March 23, 2022

Commissioner Cox

was present via telephone.

Commissioner Blundo

said the County Manager felt the change Commissioner Blundo wanted to make to Code Compliance was redundant and repetitive, so he asked for that to be brought to the Board to make that determination. March 23, 2022

Commissioner Blundo

disclosed he was a recipient of CARES Act grants for his business. These funds appeared to be from a completely different legislation, but he was disclosing in an abundance of caution. He had consulted with the District Attorney’s Office and he did not see a pecuniary interest in items 12-17. Contracts and Grants Manager Stephani Elliott said the ARPA plan would deliver coronavirus fiscal recovery funds in the amount of just over $9 million. According to the U.S. Department of Treasury, the program was implemented to support local governments in the response and recovery from the COVID-19 public health emergency. The funding resources were intended to support families, small businesses, maintain public services, and provide for a strong recovery by investing in long-term growth and opportunities within the communities. Community workshops were held in July, 2021. Page 2 of the back-up was an overview of the initial funding allocation plan approved in August, 2021. In September, 2021 the Board approved two ARPA-funded grants staff positions to support the administration and implementation of the programs. Those personnel expenses would be calculated as a percentage of each category. Page 3 of the back-up showed the different eligible use categories broken down into related objectives along with community supported projects as a result of the workshops. The back-up also provided NACO’s overview of the interim final rule, the U.S. Treasury’s overview of the final rule, an ARPA presentation, and the previously implemented policy for the CARES Act.

Ms. Elliott

said today the five eligible use categories would be discussed, which would provide the Board with the opportunity to direct staff on how much funding they would like to allocate to those objectives and if needed the specific project funding. Finance was also looking for direction on the Board’s reporting requirements as well as ARPA policy implementation with regard to the approval process.

Commissioner Carbone

felt the requirements for paperwork and documentation would be the biggest issue in any of this. If it could be determined what the most limited amount of paperwork needed was that information would be nice.

Commissioner Strickland

stated staff did a good job with CARES regarding that, but the system needed to be simplified. Savannah Rucker said that could be done and in the next agenda items there were a couple of options for the Board. March 23, 2022 12. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act Funds (ARPA), and a basic overview of resources and funding usage-Cont’d.

Commissioner Blundo

said less paperwork was a challenge in the previous programs as the same things were said, but when it came to the reporting the reporting requirements were at a level higher than what was required for the programs.

Mrs. Rucker

explained in the last two sets of grant programs the County was pre funding businesses and that was where that reporting requirement became very cumbersome for both the applicant and her office. She also thought there were misconceptions on how the reporting was to be completed so there was friction and push-back from the grantees. With regard to small businesses, it would be the recommendation to reimburse rather than pre-fund. As to private applicants, staff’s understanding of the final rule was the applicants had to confirm they had been impacted by COVID and then move forward with the application process. Mrs. Rucker said the goal was to make it simpler, but they were tied to the document that identified the rules they needed to adhere to.

Commissioner Blundo

asked what it would take to un-encumber this money to allow the Board the flexibility to support the community in the best way possible.

Mrs. Rucker

said the final rule gave the Board a substantial amount of flexibility, but the answer was no since this was not a short-term fix like CARES was intended to be.

Commissioner Carbone

did not think there were a lot of COVID-related problems at this point.

Mrs. Rucker

advised there were community stakeholder meetings in July and August, 2021, to ask what they needed. A lot of those needs were long-term needs and were needs that became exponential when COVID hit. When the Board started going through the agenda items those needs could be discussed. She understood what the Board was saying and repeated there was more flexibility with this funding than there was with CARES.

Commissioner Jabbour

liked the idea of reimbursing versus pre-funding. He did not want to go through the frustrations of the previous programs again. He believed there needed to be proven documentation submitted with the applications from businesses. As to the homeless and the folks that were traveling back and forth from motel room to apartment to a motor home to the desert, etc., he thought they were in a different category and needed to be accommodated since they had no documentation.

Commissioner Jabbour

pointed out the County would be audited because it was federal funding and the Grant Manager, Finance and the Comptroller had to have appropriate documentation to show where this money went. March 23, 2022 12. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nve County American Rescue Plan Act Funds (ARPA), and a basic overview of resources and funding usage-Cont’d.

Commissioner Blundo

said he understood, but he mentioned one of the small businesses in the County that received one of the grants previously. They submitted a handwritten P&L because they did not know what it was, but it was unacceptable. He thought staff also made it difficult on themselves since they were asking for information above and beyond to make sure they had justification three different ways for the same conclusion.

Mrs. Rucker

said she was aware of that situation, but she did not believe that was an accurate statement and asked staff to look into it. She recalled seeing and approving it. She felt like her team went above and beyond to make this work. The resistance was businesses thinking they were asking for too much, which she disagreed with as it would be her and her team handling the audit.

Commissioner Blundo

suggested opening all of the items to have the discussion since they were all intertwined.

Mr. Richardson

advised for clarity they should be taken one at a time.

Commissioner Strickland

said the problem with the agenda was if all of them were listed at once the Board could dive into pieces and parts and would end up re-opening items to continue the discussion.

Commissioner Carbone

felt the items could be opened at the same time as they interconnected with each other.

