's get, see if we get some resolution on Mueller, but
[3:46:25] perhaps take a pause on looking at the master plan until maybe 28, instead of 27, after
[3:46:32] title 20 is done. That's my thoughts. Those are my, but the website is, is very important.
[3:46:38] Website is very important. Okay. I did notice, you know, and we talked about this, I think you put it in your plan. Also,
[3:46:48] With all the little disasters that we had recently fires, especially, we need to, once again,
[3:46:56] highlight how an individual in this community goes about signing out for reverse 911.
[3:47:02] Okay, that needs to be on the top also.
[3:47:05] I move that we direct Mr. Davidson to move forward with the goals, expectations and priorities
[3:47:16] articulated in her letter and in the strategic plan and to the extent possible as discussed
[3:47:24] today by the commissioners.
[3:47:28] Okay, we have a motion by Commissioner Hale, second by Commissioner Turkainian, to direct the county manager to go forward with the goals, expectations of priorities set forth in her plan.
[3:47:45] Any further discussion on that?
[3:47:48] All those in favor of signify for say aye.
[3:47:50] Aye.
[3:47:51] Aye.
[3:47:51] Okay, motion passes by to zero.
[3:47:53] And I think that completes this item.
[3:47:56] Does it not?
[3:47:58] Okay.
[3:48:00] So I'm looking at my agenda and it says that we have one other item on today's agenda besides our presentations and closing public comment I would recommend we delay taking a break for nourishment and take a 10 minute break will come back at 2 o'clock and take on the item that we said that we would not hear before to be
[3:48:26] notice the termination from Knox, because I don't think we can get lunch in 10 minutes, do you
[3:48:37] guys want to take a lunch? You want lunch?
[3:48:43] Okay, we're going to recess now and I said that this item, it says on the agenda will not be heard before 2pm. So I'm going to give us an hour and 10 break and say that we'll be back and return into session at 3 o'clock.
[3:48:58] OK.
[3:49:05] OK. We'll take an hour. We'll return it to 45. Thank you.
[3:49:10] All right. Thank you.
[4:43:23] I was wondering who killed.
[4:43:27] Okay. Okay. It is, it is, it is 12. It is, so it is 246. And so we're going to resume our meeting. We have a couple of items left on the agenda today. This one is item 141 for possible action.
[4:43:45] Continued discussion regarding a notice determination, knocks, excavating, and incorporated
[4:43:51] sent to Douglas County pertaining to the October 4, 2024 agreement to address public health
[4:43:58] and safety concerns and to pay percentage of gross proceeds from the mining operation
[4:44:03] related to the painted rock mine document number 2024 dash 1013250 discussion may include
[4:44:11] providing direction to the county manager to prepare a response in form
[4:44:16] interested parties and taking other appropriate action. This being presented by our
[4:44:21] county manager, Jennifer Davis. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Members of the Commission,
[4:44:26] Jennifer Davis and county manager for the record. And if you can't tell, I'm feeling a
[4:44:29] little bit under the weather and have been coughing quite a bit today. So I am not going to be
[4:44:36] as thorough as I normally would.
[4:44:38] This is a repeat, bring back of an agenda item
[4:44:42] that you heard at your last board meeting.
[4:44:45] If you want me to get into the history of how we got here,
[4:44:48] I'm happy to do so.
[4:44:50] I would defer to you on that.
[4:44:52] Otherwise, I'm planning on cutting to the chase.
[4:44:55] As part of our previous board action,
[4:44:58] this board directed the county manager.
[4:45:00] To bring back options for your consideration regarding next steps after meeting with the mine operators.
[4:45:09] I am pleased to report that I was able to meet with the mine operators and Commissioner Tolbert participated in that conversation.
[4:45:18] Please, Commissioner Tolbert, if you feel that I'm missing anything with my cough syrup, adult brain, to a feel free to jump in.
[4:45:27] But you are aware we had an agreement that we executed with the operators of the mine in October of 2024.
[4:45:36] We had an ordinance that we passed that restricted trucks on East Valley, which resulted in them.
[4:45:42] The mine operators issuing through their legal counsel a notice of default.
[4:45:47] We met with them, we discussed it.
[4:45:50] We sent a response to the notice of default.
[4:45:52] they sent a notice of termination effective July 29th with which brought us to our last meeting's conversation.
[4:45:59] We talked about potential next steps at that last meeting.
[4:46:03] We talked about the consequences of not having this agreement in place.
[4:46:08] And I went through the agreement language, the terms of the agreement, what we negotiated,
[4:46:13] versus the EA assumptions that were made in where the basis for the findings of no significant impact for the mind.
[4:46:26] Ultimately, what this means is because there are no similar type restrictions on the federal or state permits that have been issued to the mind.
[4:46:37] There would not be any operating restrictions placed on the mind regarding hours of operation, days of the week,
[4:46:47] number of trucks. Those are not conditions that are currently within the federal or state permits.
[4:46:54] Staff recommended to you originally. This is page two of those in case anyone wanted to look at that.
[4:47:00] Well, let you look really quickly.
[4:47:04] I see Commissioner Tarkinian to take a screenshot.
[4:47:07] Happy to.
[4:47:09] Yeah, I thought I gave it.
[4:47:10] Mom, I'm sorry about that, sir.
[4:47:12] Okay.
[4:47:13] So where are we at?
[4:47:15] So I considered the meeting with a minor operators
[4:47:18] to be a very productive conversation.
[4:47:25] They are in the audience today.
[4:47:27] And I also encourage you, Mr. Chairman,
[4:47:29] if you agree.
[4:47:29] It's appropriate to provide them an opportunity to comment
[4:47:34] what they're willing to do moving forward
[4:47:36] and confirm what I'm stating on the record today.
[4:47:38] I think that would be valuable.
[4:47:41] But they were reluctant to withdraw their notice
[4:47:45] of termination.
[4:47:47] In addition to the recommendations or the option
[4:47:51] that I presented the County Commission,
[4:47:53] which would be for you to discuss whether or not
[4:47:58] we respond or take a formal position regarding the status of our agreement, we stated clearly
[4:48:08] on the record and have communicated to the minor operators that we do not believe we are
[4:48:13] in default. We do not believe in the action that we have taken to this point places us in default.
