Lyon County Commissioners discuss RIB failure and other items during Thursday’s meeting
Submitted by Kelsey Penrose on Fri, 11/08/2024 - 4:06pm
The Lyon County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) convened on Thursday, November 7, 2024, to hear presentations and approve several significant agenda items.
Aspen Creek Rapid Infiltration Basins (RIBs)
Lyon County Manager Andrew Haskin addressed the background and actions taken to address the Aspen Creek Rapid Infiltration Basins (RIBs) effluent disposal challenges during his County Manager report. Mr. Haskin reported “…I want to assure the Board and the public that the life, health, and safety of the citizens of Lyon County is our top priority. I know from past experience working with this Board through the 2023 flooding that protecting life, health and safety is your priority as well and I want to thank the Board for your continued trust in me and the Lyon County team as we work through these issues. Any decisions that are made [regarding effluent disposal] are made with life, health, and safety in mind.”
The BOCC will discuss and possibly approve recommendations for processing planning applications, site improvement plans, and building permits in the Dayton sewer service area during a special meeting on Friday, November 15, 2024 at 9:00AM while Lyon County staff work to identify solutions for increased effluent disposal capacity. The agenda for the special meeting is posted on the Lyon County website.
Lyon County Sheriff’s Office Awards
Sheriff Brad Pope presented Deputy Joshua Lynch and Deputy Ian Foster with Meritorious Service Medals due to their actions during the pursuit of a reckless driver in Fernley on July 28, 2024. Further, three Fernley citizens were presented Life Saving Awards for their heroic work during a fire on September 23, 2024 on Woodchuck Drive and Deputy Trevor Bonds was presented a Life Saving Award for his swift actions to revive a six-month-old infant in Fernley.
Planning Items
Conditional Use Permits (CUPs): The Board approved a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for Hunewill Construction for the expansion of an existing aggregate pit operation on land subject to RR-20 (Rural Residential – 20 Acre) zoning located near the intersection of Highway 338 and Desert Creek Road in Smith Valley with the condition that the expansion remains east of Desert Creek.
In addition, the Board approved 4-1 (Hendrix opposed) a request from Project One Nevada for a CUP for an aggregate extraction operation within the Sage Vista Specific Plan on land subject to RR-20 located north of US Highway 50 and east of Bryce Street in Mark Twain. Following numerous public comments from neighboring residences on potential impacts, the CUP was approved with amended conditions which include limited hours of operation, no commercial sales, moving the site of the operations area to north of the proposed extraction site, and limiting the approval to five (5) years. After five years, the applicant may request an extension from the BOCC.
Airport Ordinances: Commissioners approved an ordinance amending Lyon County Code Title 15, the Lyon County Land Use and Development Code to define and allow for Private Use Airfields and General Aviation Airports; and other matters properly related thereto. Further, the Board approved an ordinance amending Lyon County Code Title 15 to adopt airport influence areas and other matters properly related thereto.
Other Board Actions:
· Appointments: Appointed Shannon Lee Ceresola (Fernley), Loretta Sell (Silver Springs) and Wendy Loomis (Wellington) to the Lyon County Planning Commission with terms expiring December 31, 2028. The Board also appointed Taylor Allison and Jeff MacDonnell to the 911 Surcharge Committee with terms expiring December 31, 2026.
· BLM Solar Western Plan: County Manager Haskin presented Governor Lombardo’s Consistency Review letter regarding the Bureau of Land Management’s Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement and proposed Resource Management Plan for Utility-scale Solar Energy Development. Commissioners were pleased with the Governor’s letter as it addressed several of Lyon County’s concerns.
· Lease Agreement for Human Services Dayton Office: Accepted the amendment to the lease agreement with Dayton Healthcare Center, LLC for Lyon County Human Services’ Dayton office space, to extend the lease term from October 31, 2024 to October 31, 2026.
· American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funding: Approved a reallocation of unspent ARPA funds to ensure all of the funds are obligated by the December 31, 2024 deadline.
The complete agenda and back up materials are posted online at www.lyon-county.org/Agendacenter. Residents can view recordings of Board of County Commission meetings on the Lyon County YouTube Channel.