Mrs. Rucker

explained the agenda was worded the way it was so if the Board wanted to reallocate funding they could during each of those items, but all the funding was tied to one pot so if the topics could be kept in order and their closures identified she thought that would accomplish the need. Helene Williams understood the Board’s concerns She asked if there was another area where what she was looking for could be manipulated such as the sewer and water under item 17. Stacey Smith from Nye Communities Coalition said she participated in the process. She heard the Commissioners’ frustration with grants, which always seemed to be a day late and a dollar short. However, one of the things she had seen with this was while it felt like a lot of this was done with COVID, there was still a significant fallout within her organization among staff and the clients. Additionally, what COVID showed here were the vulnerabilities and Ms. Smith felt the money could be used to build resiliency. March 23, 2022 12. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act Funds (ARPA), and a basic overview of resources and funding usage-Cont’d. Tim Bohannon thought something missing from the agenda was an item to discuss the parameters and then ask for possible action. The Board could then get down to the individual items. Kathy McKenna, executive director for Nevada Outreach, also understood the frustration. She said they dealt with federal grants every day and were required to have the same documentation for the COVID and ARPA money they received to distribute to the citizens. She thought having the County try to tackle that may be difficult because that was not how it was set up. The County may look to help the individuals through non-profits in the community that were used to dealing with the required documentation. Along with that, when a client came in needing help Ms. McKenna said they may say they needed help with one item, but when the intake was done they learned they needed help elsewhere. They tried to help them as a whole and Mrs. McKenna felt that was how this program should be handled. March 23, 2022

Ms. Elliott

explained the first tranche was $853,000.00 to prevent and mitigate COVID 19; for COVID treatment and medical services; enhanced behavioral and mental services; support the local health and safety workforce; improve design and execution of public health programs; and address disparities in public health outcomes.

Commissioner Blundo

stated the disclosure he gave under item 12 applied to items 13- 17 as well.

Ms. Elliott

reviewed the suggestions received from the community stakeholders for ways to support the public health response. Regarding childcare facilities, Commissioner Strickland pointed out it was repeated throughout the document and the biggest need she was aware of was in Tonopah. She felt the tranche for that was under negative impact. It should be re-allocated and driven home to that area and perhaps the County facility fitness center be rehabbed. Then training could proceed to be able to man that facility from the public. Commissioner Strickland felt Tonopah could not move forward with people being able to be employed March 23, 2022 13. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Public Health Relief Program-Co nt’ d. 14. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Negative Economic Impact Proqram-Cont’d 15. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Government Revenue Loss-Cont’d. 16. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Premium Pay for Essential Workers Programs-Cont’d. 17. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Water, Sewer, and Broadband Infrastructure Programs-Cont’d if they did not have childcare and that was the first and foremost need for economic impact in her opinion.

Commissioner Carbone

reminded Commissioner Strickland the Board voted in December, 2021, to use that building for district court.

Commissioner Strickland

asked if the Board could earmark money for specific things.

Mrs. Rucker

said the initial thoughts were to allocate a budget in total to the objectives and all of the programs underneath would live within the funding set aside unless the Board reallocated. Childcare facilities did fall under public health response and negative economic impact so there could be two pools of funding under those objectives to meet the need. She was open to suggestions though.

Commissioner Strickland

said so it was a first come first serve, which both she and

Commissioner Blundo

had a problem with.

Mrs. Rucker

said it could be, and the Board could take the direction to set aside funding for each of the objectives and set outside of that total funding specific funding for a particular type of project.

Commissioner Strickland

said she was told prior approval was given for $175,000.00 for signage. She asked if there were any other prior approvals and how that happened since she could not have earmarks. March 23, 2022 13. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Public Health Relief Program-Cont’d. 14. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Negative Economic Impact Program-Cont’d 15. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Government Revenue Loss-Cont’d. 16. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Premium Pay for Essential Workers Programs-Cont’d. 17. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Water, Sewer, and Broadband Infrastructure Programs-Cont’d

Ms. Elliott

said there were no other prior approvals at this time. She explained the whole reason for today was allocation, or earmarks, looking to find out what categories the Board wanted to fund and what objectives were near and dear to the heart.

Commissioner Blundo

asked which tranche that $175,000.00 was out of.

Ms. Elliott

said it was out of support public health with the objective being to improve the design and execution of health and public health programs.

Commissioner Blundo

noted that left $678,000.00 in the first tranche. He asked if all of the $9 million was available.

Mrs. Rucker

said no. The first tranche was received at the end of July 2021, and the second tranche would be received in July, 2022. Contingency and payroll costs were included at the bottom of the individual categories.

Commissioner Blundo

made a motion to prioritize under the public health response these three items: leave $2.7 million for the community center from the second tranche; allocate $300,000.00 to a program for Tonopah childcare and the Board would at a later date identify a building to operate that out of; and allocate $378,000.00 toward rental assistance due to affordable housing issues related to the pandemic, inflation, rising costs, etc.; seconded by Commissioner Strickland.

Commissioner Carbone

asked what kind of rental assistance. March 23, 2022 13. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Public Health Relief Program-Co nt’ d. 14. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Negative Economic Impact Program-Cont’d 15. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Government Revenue Loss-Cont’d. 16. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Premium Pay for Essential Workers Programs-Cont’d. 17. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Water, Sewer, and Broadband Infrastructure Programs-Cont’d

Commissioner Blundo

said right now there were a lot of rising costs and people who could potentially become homeless. He felt the Board needed to support those individuals. There were people receiving funds already for job training and there were a lot of food pantries in town. He felt the Board could come back and look at the situation.

Ms. Elliott

advised rental assistance was under addressing the negative economic impact. She clarified the Board wanted to move money from public health response to rental assistance.

Mrs. Rucker

said basically the rental assistance would need to be moved to a different tab because of the current guidance that rental assistance was under economic impacts. Funding could be moved between public health and economic impacts.

Commissioner Strickland

said that that was what should be done.

Commissioner Blundo

asked how much Commissioner Carbone wanted for the homelessness situation.

Commissioner Carbone

asked Stacey Smith if they had programs for homelessness.

Ms. Smith

said they did some support as did Nevada Outreach, Nye County Health and Human Services, and several of the churches. There were organizations doing the best they could to piecemeal a system to support the homeless.