[4:48:20] And as of now, unless this board takes any further action, otherwise we consider this agreement
[4:48:27] to still be in place. Part of your consideration and discussion today could be to provide me
[4:48:34] direction regarding any further action you wish me to take on that agreement. Legal or otherwise.
[4:48:43] We hit pause on my recommendation to notify the federal in state agencies. I had provided in the board
[4:48:49] packet at our last meeting, draft letter, advising the federal agencies and state agencies of the consequences of the agreement not being in place and asking them to consider placing restrictions on the operations of the mind consistent with either are agreement or the assumptions made in the EA, whichever they felt were most appropriate.
[4:49:17] So that's option one. Option two was brought up is part of our conversation. The mine operators
[4:49:27] indicated that they may be willing to enter into an amended agreement with two terms remaining
[4:49:33] only. Those two terms would be that the county would agree to take and that's the or on this page
[4:49:42] at the bottom, the county would agree to place no restrictions on trucks on Johnson Lane and
[4:49:50] then Knox would agree to continue to contribute a portion of the sales from the proceeds
[4:49:54] of the mine to the county, no other terms or operating conditions.
[4:50:03] That is the only option that we discussed in that meeting. Regardless of the option you, as a board
[4:50:12] choose to pursue today, I also felt it was good byproduct of our conversation with the mine
[4:50:19] operators that we agreed to clarify how complaints would be handled from the mind moving forward.
[4:50:31] We talked about the need to update the county's website and to direct members of the public to the appropriate entity to address the type of concern that they may have.
[4:50:44] We talked about continuing to take in complaints and sharing those complaints with the
[4:50:51] mine operators.
[4:50:52] If it's a complaint that cannot otherwise be funneled to an entity, we talked about continuing
[4:50:59] our practice of passing along that information to the mine operator.
[4:51:03] And if they chose to respond that we would provide that information on the county's web
[4:51:09] pages.
[4:51:11] Commissioner Tolberra, I feel like there's something else very important that I'm leaving out.
[4:51:15] And I'm totally drawing a blanket at the moment.
[4:51:22] No, you're looking at me like maybe it might pop up as we're talking.
[4:51:27] I very much appreciate the willingness of the mine operators to meet with us.
[4:51:33] They stated at multiple points in the conversation that it is their intent to operate within the parameters
[4:51:41] that they represented were the basis of the assumptions in the E.A.
[4:51:48] And with your permission, Mr. Chairman, I'm not sure if there's anything else they wish to say,
[4:51:52] but I think it would be appropriate to invite them up.
[4:51:57] I'm sorry. I didn't have my microphone on.
[4:52:00] You know, this is an actionable item, so we need to have public comment,
[4:52:05] but I want to hear from the rest of the commission on where, you know, what they feel or questions.
[4:52:13] entertain questions, observations, you know, Commissioner Rice, are you back with us again?
[4:52:22] Yes, sir, I am and I was here. I just couldn't click on my move, unmoot meton.
[4:52:30] Thank you. Do you have any questions or concerns or observations for Mr. Davidson in regards to the Knox agreement?
[4:52:38] No, I want to see what the noxious to say.
[4:52:45] Okay.
[4:52:55] I thank you commissioner Tolbert for signaling to me that I did forget one thing.
[4:52:59] We did.
[4:53:01] In chatting about.
[4:53:03] The counties agreeing to place no restrictions on trucks on Johnson Lane.
[4:53:09] I think commissioner Tolbert brought up a good discussion point, which is what if something from a public health or see
[4:53:15] standpoint changes. For example, what if we needed to reduce speeds because there became an unsafe
[4:53:22] condition on Johnson Lane or what if the board needed to consider directing staff to places
[4:53:28] a stop sign?
[4:53:32] I don't want to put words in their mouth, but I do believe they represented that
[4:53:35] they would be okay with those types of changes in response to legitimate public health and safety concerns.
[4:53:41] I think they were more concerned about placing restrictions regarding hours of operation
[4:53:50] or just general, no truck restrictions on Johnson, which we indicated we are not considering
[4:53:59] doing, we would not do.
[4:54:02] The no truck sometimes I mean.
[4:54:03] We did chat about if we continue to receive complaints regarding speeding on Johnson Lane that we might want to bring back the placement of traffic control radar solar power.
[4:54:22] you've seen them on Riverview. I'm totally drawing the blank on what those are called. But they
[4:54:27] tell people how fast they're going and they record and so it would help us capture some data.
[4:54:33] If we see speeds in the area taking up the sheriff's office, it helps the sheriff's office also stay
[4:54:42] on top of that instead of just relying on neighbors to say, I think people are speeding up their
[4:54:46] share of come out and enforce it. Is that what you were thinking? Sorry. Yeah, that's exactly
[4:54:52] because that's one of the one of the contentions is that the public is saying the trucks
[4:54:57] are speeding. We forward that to the share, if he puts-
[4:55:00] It's the patrols out there, patrols say when we're there, the trucks aren't speeding. And so this would be a way to document that when the cat's away, right?
[4:55:08] So that was one of the things that we had talked about to, because then we could document it, and then the chef, as they look, they are out there. Let's go get it, or it's not.
[4:55:17] And it would help, plus if it flashes the sign, what the speed is, when they're out there, and it would help everybody understand what is what out there, and we would have documented data moving forward.
[4:55:30] Thank you Commissioner Toler for.
[4:55:32] And Knox was a hundred percent okay with that because they still believe that their vehicles are compliant.
[4:55:40] And like I said to this point we don't have any evidence that they're not.
[4:55:44] So.
[4:55:44] It has been the experience of our public works department.
[4:55:48] Just based on the data we've collected on Riverview that that type of signage and equipment is very effective in changing behavior.
[4:55:57] And also from an enforcement standpoint, it's very incredibly helpful to the sheriff's office.
[4:56:04] I am aware of another area, not river view, where we had signage up like that.
[4:56:11] And someone was doing 60 miles an hour in a 25 mile an hour zone.
[4:56:15] And because of the way that equipment is designed, the sheriff was able to capture that person.
