April 13, 2016

Mr. John

Koenig Public Works Staff: Mr. David Fanning

Commissioner Schinhofen

called the meeting to order at 8:31 a.m.

Mr. Koenig

led the Pledge.

Mr. Koenig

stated that he had nothing at this time. Mr. Darrell Lacy, Nye County Planning Director stated that there is an agenda item on the RPC to talk about the State bicycle plan and just wanted to let the Transportation Commission know.

Commissioner Carbone

stated that he will be there and they can discuss it then.

Mr. Koenig

motioned to approve the minutes. Commissioner Carbone second. Motion approved. Regional Transportation Commission – Minutes April 13, 2016

Mr. Koenig

made a motion to approve the bus to be donated to the Veterans for Veterans use only. Commissioner Carbone second. Motion Approved.

Mr. Fanning

stated that we are currently on the same path as we were in February. He also stated that the paperwork was sent to the DA’s office and it is still under review to purchase the 10,159 square feet of right-of-way needed for the southwest corner of Homestead at Gamebird. Mr. Fanning stated that we thought we would have heard back from the DA but we have not so we will follow-up on it again.

Commissioner Carbone

asked when it was submitted to the DA. Mr. Fanning asked staff, it was 03/16/2016. Commissioner Carbone asked if it was holding us up by not having the answer. Mr. Fanning stated no, we are tied up on Low Road sat this time.

Mr. Fanning

turned the floor over to Mr. Tim Carlo, Nye County Road Superintendent. Mr. Carlo stated that this was actually brought up in the Board of County Commissioner’s Meeting on April 5, 2016. The road has been damaged by flooding waters and potholes already and on Monday, April 4th there were approximately 90 trucks that ran on Bell Vista. There is now substantial damage to the road which is why a motion was made for the weight limit restriction at the Board Meeting on Tuesday. He also stated that because of those events we had to get it approved by the BoCC sooner than this RTC meeting took place.

Commissioner Carbone

stated that since it is on the agenda then we can talk about it. Commissioner Carbone asked where we are with the repairs and how are we doing with the traffic. Mr. Carlo stated that we were getting behind every day because of the heavy loads that were being ran but since the restriction was put on we are able to start getting caught up with the potholes. For instance, the supervisor that is working the job reported that after 10 heavy load trucks used the road it created 6 potholes. Mr. Carlo stated that we a little better that half way through the emergency pothole repair. Mr. Carlo stated the before the super bloom he did a count on that road and there was 500 trips a day, that has doubled now. He also stated that there were approximately 10, 134 cars in 5 and ½ days from March 24th thru the 30th. Mr. Carlo stated that the counters are out there now also.

Commissioner Carbone

stated that it was good because that will give us an indication of what kind of cars are traveling out that way too.

Mr. Fanning

stated the reason that he wanted to put this on the agenda is because when we first talked about Bell Vista we did not know that this was occurring. Mr. Fanning stated that because he has been with the county for so long he knew that 2 Regional Transportation Commission – Minutes April 13, 2016 this was going to be an issue. That is why he attached the back-up that he did for this item. It was to show that this has already been applied to a road here in Pahrump Valley in 2005. He also stated that he put it in there so we could take a look at the NRS 405.010 which is to restrict heavy trucks. The Town of Pahrump adopted this back in 2005. Mr. Fanning asked how the board feels about implying NRS 405 to that area of Bell Vista. Commissioner Carbone stated that he has driven Bell Vista several times and he could see the erosion and felt it was more important to fix it rather than some of the other roads that are currently being worked on because it is a commerce road. Commissioner Carbone stated that we need to start looking at weight limitations on some of these roads and we need to start looking at the codes we have to start hitting up some of these big companies to help pay for the necessary repairs. Mr. Fanning asked if it was Title 12-12 that Commissioner Carbone was looking into. Commissioner Carbone stated yes and then thanked Mr. Fanning for bringing this to the board. Commissioner Carbone then opened this item up for public comment.

Mr. Darrell

Lacy stated that he had spoke to the Death Valley Park Superintendent and he indicated that maybe not short term but long term, there may be some opportunities for federal funding to assist with Bell Vista Road. Mr. Lacy also stated that he has not any discussion with the state on this matter but stated that we should be looking in to that.

Commissioner Carbone

stated that we should check into a grant since there are two states that use this road for commerce. Mr. Lacy stated that the park is supporting us in getting a grant so that helps. Mr. Fanning stated that unfortunately the road is in need now, we just seen the road fall apart on Monday. Commissioner Carbone stated that the road needs to be torn apart and completely rebuilt. Mr. Fanning stated that we are doing that now but we have to leave it open for traffic. Mr. Koenig asked if the work we are doing right is now is a stop gap. Mr. Fanning stated no and turned the floor over to Tim Carlo to explain. Mr. Carlo stated that they started at the State Line heading east and all the bad spots are being dug out 2½ to 3 feet and filling them back in with gravel and cold mix patch to make the road safe. He also stated that we will work all 6 miles that way until we are done. We will then start over at State Line when we have a better plan to rebuild the base.

Commissioner Carbone

asked if there was any way we could do a chipseal over it.

Mr. Carlo

stated that the base probably wouldn’t hold it. Mr. Fanning stated that he is talking about in between the parts that we did. Mr. Koenig asked if the base work we are doing now is sufficient for when we start rebuilding the base. Mr. Fanning stated that it is. Mr. Carlo stated that we are only doing the bad areas right now.