Commissioner Carbone

asked her if she thought the County should be involved or give them a voucher for the money. March 23, 2022 13. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Public Health Relief Prog ram-Cont’d. 14. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Negative Economic Impact Proqram-Cont’d 15. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Government Revenue Loss-Cont’d. 16. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Premium Pay for Essential Workers Programs-Cont’d. 17. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Water, Sewer, and Broadband Infrastructure Programs-Cont’d

Ms. Smith

believed the best option was to go to the organizations in place and enhance what they were doing. The County’s role with this funding was to sub-grant or contract with an agency.

Mrs. Rucker

said one of the talking points with these items was which programs the Board wanted to do in-house or sub-grant. If sub-granting was done, applications could be opened for a period of time, everyone could apply, and then that would be presented to the Board all at once to avoid the first come first serve issue. That could maybe be done on a quarterly basis until the funds ran out and the community members were heard from as to how they would use the funding and the level of funding necessary to get their goals accomplished.

Ms. Smith

added she knew the State was working on funding for childcare and she did not want to see the County duplicate either the State’s efforts or the efforts of the local organizations in other areas such as housing.

Commissioner Blundo

withdrew his motion; Commissioner Strickland withdrew her second.

Commissioner Blundo

said to add public assistance for homelessness under the public health response for $300,000.00, take the revenue loss from the County of $553,000.00 and move it to economic impact, and allocate $500,000.00 to the rental assistance. The Board then discussed the public health response category. Commissioner Carbone mentioned the need for mental health services. March 23, 2022 13. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Public Health Relief Program-Cont’d. 14. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Negative Economic Impact Program-Cont’d 15. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Government Revenue Loss-Cont’d. 16. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Premium Pay for Essential Workers Programs-Cont’d. 17. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Water, Sewer, and Broadband Infrastructure Programs-Cont’d

Commissioner Strickland

suggested moving money from premium pay for essential workers to the public health response category for mental health.

Commissioner Carbone

asked if there was an issue with pay for the County because that was what premium pay was.

Mrs. Rucker

clarified that premium pay was for all essential workers during the pandemic and continuing forward such as truck drivers, grocery workers, gas station attendants, pharmacists along with many more.

Commissioner Blundo

wondered what Finance would need to give that essential worker the pay.

Mrs. Rucker

said she did not know. She would have to look into it and generate a policy. It would likely be, if premium pay was to be backdated, how long they worked there, verification the pay because it had to be within a threshold, and validation of the pay for that person against the average pay in the community. There would definitely be a lot of work in validating the premium pay.

Commissioner Carbone

said to move $700000.00 and leave the $53,000.00 as he did not think there would be many people requesting premium pay.

Mrs. Rucker

said as the programs were monitored the Board could reallocate to those programs that had success and those that did not could be reallocated to other categories. March 23, 2022 13. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Public Health Relief Program-Cont’d. 14. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Negative Economic Impact Program-Cont’d 15. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Government Revenue Loss-Cont’d. 16. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Premium Pay for Essential Workers Programs-Cont’d. 17. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Water, Sewer, and Broadband Infrastructure Programs-Cont’d

Commissioner Jabbour

asked what would be done to help the people with mental health issues.

Commissioner Carbone

said it was to get them into places where they could get help.

Commissioner Jabbour

was concerned with taking them from A to B and if they were receiving therapy in between because without that he did not see how moving them from place to place would help them.

Commissioner Carbone

said the facilities would have the therapy, and there were facilities where people stayed for a longer period of time so they became semi- productive citizens.

Mrs. Rucker

confirmed the Board wanted $636,000.00 in mental health.

Commissioner Cox

said she was concerned about the homeless and as much money as possible needed to be made available for them. She wondered if a trailer park could be developed for them on County property and asked staff to consider how that would fit into the ARPA funding. Turning to the economic impact category, Mrs. Rucker said there was $500,000.00 for rental assistance with a balance of $2.8 million to assign.

Commissioner Blundo

asked what the money could be used for. March 23, 2022 13. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Public Health Relief Program-Cont’d. 14. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Negative Economic Impact Program-Cont’d 15. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Government Revenue Loss-Cont’d. 16. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Premium Pay for Essential Workers Programs-Cont’d. 17. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Water, Sewer, and Broadband Infrastructure Programs-Cont’d

Ms. Elliott

said there was no re-hiring of local government or services for qualified census tract. She pointed out the County did not have any layoffs due to the pandemic and all of the County was considered a low- to moderate-income community. She reviewed the suggestions received from the community stakeholders contained in the back-up. Tourism Director Arlette Ledbetter talked about the travel restrictions due to COVID and the war in Ukraine. She said they worked with an agent in Russia to bring tourism in, but recovery was not predicted until 2025 or possibly longer. A few solutions she had to restart the industry would be familiarization tours, which would bring in tour operators who could relay to their customers exactly what the experience was like; signage for points of interest in Pahrump; and commerce tourism.

Commissioner Jabbour

talked about how important familiarization (FAM) tours were.

Commissioner Blundo

saw challenges if the County were to fund something like a chamber voucher program. He disclosed he was not a chamber member, but had been on and off for the last 15 years.

Commissioner Strickland

disclosed she was a chamber member, but she did not have any pecuniary interest in the item.

Commissioner Blundo

felt the presentation was more of a pitch to give tourism more money and it would go to a select group of people. He asked if there was a function within this program to support small business. March 23, 2022 13. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Public Health Relief Program-Cont’d. 14. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Negative Economic Impact Program-Cont’d 15. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Government Revenue Loss-Cont’d. 16. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Premium Pay for Essential Workers Programs-Cont’d. 17. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Water, Sewer, and Broadband Infrastructure Programs-Cont’d

Mrs. Rucker

said yes. The second objective within the address negative economic impacts category was a reimbursement program for rent, utilities, payroll, etc., for small businesses. A couple of other ideas that came out was a voucher program as well as a incubator program to provide assistance to local businesses to help them understand their finances.