[4:56:22] We knew time of day, we knew patterns of behavior,
[4:56:25] and they were able to end up writing someone
[4:56:28] a very hefty ticket, because they caught them
[4:56:31] on a different day, doing the same thing.
[4:56:35] So that concludes my report.
[4:56:37] Happy day and our answer.
[4:56:38] Any questions you might have?
[4:56:41] Commissioner Hills, for Kenyan, over.
[4:56:44] OK, I had no questions.
[4:56:46] So should we bring the knocks up to?
[4:56:49] Is that what you were indicating before we go into public comment?
[4:56:52] Yes, Mr. Chairman, only if they have something to add to the conversation, I don't want them to feel like they're required to stay there.
[4:56:58] They're not required. No, they're not on a time clock.
[4:57:10] And John, I'm not going to limit you to three minutes either, so if you have more.
[4:57:13] I don't know if we don't have the answer to respond on the record. So John Max, well, not just excavating.
[4:57:19] I appreciate the opportunity to meet and discuss this.
[4:57:22] The OR is, yeah, that's, I don't know what it is, just, I don't want to get back to where we were before and now we're
[4:57:32] now we're suing and going back to court. So those two, if you guys want to do another agreement,
[4:57:39] that's what we offered just like we did in our letters that we're still willing to negotiate.
[4:57:45] That gives the county some money so if you go in after federal grants for federal lands access that helps check a box to get grant money for the road and it gives us peace of mind that we aren't going to sit up here again trying to defend our right to use a public road.
[4:58:08] But I don't have outside of that, I don't have anything else to add and I appreciate your time. Thank you.
[4:58:12] Can you elaborate on that because you've explained it pretty well about if that fee goes away because it's argued that the fee is not worth messing with but at the same time that fee checks a box for future grants.
[4:58:24] because you eat, so the federal land's access program,
[4:58:29] it's for reconstructing and maintaining roads
[4:58:32] that provide direct access in the public lands,
[4:58:35] two of the criteria for getting access to that money,
[4:58:39] it's one of the lowest match money, it's 5% match.
[4:58:43] So for $500,000, you can get $11,000,000 with those funds
[4:58:47] to go do whatever you need to to jump some lane.
[4:58:51] But two of those is access to recreation,
[4:58:53] which you have out there with OHB parking we've built and revenue generation, which this fee would accomplish.
[4:59:02] So, whether they're both, they both have to be met or one or the other, I don't know,
[4:59:07] but I know that if both are met gives you a better chance of collecting that money.
[4:59:17] Commissioner Rice, did you have any questions of Mr. Maxwell?
[4:59:23] No sir, I do not.
[4:59:24] Okay. Any other commissioners?
[4:59:27] Okay.
[4:59:28] Thank you.
[4:59:30] Okay, so at this time and we can go to public comment, right?
[4:59:35] So we'll entertain public comment on item number 14.1.
[4:59:41] Is there any public comment?
[5:00:03] I think I just have one question. This agreement, which I have not been in favor of from the get-go, how is it help the residents of Johnson Lane, or East Valley, or Fremont, who now have a road that's not worth driving on? How does it benefit the residents of Johnson Lane to have a hundred to two hundred trucks a day?
[5:00:33] going up and down that road, untethered,
[5:00:38] no restrictions on trucks.
[5:00:41] How is that going to benefit the residents of Johnson Lane?
[5:00:46] It's going to benefit the owners of the quarry, because they're going to put money in their
[5:00:49] pocket.
[5:00:51] It's going to benefit developers, because they're going to put money in their pocket.
[5:00:56] The people buying those homes, I don't really believe you understand what the cost of aggregate
[5:01:03] is into a home. One to three percent is the cost of aggregate, taking asphalt or concrete out of the equation.
[5:01:15] It changes the price of a home by one to three percent. And all the folks who've lived on Johnson Lane,
[5:01:23] I'm new, and I'm from California. But without us from California, they wouldn't have a home to build.
[5:01:31] they wouldn't need a quarry. So I'm sick and tired of hearing people from California go home.
[5:01:37] I've been in the quarry business or the garbage business all my life. I either dig it out or I put it
[5:01:45] in.
[5:01:49] How does this agreement give anything back to the people who have to endure this every day?
[5:02:02] That's the only question I got, I guess.
[5:02:05] I don't understand it.
[5:02:07] It's easy to say no restrictions.
[5:02:10] Good Lord, that's the same as it was before.
[5:02:13] What good is it?
[5:02:16] No, I'm done.
[5:02:19] And protect Johnson Lane is not an LLC.
[5:02:23] It is a nonprofit corporation.
[5:02:26] Our mission statement is on our website.
[5:02:28] It is through the benefit of the neighborhood, to increase the safety and health of the neighborhood,
[5:02:36] and we are not going to stop or even slow down until we get some concessions. Simple, easy things.
[5:02:49] I just
[5:03:07] came to Jackson. Further what Ron was saying, what benefit is to any of the people that live on
[5:03:15] on some line. If you go with the OR modifications to it, place no restrictions. And I say again,
[5:03:24] no restrictions on trucks on Johnson Lane. Think of do whatever they darn will please. And you can't
[5:03:32] do a thing about it. You wanted to reduce the speed limit. Oh, that's fine. Until you do it, then it won't
[5:03:39] fine. You want to change the number of hours. Can't do that. Can't do anything to it. That
[5:03:47] ties your hands on absolutely everything. And that hurts all the residents up on the Johnson
[5:03:54] Lane area. We're not asking for the mind to go away. We're just asking for it to be a better
[5:04:04] neighborhood partner if you want to call it that. That actually cares about the neighborhood
[5:04:09] and not running 100 or 200 or who knows how many trucks a day.
[5:04:14] You just, if you do that, it's no restrictions whatsoever.
[5:04:19] Think about that for a second. What does that really remain mean?
[5:04:24] If I told you there are absolutely no restrictions on what you can do on something,
[5:04:29] it means you're free to do whatever you're done well, please.
[5:04:34] And we've seen how that's worked in the past.
[5:04:37] So, they want to terminate it, let it terminate, and been doing us in a good anyway.
[5:04:44] Thank you.