Commissioner Carbone

stated that when they get ready to redo that road it will all be torn up anyway and start over. Mr. Fanning stated that it is sufficient and it is not something we will have to go back and attach. We have dug out 2 to 3 feet of pit run and 10 inches of Type II is what is going back in there, in some areas you have 3 to 4 feet of material plus Type II and then a cold mix patch over it. It is now the areas in between those patches that are working their way through. Commissioner Carbone asked if the water was coming from the spring out there. Mr. Carlo stated 3 Regional Transportation Commission – Minutes April 13, 2016 that there is a lot of water and we are taking out 3-4 feet of material just to get down to dryer material. We have opened some holes and they have filled with water, even though there is not standing water in the ditches on the side of the road. Mr. Carlo stated that it is just a bad area and it is saturated from the rains in October. Commissioner Carbone asked if we need to do an engineering evaluation to see how we can keep the water away from the road base. Mr. Fanning stated that we are looking at some geo tech style that will do that. The only problem is that if you don’t get out there quick enough and you seal the surface then you have sealed the moisture in. Mr. Fanning stated that we are looking at different material that will allow it to have drainage and for the road to work and give. Mr. Fanning also stated that there is clay in that area that actually retains the water but we are addressing the issues. Mr. Koenig asked what this would do to the budget and the other roads in the future. Mr. Fanning stated that it will extensively hit them hard. The scope has ranged from 5.5 miles and keeps traversing upwards putting Homestead, Gamebird and Barney on hold until these sections are done. The problem we are seeing is that the rest of Bell Vista needs to be repaired. The Pahrump Section on Bell Vista from HWY160 to Stephanie is losing it quicker than what we are seeing on Low Road. Mr. Fanning also stated that now we will end up having a 7.5 mile section of road to contend with. Commissioner Carbone stated that when he comes to a stop we will need to figure out where we are financially to repair the rest of it. Mr. Fanning stated that he is putting that together and can get it to them via email. Mr. Fanning stated that we just renewed the Type II/Cold Mix contract and you will need to keep in mind that it needs to be trucked out there, beating up the lower half of the road up to get it there. He also stated that it won’t be easy and it will be costly. Mr. Fanning stated that it is about $500,000.00 to $700,000.00 a mile to that cost. Mr. Fanning stated that by the time it is all said and done it will cost about a million a mile.

Mr. Lacy

asked as far as long term goals go, if this was something we should be working on with the State of Nevada. Mr. Fanning stated that we have already done that in the years past to build it to their criteria and they came back with not wanting to do it. Mr. Lacy asked how long ago that was. Mr. Fanning stated 23 years ago. Mr. Lacy stated that we should ask them again. Mr. Fanning stated that the problem is that now the State is looking to give us the roads. Mr. Lacy stated that he understands that but this is a State to State commerce road. It is important to the State and to the Federal agencies. Mr. Lacy also stated that he thinks we should at least start the conversation.

Commissioner Carbone

stated that we all agree. Mr. Fanning stated that he has already spoken to the State. Twenty-three years ago they put a State recognition on Bell Vista of HWY 212; it was put on maps but never got through to the Federal side. Mr. Fanning stated that he will put together another meeting soon because they want to talk to the county about relinquishing some roads back to the county.

Commissioner Carbone

closed public comment on this item. 4 Regional Transportation Commission – Minutes April 13, 2016

Mr. Fanning

stated that if you look at the back-up it is actually a spreadsheet that Public Works puts together from the reports that the State send us. This is strictly Nye County’s share that we receive per distributor. Mr. Fanning stated as you can see in December we were receiving around $69,000.00 and on January 1st the new 9 cent tax took effect and we are now seeing an additional $91,000.00. Mr. Fanning stated that we anticipate these numbers to get higher due to the summer months coming up and a new gas station opening in Tonopah. Tonopah has only been drawing upon about 7,000 to 8,000 of gallons per year and we are trying to figure out why. We think it’s the reporting state that is held up in fuel. Mr. Fanning stated that we are making headway with how the state reports those. We go through the DMV for these figures. Commissioner Carbone asked where the DMV gets their numbers from. Mr. Fanning stated that they get them from the haulers and the haulers report back as to what county they distributed it to. Commissioner Carbone asked if they actually got a ticket that was filled out as to how many gallons they pumped. Mr. Fanning stated that they do but there is no enforcement tool as to where they haul it from and report it back to. Mr. Fanning stated that it is on the honor system. Commissioner Carbone asked what the State Statue is for them to follow. Mr. Fanning stated that he did not know but he will find out and let him know. Commissioner Carbone stated that he would like to follow-up to make sure these service stations are actually following the rules. Mr. Koenig asked if these numbers were based on what the gas station receives not what the truck pumps out. Mr. Fanning stated that we look at the funding side.

Mr. Lacy

stated that tax is collected on the gallons sold not the wholesale value coming out of the trucks. The ordinance is for them to report to the state, not us, so we are relying on their figures. Commissioner Carbone reminded as to why we have the 9 cent tax. It is so we can keep up with the roads that are in need of repair.

Mr. Koenig

motioned for the meeting to be on May 25th at 8:30 a.m. Commissioner Carbone second. Motion approved.