Commissioner Strickland

asked about a voucher system for the Lakeview Golf Course.

Ms. Ledbetter

explained that golf course was executive and not necessarily a tourist destination. What operators looked for in rural communities was a 1 5% discount. Front Sight and Spring Mountain were both viable in that note because they were high-end operators.

Commissioner Carbone

said he did not believe there was a document in the hotels that listed all the places to see. He said if Ms. Ledbetter wanted additional dollars then she had to validate things that were happening based on what she said was supposed to happen.

Ms. Ledbetter

said there was a visitor’s guide in the works and should be out pre-July, 2022. The last visitor’s guide was pre-pandemic.

Commissioner Strickland

asked how much it cost to put out the visitor guide.

Ms. Ledbetter

said it would be $70,000.00 less ad sales. March 23, 2022 13. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Public Health Relief Procjram-Cont’d. 14. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Negative Economic Impact Program-Cont’d 15. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Government Revenue Loss-Cont’d. 16. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nyc County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Premium Pay for Essential Workers Programs-Cont’d. 17. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Water, Sewer, and Broadband Infrastructure Programs-Cont’d

Commissioner Strickland

thought a visitor’s guide and the Pahrump Chamber’s magazine would be a good place to put money.

Commissioner Blundo

said he wanted to support all businesses, not just the couple at the top. Erika Gerling asked if the Board was allocating money to different categories and had not approved any specific project.

Commissioner Carbone

said nothing had been voted on. The Commissioners were just putting together what they thought.

Ms. Ceiling

asked if there was still time for organizations and agencies to apply for the money.

Commissioner Carbone

said yes, once the Commissioners approved what they were putting together. Tim Bohannon supported a FAM tour throughout the County. Some other things to consider were parks and recreation areas and making sure visitors were aware of the things to do. He said there was also tourism up north and he did not want them to be forgotten along the way. Responding to the discussion regarding the FAM tours as well as the voucher program, Jenney Sartin, CEO of the Pahrump Valley Chamber of Commerce, said she supported the voucher program and their roll in that. Tourism had taken a heavy hit in the entire March 23, 2022 13. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Public Health Relief Program-Cont’d. 14. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Negative Economic Impact ProqramCont!d 15. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Government Revenue Loss-Cont’d. 16. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Premium Pay for Essential Workers Proqrams-Cont’d. 17. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Water, Sewer, and Broadband Infrastructure Programs-Cont’d State and more in the rurals. From the standpoint of the chambers, Ms. Sartin said they would support a voucher program that would support those industries that were impacted. Her primary interest today was the roll and support they could hope to find in creating a small business incubator program. She said they had originally applied for and taken part in a Statewide application program for an allocation that would have been used for a community program navigator, but Nevada did not get any of that money. It was the goal of the chamber to support the creation of a small business program, the purpose of which would be to address numerous areas that became obvious during COVID-19, such as why more small businesses in the rural areas did not apply for PPE funds or FDA loans.

Ms. Smith

said the biggest need in the household category was looking at an organized food pantry across the County. All food pantries were volunteer based except for those that were client specific, which were not open food banks. For small businesses, one thing that would be helpful was removal of the barriers that kept the employees coming in, such as subsidized childcare for two to six months for current or new employees. As to small business and non-profit, Ms. Smith said funding for software was needed. Regarding unemployed workers, there was a window of people not eligible for the current programs and they needed to be supported. Helene Williams, appearing on behalf of the private well owners, said all morning the Board had discussed public health, economic impact, negative impact, and health of the community. She told the Board to remember that it would get none of that if there was no water. The private well owners were asking for a total of $285,000.00 for a five-year program for the County to administer and oversee a cloud seeding program. Ms. Williams felt they fit into every category and the funds could be divided between them. March 23, 2022 13. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Public Health Relief Prog ram-Cont’d. 14. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Negative Economic Impact Program-Cont’d 15. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Government Revenue Loss-Cont’d. 16. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Premium Pay for Essential Workers Programs-Cont’d. 17. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Water, Sewer, and Broadband Infrastructure Programs-Cont’d

Commissioner Blundo

pointed out the chamber did their own guide. He asked if it would be more appropriate for it to just be in tourism and if they wanted to sub out of there they could do that.

Mrs. Rucker

said tourism could contract with the chamber for services.

Commissioner Blundo

said he would like to see that done.

Commissioner Jabbour

believed the chamber was working on a new visitors’ guide as well as the Pahrump visitors’ guide. He thought working and promoting together it may be $35,000.00 for each.

Commissioner Carbone

asked Ms. Ledbetter if $35,000.00 would support her requirement or if it should be more.

Ms. Ledbetter

said she would like to see additional allocations for the magazine this year along with the option of a few FAMs.

Commissioner Blundo

suggested doing $75,000.00 total and not give money to the chamber.

Commissioner Carbone

suggested taking out the chamber and making it $80,000.00 for tourism.

Mrs. Rucker

pointed out there were tourism directors in Beatty and Tonopah. She suggested discussing after lunch how to support them. March 23, 2022 13. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Public Health Relief Program-Cont’d. 14. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Negative Economic Impact Program-Cont’d 15. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Government Revenue Loss-Cont’d. 16. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Premium Pay for Essential Workers Programs-Cont’d. 17. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Water, Sewer, and Broadband Infrastructure Programs-Cont’d The Board was in recess until 1:30 p.m.