[5:05:01] Trial's effort in gasoline, agree. Putting this or it's not good because then they can do pretty much anything there and you don't have any control. Right now, the sheriff's department does not have the personnel to stop these trucks and you can take it for not covering your load, which they are supposed to do under county's code and under state law. And they're not doing it.
[5:05:29] But if you put this on, you can't have your code enforcement officers, for instance, because they're not authorized, but if it was a permit road, you could have your code enforcement officers give them tickets.
[5:05:42] Okay, so yeah, I'm not just looking at the thing die for all I concern, or is not a good answer.
[5:05:51] You know, it's rich that they said when they met with you, that they said that they would,
[5:05:57] they would intend to and will comply with the EAV haven't been so far.
[5:06:02] And there's multitude of things that we've called out, but I'll just tell you too.
[5:06:08] The covered loads says right in the year many many times that I've presented you with all the data that shows in their operating plan that they would put that dirt into covered containers that covered loads
[5:06:19] They would physical cover loads and before they went on the roads
[5:06:23] Now doing it and they fought it to the nail
[5:06:27] And the other thing is and this is something I brought up to you last week or last meeting
[5:06:32] And that's the importation of soil rocks
[5:06:35] things like that. We've seen california license plate trucks come into the mine dump their soil
[5:06:41] and their rocks. What's in that stuff? We have no idea what's in there. That's not a lot in the
[5:06:46] EA. It was never studied. It was never studied to see what would the effect be on the groundwater
[5:06:51] of bringing that soil into the mine. There I got to resell it. Now they could grind and resell
[5:06:57] the asphalt in the concrete. So that kind of makes sense even though it's not covered in their permit.
[5:07:02] But at least that would make sense why the soil and the rocks, who knows where that's coming from and who knows what's in it.
[5:07:10] So that has to be looked at and I know that's not maybe under your purview because it's not your permit but that is something that the other agency should have to deal with.
[5:07:22] As far as the speeding trucks, I would, I hate to say it, but I think from what I've seen,
[5:07:31] most of the, I say 95% of the trucks are doing the speed limit.
[5:07:36] Except if their water truck is the one, that guy is going, all the time.
[5:07:42] I mean, he's just going up and down the road.
[5:07:45] And where's that, you know, they're using city water.
[5:07:47] I don't remember that.
[5:07:48] That's one of the things to say about about the use of the trucks route on East Valley and things,
[5:07:56] but I'll wait until after at the end.
[5:07:59] Thank you.
[5:08:04] Thank you.
[5:08:14] John Maxwell, again, Knox X-Tvini is one of the kind of address familiar concerns.
[5:08:21] So to a previous point, not impacting housing prices, the aggregate benefit to the community
[5:08:29] isn't solely for foundations of homes.
[5:08:32] It's all the infrastructure that leads to your home.
[5:08:35] That's the main cost of any subdivision,
[5:08:38] not specifically worked on on a lot.
[5:08:43] Johnson Lane was built and designated
[5:08:46] or the use we are using it for.
[5:08:49] Your homes wouldn't have access to the highway.
[5:08:53] Your subdivisions wouldn't have been built
[5:08:55] without Johnson Lane being what it is.
[5:08:59] that is a major collector, it funnels traffic from your community to the highway. Without that designation,
[5:09:06] your home wouldn't ever be built. So that's important to remember. We're not the only benefactor
[5:09:12] of this public road. Your house wouldn't be there if it wasn't what the county said it is.
[5:09:19] TARP loads, tarping loads, and I keep hammering this point home and I do respect your position,
[5:09:25] But it's a mitigating factor to minimize dust from loads being traveled down the road.
[5:09:33] So just like you wet down a construction site, it mitigates the dust.
[5:09:38] It's a mitigating factor. It's not an end all be all.
[5:09:43] And as far as dirt coming in and you're worried about contaminating the groundwater.
[5:09:49] I don't know if you really believe that or not, but I do want to address that concern because
[5:09:52] I don't want people to get emotionally attached to these scary, scary turns.
[5:09:58] if soils
[5:10:00] Contaminated on a construction site. It has to go through testing and has to be disposed of and lock wood or it likes any facility like that.
[5:10:11] It goes through testing on the site. It goes through testing before it goes into a truck.
[5:10:16] And then when it gets to the disposal site, the fees are astronomical for obvious reasons.
[5:10:21] But again, it's not a free-for-all.
[5:10:26] You don't get just to take contaminated material wherever you want, because we have a site that
[5:10:32] receives off-all, doesn't mean we aren't licensed, it'd be completely illegal.
[5:10:38] And we'd be shut down and Gemini would probably be in jail and federal jail if we took contaminated
[5:10:43] it's soil and just buried it. So, um, and I think that was all of the concerns that we brought
[5:10:49] up. If there's more, be happy to address it. Thank you, Mr. Maxwell. Appreciate it. Is there any
[5:10:57] additional public comment? Okay. Then we'll bring it back to the board. Commissioner Rice, did
[5:11:03] you have any additional comments or questions?
[5:11:09] No, I do not. I think that one of the things we need to
[5:11:14] would listen to our public.
[5:11:20] Pardon me, they just brought me a pill.
[5:11:26] Okay.
[5:11:31] We've done
[5:11:32] everything in our power, although some people think not. We've done everything in our
[5:11:49] putting number one license plate readers as well as radar to give us a photograph of what
[5:12:04] truck is doing what and I don't think photo radar is legal in this state but that's something
[5:12:12] that we can consider. But I think that we do need to put the radar signs up there that take
[5:12:20] pictures of the cars as they're going through in this feed limit that they're traveling at.
[5:12:27] I don't see a resolution to this problem and the near future.
[5:12:35] I'm not sure that I don't want to go there. Anyway, that's my comments.
[5:12:41] Thank you so much. Commissioner Hales. Yes, thank you. I'm not sure about the license plate readers, but I do agree about the flashing of the speed. I guess I have a question.
[5:12:58] I did the board direct two weeks ago did the board direct you to respond by saying we the county does not believe it breached.
[5:13:07] Yes, and we did provide a response to advice that we did not agree that we breached and that we are our initial written response that our legal counsel provided indicated that we needed to hear from them by today, whether or not they want we're willing to withdraw the agreement, but we were able to chat with them since then.
[5:13:34] And basically, we're waiting the outcome of your direction today to decide where we stand
[5:13:41] What the county's position final position on that agreement will be. Okay. Thanks. So here's how I see it
[5:13:49] Since we don't believe we breached
[5:13:53] Assuming we didn't breach, which I think is solid
[5:13:57] Then there'd be no reason for us to modify the agreement to terms that are less favorable
[5:14:03] to the county. So to me, the third bullet is makes no sense whatsoever.
[5:14:12] I am really appreciative
[5:14:13] to hear that the mine operators said they intend to operate within the representations made
[5:14:19] in the E.A. And since that's the case, I don't see how they could object in any way to us
[5:14:25] doing the second bullet, which is to alert the agencies that the mine operators don't seem
[5:14:34] to not intend to respect the terms of our agreement and to request that they incorporate
[5:14:41] the terms of the E.A. within their permits. And that seems totally fair to me on all fronts
[5:14:49] because it was knocks or it's representatives
[5:14:52] that made the representations in the EA in the first place.
[5:14:57] So to me, number two is a no-brainer.
[5:14:59] .
[5:15:00] Number one, I would like to see the agreement just be as is while we communicate with the agencies, because I don't see any benefit to the county in getting rid of it at this point.
[5:15:16] And when I say getting rid of it, if there hasn't been a breach, nox doesn't have the right to terminate.
[5:15:21] Therefore, the only way to terminate is for us to agree mutually to terminate it.
[5:15:27] If we do that, I think we lose out on the only actual requirements.
[5:15:34] A lot of regarding days and hours consistent with the terms in the E.A.
[5:15:38] Until some other legal mechanism is in place regarding days and hours and track trips consistent with the E.A.
[5:15:46] Therefore, what I would like to see as do is direct the county manager to go ahead and move forward with the letter to the agencies as similar to what was presented two weeks ago, and just leave the agreement alone.
[5:16:06] We don't need to fight about it, but we expect the proceeds to continue coming in, which
[5:16:13] would dot the eyes and cross the T's for any potential grant application, and I don't
[5:16:22] see any harm in just letting it be there.
[5:16:25] Especially until we figure out what the grant might need in terms of revenue, and until we
[5:16:32] understand what the agencies might do in terms of incorporating terms from the E.A. which
[5:16:39] were Knox's own representations along. That's what I would like to see. This is such
[5:16:48] a scary day. I'm going to go 1,000 percent with my colleague here and what she just
[5:16:54] for the second one to row right after the county managers.
[5:16:59] I for one voted against the agreement that was
[5:17:04] that started this thing.
[5:17:06] What the primary concern, and I made this these comments before is
[5:17:10] I don't believe legally.
[5:17:12] And I district assistant district attorney did state that it was,
[5:17:15] but I don't see how the county, one county commission group
[5:17:20] group can lock in future health and safety restrictions of future county commissioners.
[5:17:29] And when art we say we won't make any modifications to Johnson Lane if something happens
[5:17:36] and modifications need to be made, that's wrong.
[5:17:41] I mean, I don't know how we would one vote as a board to do so, but secondly, now we're
[5:17:45] going to sit here and make it explicit for them in this revision and I don't know what could
[5:17:51] happen, but you know what if what if you know they're dropping off from school kids and
[5:17:56] something happens and we say okay we need to reduce the speed or we need to do something and
[5:18:01] we're going to be locked in no and then I've been able to change it which I think our first agreement
[5:18:04] says that too if I'm not mistaken but it certainly does here so I'm just going to close with this
[5:18:10] don't want to spend a lot of more time. We made an ordinance. It wasn't even my idea. This was
[5:18:16] Commissioner Hell's idea, and she was the one who negotiated the first contract was to make the
[5:18:25] the ordinance for East Valley Road for the safety welfare of our community. And had nothing to do
[5:18:32] with targeting just one company. It does affect my Oxford. It affects a lot of other companies. In fact,
[5:18:37] our county managers told me over and over again that there's at least one of the companies being
[5:18:42] a factor potty more. We do it because we're trying to uphold our responsibilities as a county
[5:18:47] commission and what we do that now nox says the agreement is violated and we want a better
[5:18:54] agreement with you and that's just I mean anybody who votes for that's crazy. So I agree with what
[5:19:00] commission of health set.
[5:19:09] Okay. So I just want to make sure I'm clear in my head
[5:19:13] of what you're suggesting is, it's so I've tried to paraphrase it here and correct me
[5:19:20] if I'm, I get it wrong. Okay. But as I understand it, what you're suggesting is that
[5:19:26] we notify the permitted agencies of the notice of the termination from noxx
[5:19:36] while also indicating to them that we disagree that we've defaulted and also ask the agencies to enforce the terms illustrated in the EA.
[5:19:50] Is that okay, so I just want to make sure.
[5:19:52] Yeah, and we ask them that because it appears that knocks
[5:20:00] It leaves the terms in our agreement are no longer applicable.
[5:20:05] And the only thing we really forfeit is the renomeration from proceeds.
[5:20:10] I'm thinking we forfeit that.
[5:20:11] Oh, okay.
[5:20:14] I'm asking for clarification.
[5:20:17] I think a judge would have something to say about that.
[5:20:24] This does not preclude us in the future from taking a different action on the agreement, depending on what plays out.
[5:20:37] So I hear what everybody's saying, and I don't disagree.
[5:20:42] I'd like to throw out one more piece that we haven't talked about, is that if we do,
[5:20:48] say, nope, we don't believe this is a problem.
[5:20:53] And they believe that we have breached there isn't a resolution, so that now pushes to a judge.
[5:20:59] So now we're defending this in court and quite honestly, we, now it's my opinion,
[5:21:08] just trying to throw that out there that we have spent a lot of time, staff, money,
[5:21:15] monitoring, checking, testing, whatever we've been doing, you know, with the license plate readers
[5:21:21] and all this things trying to create a bunch of data. And I'm not sure the return on that investment,
[5:21:30] is wise, right, or that it's worth the investment that we put into it.
[5:21:36] So that's kind of like the one thing that I keep trying to, you know,
[5:21:40] I'm always trying to see both sides of any or whatever, you know, elements that are to it.