Commissioner Carbone

said he wanted to make sure other towns received funding for tourism. He suggested taking $50,000.00 out of mental health and put it into tourism.

Commissioner Blundo

stated the disclosure he made in items 12 and 13 was for items 12-17.

Ms. Elliott

said the second tranche of $2.43 was allocated directly for a community center. While the final rule stated there was not a lot of ineligibility, the construction of convention centers, stadiums or other large capital projects intended for general economic development were ineligible. She needed clarification on how that $2.43 million was responding to COVID.

Commissioner Carbone

asked the Commissioners if they wanted to use it for economic development.

Ms. Elliott

said the back-up talked about Health and Human Services utilizing the facility for vaccinations, testing, public assistance to the homeless as well as job training and food assistance. There was a spot that said two-stage funding for a community center at the Pahrump fairgrounds, which she believed would be ineligible unless backed by something. Since homelessness seemed to be a big problem project in mind right now,

Ms. Elliott

suggested tying that with the homeless issue and building that community center in the future for homeless homes to be built on site. Perhaps the homeless could then be job trained and/or work at the community center. March 23, 2022 13. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Public Health Relief Program-Cont’d. 14. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Negative Economic Impact Program-Cont’d 15. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Government Revenue Loss-Cont’d. 16. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Premium Pay for Essential Workers Programs-Cont’d. 17. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Water, Sewer, and Broadband Infrastructure Programs-Cont’d

Commissioner Strickland

noted the community center itself was used as a refuge if an event like this occurred again. The County had to have some way to administer the volume.

Commissioner Jabbour

said last year the Board authorized $200000.00 for a back-up generator in Amargosa for that reason. The Board may want to consider a back-up generator for this community center in Pahrump.

Mrs. Rucker

said when the time came to start moving forward with this a justification would be drafted including DEM’s and Health and Human Services’ plans of action to have the back-up so this did not come back on the County.

Commissioner Blundo

asked if using this money would preclude that building from being used for other things.

Mrs. Rucker

did not think so, but the purpose of building, that it was identified through the pandemic that it would be a great resource for the community, needed to be justified.

Commissioner Strickland

said she would like to put everything on one page at some point so it could be looked at in its entirety.

Mrs. Rucker

said if the Board wanted to see the individual line items when done she would print a .pdf and display it in that fashion. March 23, 2022 13. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Public Health Relief Proqram-Cont’d. 14. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Negative Economic Impact Program-Cont’d 15. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Government Revenue Loss-Cont’d. 16. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Premium Pay for Essential Workers Programs-Cont’d. 17. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Water, Sewer, and Broadband Infrastructure Proqrams-Cont’d Returning to public health, Commissioner Carbone said to reduce mental health by $50,000.00 and put that into tourism to cover a little more of the north.

Commissioner Blundo

asked what could be done to support the essential workers.

Mrs. Rucker

said premium pay had a budget of $53,000.00. They could work with the employers themselves or the employees themselves, but there was validation that needed to be done and there was a limit on how much could be given to the workers.

Commissioner Blundo

wondered if a small business program could be created incorporating something like that. There was also a reimbursement program for rent, utility, payroll, etc. Commissioner Blundo said he would like to do a program like that to help them. For staff it would be easier to have it all under one place rather than going back and forth between programs.

Mrs. Rucker

wondered what that would look like as far as administration. She asked if it would just be the small business assistance that included everything mentioned, would there be caps, employee caps, similar to prior programs with thresholds, and what the Board would like to do with that, or should the small business assistance be brought back as its own item to dive into considering it was one of the programs that seemed to cause the most concern for the Commissioners and the business owners.

Commissioner Blundo

said he was not looking for Wal-Mart corporate to get into this, but he wanted to allow the workers the opportunity. March 23, 2022 13. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Public Health Relief Prog ram-Cont’d. 14. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Negative Economic Impact Program-Cont’d 15. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Government Revenue Loss-Cont’d. 16. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Premium Pay for Essential Workers Programs-Cont’d. 17. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Water, Sewer, and Broadband Infrastructure Programs-Cont’d

Commissioner Carbone

wondered how essential workers would be identified. He did not want to make it difficult, but he did not want someone coming in saying they worked at Wal-Mart during the pandemic.

Mrs. Rucker

suggested after this meeting, if the Board assigned values, she and Ms. Elliott could brainstorm and bring forward a policy that could be amended during a Board meeting.

Commissioner Strickland

said she went to a presentation done by some individuals who wanted to do a homeless facility at the Salvation Army on Blagg and they needed $600,000.00. They were an example of a group specifically looking for money to do that. She asked if the Board was at the point where a homeless facility needed to be talked about and if a tranche of money should be put out there to entice someone to build one.

Commissioner Carbone

believed they were going to use the building there. He asked if it would fit in one of the categories if it was for the homeless.

Commissioner Strickland

asked if the Board would entertain putting $600,000.00 to give them the ability.

Commissioner Blundo

asked if the Board was really trying to get into the black hole of the homelessness issue. He thought if any kind of resources were put toward any kind March 23, 2022 13. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Public Health Relief Program-Cont’d. 14. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Negative Economic Impact Program-Cont’d 15. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Government Revenue Loss-Cont’d. 16. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Premium Pay for Essential Workers Proqrams-Cont’d. 17. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Water, Sewer, and Broadband Infrastructure Proqrams-Cont’d of facility like that not only would they come, they would get stranded here and there were no mental health services for them.

Commissioner Jabbour

asked if the Board would entertain a line item for the $600,000.00 and then revisit that project if necessary so the meeting could move on.

Commissioner Cox

suggested instead of allocating money for housing to allocate money to train the homeless young people so they could get a job.