[5:21:46] And so that is when I think are we being a good shepherd of the public's money,
[5:21:49] and that's something that Mr. Gardening references a lot of times,
[5:21:52] with the amount of investment we're putting into this,
[5:21:55] this when a lot of the things we're trying to control are really controlled in their agreement
[5:22:01] or their permit to begin with. Can I? Yes, absolutely. My idea is we don't put anymore money in it.
[5:22:10] We just let it be as it is. We just let it be as it is. If there's a lawsuit, we figure out what to do
[5:22:16] There's the last thing.
[5:22:19] So when you commissioner,
[5:22:22] so when you voted for the ordinance
[5:22:26] to restrict trucks on East Valley,
[5:22:29] did you do that with the intent or belief?
[5:22:33] We were gonna violate Nox's agreement?
[5:22:36] Well, that's the hard given in front of the judge.
[5:22:39] None of us did.
[5:22:41] So you're saying don't defend a lawsuit
[5:22:43] that none of us felt we were committing
[5:22:46] because we don't want to spend more money on it.
[5:22:51] Yes, no, I'm not saying that we shouldn't.
[5:22:54] I'm just saying we have the opportunity to possibly resolve this.
[5:22:58] And so I just want to make sure we're recognizing that
[5:23:01] that that is a potential of what we're deciding on.
[5:23:04] You know, is that we are going to continue to push money
[5:23:07] on this situation where we're at.
[5:23:09] I just want to make sure we're...
[5:23:10] No, we're not.
[5:23:11] We're not.
[5:23:11] We're not.
[5:23:12] how that in any way saying we're gonna put more money into it.
[5:23:15] But if we, we don't, we don't actually assume that if we
[5:23:19] no, it's gone back saying we don't believe we're in breach,
[5:23:21] they say we believe you're in breach.
[5:23:24] They're just gonna say okay, you're not in breach or they're gonna push it.
[5:23:27] But I don't know, but we wait to see what happens if they bring the lawsuit
[5:23:32] then the county needs to come to the staff needs to come to us and say,
[5:23:36] what do you want to do with this lawsuit?
[5:23:38] And at any point in time, we can walk away with from the agreement.
[5:23:41] boom, done. We don't have to spend money.
[5:23:47] So, my observation would be that the only reason that I could see us pursuing action and
[5:23:55] court would be to retrieve the proceeds that are due for us. And it seems to me that
[5:24:04] amount of proceeds that we've received. So far, do not equate to that action. Okay? So the only
[5:24:14] action that I can see is action by noxx, your vating towards the county, not the county, towards
[5:24:20] noxx. Okay? And we can't control that. Okay? So I concur with what you're saying here, and I, you know,
[5:24:30] I would just hope that the agencies enforce the terms of the A, and so we lose the proceeds.
[5:24:42] But we've spent more than those proceeds on fighting this issue ourselves from a staff standpoint.
[5:24:49] So I think we're all, I think we're all basically pretty much saying the same thing.
[5:24:57] And to answer your question, commissioner.
[5:25:00] Continuing as whether or not we felt like we were targeting, so to speak, knocks. If you recall, when
[5:25:08] we addressed this issue, previously, in response to the letter, we passed the ordinance, I suppose.
[5:25:16] I made it very clear on the record that this ordinance of no trucks on East Valley would not
[5:25:24] include or prevent our residents out there from receiving goods or services from any and all
[5:25:31] trucking companies, whether it be knocks or anybody else. And that's the way I'm interpreting.
[5:25:36] So anyways, I feel the same way in regards to the use of a book I wrote also because we have
[5:25:47] a lot of construction that's taking place out there right now. And we're going to potentially
[5:25:51] over the next 30 years with the development of 2,500 homes potentially have a lot more
[5:25:57] construction out there. And so even though we've designated it as not a truck route,
[5:26:03] I still believe that people making local deliveries out there to accomplish those needs are
[5:26:11] are provided or are not prevented from doing so.
[5:26:16] So anyways,
[5:26:20] are you ready?
[5:26:21] Yeah, I'm a motion.
[5:26:22] OK.
[5:26:24] I moved that we direct the county manager
[5:26:26] to provide a response to Knox consistent
[5:26:28] with the discussion at the meeting,
[5:26:30] including appreciation for their entering into conversation.
[5:26:36] And
[5:26:39] inviting them to further communicate regarding
[5:26:43] how to handle complaints moving forward. I move that we also direct the county manager to
[5:26:49] provide notice to the agencies as outlined in the letter presented in the board packet
[5:27:02] to in the last meeting with changes as she sees appropriate.
[5:27:10] Second.
[5:27:14] So we have a motion by a
[5:27:15] of health, signify, commissioner, circadian, any further discussion on that motion?
[5:27:21] City, no further discussion. All those in favor, signify by say and aye.
[5:27:25] Aye. Okay, motion passes five to zero.
[5:27:30] Thank you very much.
[5:27:33] Where we stand?
[5:27:42] Okay. Well, it's, uh, 330 and we have, uh, uh, uh,
[5:27:48] presentation only. Announcements reports updates from county commission members, including
[5:27:51] part updates on the various boards and our commissions that they may be a member of or
[5:27:57] a liaison to or any other meeting functions they have attended in any request by a commissioner
[5:28:02] for discussion of a future agenda item. Commissioner Rice, anything to report other than
[5:28:10] how's the hotspittle food? I've had better. I don't laugh. It's not funny. You've been through
[5:28:20] menu like a dozen times now, right? Oh my God. Anyway, I would I would like to thank my fellow
[5:28:30] commissioners for picking up the slack for the meetings that I have not been able to attend.
[5:28:37] I've only missed a couple of commission meetings and I was in surgery and it's hard to get on zoom
[5:28:44] when you're under the knife, so at any rate, I have doing everything I can in my power to fulfill
[5:28:56] my duty as a county commissioner, but I want you to know how much I appreciate that you
[5:29:02] have been picking up some of my meetings for me that I just can't do from in here.
[5:29:10] And I want you to know that it's much appreciated.
[5:29:15] I thank you in my wife's thank you.
[5:29:18] Well, thank you. And good to hear you.
[5:29:22] I lean our love also and appreciation for watching out for your help.
[5:29:27] That's paramount.
[5:29:29] Commissioner Hales, anything you wanted to?
[5:29:32] I've just mentioned briefly that I've attended the meetings that I'm assigned to.
[5:29:37] Carson Valley Arts Council has a new concert series announced and scheduled and it looks very
[5:29:47] fun. So I encourage anyone to consider purchasing a membership and season tickets SS or TTD has a
[5:30:00] A strategic plan, retreat, long meeting, a week from, well, next Wednesday, and I will attend that.
[5:30:11] And I also note that the car smelly arts council is working on a mural for the Copeland building.
[5:30:17] We're on a roll here, and they've announced that they continue to work on preliminary design for the Performing Arts Center.
[5:30:28] using donated money to make those designs.
[5:30:33] So that's
[5:30:37] the, my summarized report.
[5:30:41] Thank you.
[5:30:43] Not paying attention on my report.
[5:30:45] I heard you.
[5:30:47] So thank you.
[5:30:49] Okay.
[5:30:49] Commissioner to work.
[5:30:51] I just have one of, I feel,
[5:30:54] importance to the public might want to know about
[5:30:55] is the TRPA meeting last week.
[5:30:59] There was two items that were, I don't know about disturbing but enlightening, one of which was the report on the clarity of the lake.
[5:31:09] All of the work that's been done over the last 20 years to reduce the amount of particles that are going in,
[5:31:14] have had a strong result in the winter, and they've kept the decline of the death, so when I say this,
[5:31:23] the death is getting higher in the winter, but in the summer it's continuing to decline and they're
[5:31:28] finding that there's other reasons for that outside of the particles. It's also has to do with
[5:31:33] fight-o-planks and other things, basically, but the lake is reacting as well. And so there's
[5:31:39] more work, more studies, and you can be able to do that to verify how we're going to preserve
[5:31:44] the clarity of the lake. So that was very enlightening to hear about some of that's a big deal for
[5:31:49] everybody and then the other thing was that the forest service is beginning to re-plant the
[5:31:55] Caldor fire scar and the part of their toolbox was to be using herbicides to keep some of the
[5:32:04] undergrowth, the manzanita and the white thorns from overtaking the new plantings and keep in the
[5:32:08] trees from grow and that sparked a very lively debate about the use of herbicides and glycephate
[5:32:14] in the basin and in all the regions. So that was something that we need to be aware of and
[5:32:22] that was it. Thank you. So in regards to my activities beyond the board,
[5:32:31] as President of NACO, the Nevada Association of Counties, we did have our meeting last Friday in
[5:32:38] as normal. And I just wanted to announce also that we have our annual conference coming up
[5:32:44] September 22nd through the 24th at the Ohio Blue Events Center. In addition to that, we
[5:32:50] approved 5 BDRs, NACO is allowed by BDRs. For those of you who do not understand what a BDR is,
[5:32:57] it's a bill draft request. So those bill draft requests go to the state legislative council bureau,
[5:33:06] Okay, LCB and for drafting of those bills to come forward to the state legislature when it starts in February.
[5:33:16] Also, we have a new governmental affairs rule representative for endot.
[5:33:25] Her name is Patty Anrenucci, and I was, we took a two hour tour, a two hour, not a three hour, two hour tour of Douglas County on Tuesday afternoon.
[5:33:44] We met at the county office and traveled all the way down to TRE, where we had a fatal hit on collision on July the 3rd.
[5:33:54] and we traveled all the way up to North County and
[5:33:59] Jax Valley Road and then back down on to
[5:34:03] General Elaine and me taking notes and then
[5:34:10] so she now has a punch list of things that I would like to see happen in Douglas County from an end-dots standpoint.
[5:34:19] I know some of those are highlights for my fellow commissioners as well
[5:34:23] they may have others that they want me to note. So if you do, I should have probably reached out to you in advance of that tour.
[5:34:32] But anyways, if you have items that you feel need to go on the list, please let me know.
[5:34:38] And then also I just want to re emphasize that we have the Douglas County rodeo happening not this weekend, but next weekend on the 11th and 12th.
[5:34:49] I understand that there are almost out of tickets, I believe they have less than 80 tickets that are still remaining to that event, so it should be a very well.
[5:35:00] All attended event. And look forward to that activity, taking place again. So that's the extent of my report.
[5:35:10] So with that, we will go into closing
[5:35:13] public comment. So at this time public comment, we've taken on those items that are within jurisdiction
[5:35:18] and control board of commissioners, or those agenda items where public comment has not already been taken.
[5:35:25] It's been happening.
[5:35:29] Whew.
[5:35:29] Boy, I'm relieved now.
[5:35:32] We should all feel a sigh of relief.
[5:35:35] Can I get your name, please?
[5:35:37] No.
[5:35:38] Oh, Charles Cameron, that Mr. Maxwell is sure of us that all of those loads that are coming in are being tested.
[5:35:47] And perhaps you would like to just not think it's even feel better would be to share those manifests for each one of those loads with accounting.
[5:35:54] all the testing has been done and everything else.
[5:35:58] It doesn't still address the matter of the fact
[5:36:02] that it was not even studied in the environmental assessment.
[5:36:06] It wasn't part of the operations plan.
[5:36:10] Their operations plan states, noxxating is proposing
[5:36:14] to mind the property to produce structural fill.
[5:36:17] You can produce granite construction, aggregate,
[5:36:19] and any other construction materials that the site
[5:36:22] mind may reasonably produce.
[5:36:25] Doesn't say anything about crushing aggregate or accepting soil
[5:36:29] and anything like that.
[5:36:30] It's not studied.
[5:36:31] It wasn't there.
[5:36:32] If it was, they probably would have included a section like they have on everything else,
[5:36:37] even studying the effects of the dust on the employees.
[5:36:44] They have to report to the state for that.
[5:36:46] They would have included reporting all those manifest or keeping them in place
[5:36:51] and having an agency come and test them or come and see the records, but it wasn't, it wasn't in EA.
[5:36:59] So that's all I have to say about that one.
[5:37:04] You've got to do something about the trucks that are using East Valley still.
[5:37:10] I mean, it almost seems like maybe they were single that, because there's a lot of other trucks using that road right now.