Commissioner Blundo

said the Nye Communities Coalition had a youth program not to exceed $900,000.00 and an adult dislocated worker program not to exceed $1 million, so some of those programs already existed.

Commissioner Strickland

said during the workshops the community partners identified employee incentive programs, case management and gas vouchers, job readiness classes, budget training class, training for CDL and vouchers through sub-grants. She said that sounded pretty inclusive and asked Commissioner Cox if she liked the sound of it.

Commissioner Cox

said yes, but she wondered if there was enough money to fund it.

Commissioner Blundo

thought it could also be addressed under the mental health portion previously discussed as $650,000.00 was put there for the homeless.

Ms. Smith

said their programs were funded and Workforce Connections was good about providing additional funding for their training. Homeless people would qualify, March 23, 2022 13. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Public Health Relief Program-Cont’d. 14. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Negative Economic Impact Program-Cont’d 15. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Government Revenue Loss-Cont’d. 16. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Premium Pay for Essential Workers Programs-Cont’d. 17. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Water, Sewer, and Broadband Infrastructure Proqrams-Cont’d and they had quite a few youth in the program right now that identified as homeless. As to the training, a lot of training they had they were sending to Las Vegas. She advised Great Basin College needed an 18-wheeler to bring training down from Elko. Ms. Smith then encouraged everyone to look at best practices when it came to the homeless, which did not talk about building shelters but rather building homes.

Commissioner Strickland

suggested changing the homeless shelter fund to housing security. She felt voucher training programs were needed.

Commissioner Blundo

said a lot of programs being mentioned already existed.

Commissioner Strickland

said if the college needed an 18-wheeler to do CDL training locally that was a big need.

Commissioner Blundo

did not see a need for $600,000.00 for housing security as there was money allocated for it elsewhere. He would like to allocate $2 million to small business assistance between the first and second tranches.

Commissioner Carbone

said the County needed certain things for training to be prepared for some of the things it was getting into.

Commissioner Blundo

asked Assistant Public Works Director Tom BoIling what an 18- wheeler would cost.

Mr. BoIling

said the most recent figure he had was about $170,000.00 for just the tractor brand new. Six months ago they were $120,000.00 to $125,000.00. March 23, 2022 13. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Public Health Relief Program-Cont’d. 14. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Negative Economic Impact Program-Cont’d 15. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Government Revenue Loss-Cont’d. 16. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Premium Pay for Essential Workers Programs-Cont’d. 17. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Water, Sewer, and Broadband Infrastructure Programs-Cont’d

Ms. McKenna

said Nevada Outreach was the intake site for all of the homeless in the County. They just had a pit count and counted roughly 120 with about 35 people using motels for shelter. A homeless shelter was needed because it took time to transition into housing security. Also, having a shelter for temporary sheltering of homeless allowed time to work with those individuals to get them re-introduced into society. Karyn Smith, Director of Health and Human Services, advised they already had an employment incentive program. She had a case worker that worked directly with individuals helping them with their resume, looking for jobs, and doing job readiness at Nye Communities Coalition. They also assisted with money in order for them to go back and forth to Las Vegas for the truck driving school, but it would be nice to have that training program here. The biggest problem was the lack of affordable housing.

Ms. Smith

said she was aiming for transitional housing through their rapid rehousing program.

Ms. Sartin

said the Chamber of Commerce represented all businesses in Nye County. She asked if the Commission had any intention of addressing the proposal regarding a small business incubator program.

Commissioner Carbone

did not think the funds were for making new businesses.

Ms. Elliott

advised the funds were for businesses in existence prior to February, 2020. Turning to the water and sewer, she said the total allocation was $850,000.00 split between both tranches with a previous allocation of $200000.00. Some of the things mentioned were upgrades to the Gabbs water and sewer infrastructure as well as upgrades to the Amargosa water infrastructure. March 23, 2022 13. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Public Health Relief Program-Cont’d. 14. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Negative Economic Impact Program-Cont’d 15. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Government Revenue Loss-Cont’d. 16. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Premium Pay for Essential Workers Proqrams-Cont’d. 17. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Water, Sewer, and Broadband Infrastructure Programs-Cont’d Tom Boiling explained Gabbs was a non-sustainable water and sewer system and cost more money every year than revenue generated. A rate study was done by RCAC in 2021, which identified roughly $1.75 million worth of replacement infrastructure that needed to happen in order to bring it up to code and make a more viable system. Since not enough revenue was generated every year to even cover the costs, he reached out to find different ways to pay for it, one of which was State funding. The State required the County not augment the costs every year in order to keep it afloat. This was a good way to fix that infrastructure by using the $2 million. However, the costs would still need to be augmented every year. Mr. Boiling felt the rate structure in Gabbs needed to be fixed along with the infrastructure.

Commissioner Strickland

said she was having trouble identifying this as a COVID need.

Ms. Elliott

advised part would be the water portion and sustaining water availability, especially fresh clean water.

Commissioner Jabbour

concurred with Mr. Boiling regarding Gabbs, but he asked everyone to keep in mind that the majority of the people who resided in Gabbs were seniors on a fixed income. Although it was amortized over five years to raise the rate structure, they were hardly able to afford the utilities and what they had for infrastructure now, He felt there were other things to consider than just this $2 million infrastructure.

Commissioner Blundo

asked what kind of rate increase was being looked at.

Mr. Boiling

said there were multiple options for the rate increase. Right now residential rates were $62.00 a month and .50 cents per 1,000 gallons over. The first increase March 23, 2022 13. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Public Health Relief Program-Cont’d. 14. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Negative Economic Impact Program-Cont’d 15. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Government Revenue Loss-Cont’d. 16. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Premium Pay for Essential Workers Programs-Cont’d. 17. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Water, Sewer, and Broadband Infrastructure Programs-Cont’d would be to $65.00, then to $69.88, then to $74.42, and at the end of 2026 it would be over $80.00 a month, but the system should be sustainable at that time. He noted the rates had to be increased to get the State money.