[5:37:17] All the Douglas County disposal trucks, if they're if they're doing any runs up north of
[5:37:23] Johnson Lane, they got to go down to 395 and then go over the dump, because even from
[5:37:28] Buckeye over to, you know, south, that part is not a truck route.
[5:37:33] They can't be using that as a normal truck route, including the one that the ordinance just
[5:37:38] addressed.
[5:37:39] So somebody's got to do something about Douglas County, but our others out there has got to
[5:37:43] some more enforcement out there because there's still a lot of truck to use in that road.
[5:37:49] And the signs, we're going on three months. Where are the signs that there's a sign there?
[5:37:55] After you turn on the free month, there's a sign with a circle around a truck.
[5:38:00] That's it. By that time it's too late. Put one before you get the free spot that says trucks no
[5:38:06] right turn. Things like that, there are other other signs that need to be put up out there.
[5:38:11] I understand they're on order or something like that, but it's it's been a while.
[5:38:18] Thank you.
[5:38:27] Jim Jackson.
[5:38:29] Thank you.
[5:38:31] You should give him a three percent.
[5:38:36] I think we decided that a little while ago.
[5:38:39] Yeah.
[5:38:40] Now, if making a mistake was going to cut one percent, we need to cut your pay.
[5:38:45] So, anyway.
[5:38:49] It was brought up on no effect of property values and everything up in Johnson Lane down.
[5:38:54] There's an effect. People don't want to buy a house that has trucks going by, and what kind of truck it is.
[5:39:01] There are, there is reduction in either property value or the ability to sell a property.
[5:39:08] You can keep a price on it all you want, but you can't sell it.
[5:39:12] That worth it.
[5:39:13] So those are all things to take into consideration.
[5:39:15] But the one thing I heard from you is that your responsibility is to the citizens of the county,
[5:39:25] the health and welfare of everybody.
[5:39:30] And that includes all the residents of Johnson Lane, of Fremont, of all the developments that are going along
[5:39:38] on Fremont and East Valley, all the houses that are being built up there now.
[5:39:41] It's amazing how many there are that are going in and stuff.
[5:39:47] To Chuck's note, make sure that the laws of being enforced across the board up there for all trucks.
[5:39:56] The ordinance wasn't put in to single out any one company.
[5:39:59] It was...
[5:40:00] Because it was a safety issue up there. More houses are being built on there. There was speed limit was reduced because it's safer up there when cars are coming out of these properties now and everything.
[5:40:12] So yeah, there are trucks going up there. There are trucks making deliveries to the houses up there. Those are okay. We have no problem with that.
[5:40:20] But the ones that are using it as a through route, Douglas disposal, when they're not picking up trash in that area and they're taking that, they shouldn't be doing that.
[5:40:32] Now they're accounting contractor, you can tell them, hey, you got going on 395 and up to the dump over there.
[5:40:38] That's the fair way of doing it.
[5:40:41] I think if you do that, you'll have less pressure than the people up living up there, because they'll see that you're actually doing what you said you were going to do.
[5:40:53] Thank you.
[5:40:54] Thank you.
[5:41:04] John Maxwell, Knox excavating.
[5:41:07] I don't expect a response to this, but this is a question, and it's been in our letters, both the notice of default and the termination.
[5:41:16] I haven't been responded to and it's been stated up here that you don't feel that you're in violation of the agreement.
[5:41:24] And my question that still hasn't been answered,
[5:41:26] Jamass, the last time when I'm asking it again is,
[5:41:29] if that's the honest truth, then why were we requested to amend the agreement to allow for that ordinance to restrict truck traffic on East Valley?
[5:41:39] If it weren't, if it wasn't in violation and you didn't know as a violation of our agreement.
[5:41:45] So, those two things, even out, what I'm hearing you say up there versus what you asked us to do prior to an election to help get votes.
[5:41:58] That was the crux of that meeting, and that was the reason for the request.
[5:42:04] And we weren't willing to amend the agreement at that time because we were getting letters accusing us of violating our permits.
[5:42:13] from county staff directed at our reviewing agencies that we weren't being copied with, but the
[5:42:21] protect Johnson Lane was. There's more than just an ordinance. There's a series of things that
[5:42:29] happened here, dealing in bad faith. And then again, when you say we need to amend this agreement
[5:42:37] to allow for this ordinance and then we don't do it and you pass the ordinance and then you
[5:42:41] turn around and say it's not in violation of the ordinance,
[5:42:43] then why would you request it in the first place?
[5:42:46] So that those two things aren't going to be wrong.
[5:42:48] So that's my public comment.
[5:42:50] Thank you.
[5:42:53] Thank you, Mr. Maxwell.
[5:42:55] Thank you.
[5:43:07] Oh, my God.
[5:43:11] No, I'm not going to do it.
[5:43:12] I'm going to pick on the stop side.
[5:43:14] I'm going to leave the rest of it alone.
[5:43:21] Because they spend a lot of money fixing the BLM road.
[5:43:28] The trucks, the trucks do not, some trucks come out of their fast for the majority.
[5:43:35] That first block until they hit Fremont, they're good little boys.
[5:43:40] You've all seen it.
[5:43:44] It's the RVs, it's the UTVs, the kids going out there to party at night, coming out of there
[5:43:55] at 40, 45 miles an hour.
[5:43:59] You got to do something to stop that somebody's going to get hurt people are already flipping their
[5:44:05] UTVs on that nice new road because they got dirt tires and they come out of the dirt and they hit that
[5:44:12] chip seal and flip them over we've had three or four helicopters landing out there already
[5:44:19] So you got to do something to slow them down on that first block
[5:44:25] stop sign
[5:44:27] I'm not going to let it go. Thank you.
[5:44:34] Thank you. It was the kind of way
[5:44:36] Is there any additional public comment?
[5:44:39] You can address it when, say, close public comment.
[5:44:45] Since you see a no other public comment, then I'll close public comment.
[5:44:48] Bring it back to the board.
[5:44:49] You, yet.
[5:44:51] I'll address your question, but not right here.
[5:45:02] Okay, with that, according to my agenda, unless somebody put something on here that I didn't see, this meeting is hereby adjourned. Thank you.