Commissioner Strickland

said she would like to see the cloud seeding move forward.

Commissioner Blundo

asked to have a line item created of $285,000.00 for cloud seeding.

Commissioner Jabbour

asked if the rate increase was done to go after the State funding if the County would be able to earmark some money in general for all Nye County residents if they were in need of help with utilities.

Commissioner Carbone

said that was a good point, but that would be a significant amount of people. The next topic discussed was broadband. Ms. Elliott said some of the projects discussed during the workshops was having broadband services available at local community centers or the library and utilizing Starlink for the dead zones as well as using broadband for educational services or even a voucher program to local businesses to encourage free Wi-Fi and public access. At the request of Commissioner Carbone, IT Director Brad Adams explained what Starlink was as well as some of the problems with satellite communications and costs. March 23, 2022 13. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Public Health Relief Program-Cont’d. 14. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Negative Economic Impact Program-Cont’d 15. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Government Revenue Loss-Cont’d. 16. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Premium Pay for Essential Workers Programs-Cont’d. 17. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Water, Sewer, and Broadband Infrastructure Programs-Cont’d

Commissioner Carbone

asked what Mr. Adams would need as far as broadband infrastructure for the County.

Mr. Adams

said one of the needs identified was a public safety microwave network that covered a good portion of the County’s 18,000 square miles. That network would join Nye with Clark and would be instrumental for primary and secondary dispatches. Mr. Adams said there were concerns when looking at the engineering plan, such as dispatch down time. They were looking at an alternate path utilizing two other tower sites that would provide resiliency and redundancy. If it all came together and the amount of equipment on the towers could be reduced it would be in the neighborhood of $3.5 million.

Commissioner Strickland

wondered if the County could get money for this from the infrastructure bill.

Mr. Adams

advised they were already in talks with the Governor’s Office about how to use local or State funding and potential e-rate funding. If 120 miles of fiber needed to be brought in which aligned with the needs of the County and that could be accomplished with a 30-year fixed rate lease, e-rate could pay for the majority of the build and the County under the State or local ARPA funds could piggyback on that. Mr. Adams said the last discussion he had with the Governor’s Office was it was $2.00 a foot for additional fiber, so that would equate to at least $800,000.00. In addition to that, the fibers would need to be lit and that would cost around $120,000.00.

Commissioner Carbone

asked if there was anything that could be done locally with broadband. March 23, 2022 13. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Public Health Relief Program-Cont’d. 14. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Negative Economic Impact Program-Cont’d 15. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Government Revenue Loss-Cont’d. 16. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Premium Pay for Essential Workers Programs-Cont’d. 17. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Water, Sewer, and Broadband Infrastructure Programs-Cont’d

Mr. Adams

said yes. They had talked about ISPs at community centers, balifields and other communal areas that were underserved.

Commissioner Carbone

noted the rest of the County had to be considered as well and there did not appear to be enough money to support an infrastructure throughout the County.

Mr. Adams

said another item he wanted to bring up which was an indirect benefit to the public was water and sewer infrastructure. He had a lot of demonstrations with different security product providers over the last year and a half and recently engaged with NACO on a product they sponsored and endorsed. They had partnered with two other well established companies for end-point detection and response as well as a security event manager (SEM). The SEM monitored activity in the network when deployed, the end-point detection and response component would then be deployed, and then the manage component with an external managed provider. One of the drawbacks on it though was the security issues had gone through the roof since the pandemic. This would be communal for all agencies and entities under the County’s umbrella.

Commissioner Carbone

asked what kind of funding was needed.

Mr. Adams

said one of the items identified was MFA. MFA was a big component that

Mr. Adams

said they had deployed, but not County-wide. That component was about $85,000.00 and it was a perpetual license. The cost for the program with the SEM for the first year was $283,696.00, which was for the licensing, SEM, crowd strike, March 23, 2022 13. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Public Health Relief Proqram-Cont’d. 14. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Negative Economic Impact Program-Cont’d 15. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Government Revenue Loss-Cont’d. 16. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Premium Pay for Essential Workers Programs-Cont’d. 17. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Water, Sewer, and Broadband Infrastructure Programs-Cont’d implementation services, and the 24/7 security operations management of those end points. The cost for the second and third years would be $228,860.00.

Mrs. Rucker

said she knew cyber security was included in the ARPA legislation, but she was not sure in which category. She would insert the numbers and figure out which category it fit into.

Commissioner Blundo

said to put $300,000.00 for Gabbs.

Ms. Elliott

said she would have to confirm with the State that would not affect the eligibility for the State funding. As to signage for Pahrump Valley Fire Rescue, Commissioner Blundo asked if that was a flat $175,000.00 with no 10%.

Mrs. Rucker

said there could be labor, installation and management costs that may or may not be able to be absorbed by the department’s budget. There likely would not be 10% overhead on it so it was identified as contingency and payroll for total program management. At the end as the funds came close to be fully utilized the contingency and payroll that was under-utilized could be released.

Ms. McKenna

told everyone about the Affordable Connectivity Program, which was a broadband payment assistance program available through the federal government. Erika Gerling told the Commissioners they had given her some good ideas and Beatty might put in for something as well. March 23, 2022 13. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Public Health Relief Program-Cont’d. 14. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Negative Economic Impact Program-Cont’d 15. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Government Revenue Loss-Cont’d. 16. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Premium Pay for Essential Workers Programs-Cont’d. 17. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Water, Sewer, and Broadband Infrastructure Programs-Cont’d Helene Williams thanked the Board for funding the cloud seeding program. She spoke with the Assistant Public Works Director earlier to explain that Gabbs may be able to come under an EPA super-fund.

Commissioner Carbone

said Ms. Williams’ first comment earlier was about reclaiming systems.

Ms. Williams

stated they did not present that to the Board and she believed they wanted to work in conjunction with BLM on their land and create the flow area so that they could retain the water. She thought maybe that was something the Water District Governing Board could look at. She said she would have to go through some of the Commission meetings to find where that was discussed. Tim Bohannon said he had spoken quite a bit about reclaimed water. There were several water SMART federal grants available with varying degrees of ceilings. He did not hear much said about the grant funding on the broadband. Mr. Bohannon was part of a survey about a month ago noting there were some broadband services looking at Pahrump. From a funding perspective, Mr. Bohannon said he would like the County to look at the federal funding as long as it would not impact the State funding. He also knew there was some other funding available in NACO for State Equity Capacity grants. He did not know if those would be available to the County, but felt it should be explored.

Commissioner Carbone

thought there had to be money in the bank for the next problem. March 23, 2022 13. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Public Health Relief Proqram-Cont’d. 14. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Negative Economic Impact Program-Cont’d 15. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Government Revenue Loss-Cont’d. 16. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Premium Pay for Essential Workers Programs-Cont’d. 17. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Water, Sewer, and Broadband Infrastructure Programs-Cont’d

Commissioner Strickland

suggested leaving something in arrears for 2026 and if needed before then the County could dip into it.

Mrs. Rucker

advised unfortunately the final rule did not allow use for a rainy day fund, but the County already had a rainy day fund. A discussion was held regarding what could be done for Gabbs. Commissioner Strickland suggested using the money for engineering. Commissioner Carbone was concerned about the timing and having to do the engineering again. Mr. Boiling advised the money for that engineering would hopefully come from the State money.

Commissioner Blundo

suggested throwing the money in with the public assistance for rental, utility and mortgage, so anyone in the County was eligible and now it was not a subsidy.

Commissioner Carbone

asked about people on a fixed income who could not pay for their propane or gas and how everything would be distinguished.

Commissioner Blundo

said he wanted to put the remaining balance of $729,245.00 in there to help people who were delinquent already. Now everyone up north and down south would be assisted, It would also help with affordable housing, utilities, propane and sewer.

Commissioner Strickland

suggested incentivizing builders to build low-income housing to help with the homeless situation. March 23, 2022 13. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Public Health Relief Program-Cont’d. 14. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Negative Economic Impact Program-Cont’d 15. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Government Revenue Loss-Cont’d. 16. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Premium Pay for Essential Workers Programs-Cont’d. 17. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Water, Sewer, and Broadband Infrastructure Programs-Cont’d

Commissioner Blundo

thought that would be a different funding source like CDBG. He asked if Commissioner Strickland wanted four $1 00,000.00 grants to help developers for affordable housing.

Commissioner Strickland

thought that was exactly what was needed.

Commissioner Blundo

suggested eight grants of $50,000.00 each to help cover the cost of the utilities and the water to hook-up to the affordable housing. Tim Sutton said recently the Interim Government Affairs Committee held a meeting and discussed the affordable housing dilemma in the State. He would forward those discussions and the resources to the Board.

Commissioner Carbone

asked if the Commissioners wanted to go with the grants for affordable housing.

Mrs. Rucker

said the funding could be set aside, how to write it into the policy determined, and then the Board could discuss and deliberate when the policy was presented.

Commissioner Blundo

said that would be a fixed $400,000 for the grant split between the tranches, and then the remaining he would like to see go into the rental assistance, mortgage, utilities, propane. The only thing he wanted to revisit was how important the IT stuff was. March 23, 2022 13. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Public Health Relief Prog ram-Cont’d. 14. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Negative Economic Impact Program-Cont’d 15. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Government Revenue Loss-Cont’d. 16. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Premium Pay for Essential Workers Programs-Cont’d. 17. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Water, Sewer, and Broadband Infrastructure Programs-Cont’d

Commissioner Carbone

said it was the County’s security. He asked if it had been looked at through the County’s budgeting process.

Mr. Sutton

said yes, and he was sure Mr. Adams had met or will meet with Finance for the regular budget process. He and Mr. Adams had discussions about some of the needs and were looking to fund it from any source possible.

Commissioner Blundo

asked where was it going to be funded from.

Mr. Adams

said it would be funded through County capital or regular budget or a combination thereof.

Mrs. Rucker

commented the needs far exceeded the capital available.

Mr. Adams

stated while the public safety microwave was an expensive need, it was definitely a need. In lieu of ARPA funding some of the other projects would have to be funded through other sources.

Commissioner Blundo

asked if it could be funded 50/50, 50% from wherever it was going to be funded from and 50% from ARPA.

Mrs. Rucker

said that would go back to capital resources and the priority of the needs, which would be done during the budgeting process.

Commissioner Blundo

said to put the remaining $53,000.00 for revenue loss into the rental assistance. March 23, 2022 13. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Public Health Relief Program-Cont’d. 14. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Negative Economic Impact Program-Cont’d 15. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Government Revenue Loss-Cont’d. 16. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Premium Pay for Essential Workers Programs-Cont’d. 17. For Possible Action Presentation, discussion, and direction to staff regarding Nye County American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Water, Sewer, and Broadband Infrastructure Proqrams-Cont’d

Commissioner Blundo

made a motion to accept as presented; seconded by

Commissioner Strickland

; 5 yeas.

Commissioner Carbone

adjourned the meeting. APPROVED this ATTEST: Of 2022. cj i Q. 7 Nye Cjnty Clerk I Deputy