[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6494872,"mediaKeyId","5615048-75cc4f062f3ff3229f0ba88e9ecbfefb","parentId",5615048,"title","Douglas County commissioners approve bond transfer to Nevada Rural Housing, adopt Carson River floodplain update and appoint public guardian","audioSeconds",1724,"startMs",1903000,"endMs",3627000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5615048-75cc4f062f3ff3229f0ba88e9ecbfefb&start=1903&end=3627","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5615048-75cc4f062f3ff3229f0ba88e9ecbfefb/thumbnail_1903000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6494872/Douglas-County/Nevada/Douglas-County-commissioners-approve-bond-transfer-to-Nevada-Rural-Housing-adopt-Carson-River-floodplain-update-and-appoint-public-guardian","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6494872-6213c13bd7fcba15d685279294a7bb84/orig.mp4?Expires=1770969662&Signature=bCNpJ0P8yI~gyGqPcBOc9szX7yRGYT5rxCpi3OSntGiTwebs29c0GaBxO8Dp6ag4lckGRsfl~Uprqq~5pg95Ebb5c3-smSDv6fhGY7pRc5ZxfTOJ932rI21JL3hhoNExvK6cKd7otowYghENUu6mGl7HNjpaF0QxCojKmgdLnRl0jR-eLyZOEHrOBfKK6BTHwjdGOq-4PyIhTHFNUsWKmSKqB2AGkkSBAbr2xo-XmBWrMlyOlP9kVQqtwHBY8B9ttySYakzn6~fMIBHypjCzHZzahdgHXZ8waaYNBI57Ocz42OqS3KoaLnvqb4~Jw1Z-cFG7f~H8zL4J~sqMIoL98g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Douglas County, NV","date","2025-08-22T00:05:21.49Z","article","The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously on three administrative items during the meeting: a resolution transferring unused private activity bond volume cap to the Nevada Rural Housing Authority, adoption of the Carson River Watershed Regional Floodplain Management Plan supplemental update, and appointment of a new Douglas County Public Guardian.

Why it matters: Each action touches on county priorities — housing finance, flood risk management and care for vulnerable residents — and was approved after brief presentations and limited public comment. The votes were unanimous; commissioners moved, seconded and adopted each measure during the administrative portion of the meeting.

1) Resolution to transfer 2024 private activity bond volume cap to Nevada Rural Housing Authority (Resolution 2025-R-079)

What passed: The commission adopted Resolution 2025‑R‑079, transferring Douglas County’s unused 2024 private activity bond volume cap — $3,609,743.20 — to the Nevada Rural Housing Authority (NRHA).

Discussion and rationale: Kathy Lewis, chief operating officer, and Sean Houston, director of finance with NRHA, described the program as a mechanism (bonding capacity rather than direct cash) that NRHA uses to support affordable mortgages and down-payment assistance by pooling local caps into larger bond offerings. Houston told the board NRHA has assisted homebuyers statewide and in Douglas County, and highlighted NRHA’s Launchpad program as a broader mortgage product beyond strictly first‑time buyer restrictions.

Public comment: A resident asked whether the county could instead use such capacity for local road repairs; staff and presenters clarified the transfer is bonding capacity (not an immediate cash transfer) and that counties typically do not find the small per‑county bond caps economical to issue alone.

Motion and outcome: Moved by Commissioner Rice, seconded by Commissioner Tolbert. Vote: unanimous. The resolution passed.

2) Adoption of the Carson River Watershed Regional Floodplain Management Plan — supplemental update (Resolution 2025‑R‑076)

What passed: The commission adopted a resolution to adopt the supplemental 2025 update to the Carson River Watershed Regional Floodplain Management Plan.

Discussion and rationale: Debbie Nunrip (Carson Water Subconservancy District) and Courtney Walker, Douglas County Stormwater Program Manager, presented the plan update. Presenters described the update as a regional, FEMA‑funded update that documents county progress and suggested actions on floodplain management, addresses river and alluvial‑fan flooding, and adds stormwater low‑impact development (LID) solutions and coordination with emergency managers. Presenters emphasized mitigation and the economic case for planning: an often-cited National Institute of Building Sciences estimate that $1 spent on mitigation saves $7 in future damage.

Public comment: Residents emphasized past flood events (notably 1997 and local flash floods in 2014–15) and urged adoption. County staff and the presenters noted the plan serves as a guide for county hazard mitigation efforts and project prioritization.

Motion and outcome: Moved by Commissioner Gardner, seconded by Commissioner Tolbert. Vote: unanimous. The resolution passed.

3) Appointment of Douglas County Public Guardian (Douglas County Code Chapter 2.22)

What passed: The board appointed Angelique Ard as Douglas County Public Guardian under NRS chapter 253 and county code chapter 2.22. Brooke Eady, community services director, introduced Ard, who will begin work the Monday following the meeting.

Background and discussion: Eady said the position had been vacant since May and described the public guardian’s role in advocating for residents lacking capacity to make their own decisions. Ard, formerly serving as public guardian in Eureka County for five years, told the board she sees the role as an opportunity to help vulnerable adults and youth via least‑restrictive means and financial oversight such as bill-pay assistance.

Motion and outcome: Moved by Commissioner Rice, seconded by Commissioner Tolbert. Vote: unanimous. Ard was appointed.

What’s next: These administrative items were approved unanimously and with no further board referral. Staff noted where additional public outreach and reporting would continue: NRHA will continue coordinating with county staff on homeowner outreach; floodplain plan implementation will be coordinated through county stormwater and emergency-management processes; and the public guardian will begin work and proceed with case intake and existing programs.

Votes at a glance (summary)

• Resolution 2025‑R‑079 — Transfer $3,609,743.20 unused 2024 private activity bond volume cap to Nevada Rural Housing Authority: moved Commissioner Rice; second Commissioner Tolbert; outcome: approved unanimously.

• Resolution 2025‑R‑076 — Adopt Carson River Watershed Regional Floodplain Management Plan supplemental update (2025): moved Commissioner Gardner; second Commissioner Tolbert; outcome: approved unanimously.

• Appointment — Angelique Ard as Douglas County Public Guardian pursuant to NRS chapter 253 and Douglas County Code chapter 2.22: moved Commissioner Rice; second Commissioner Tolbert; outcome: approved unanimously.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of County Commissioners | Thursday, August 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board unanimously approved three administrative resolutions: transferring unused private activity bond cap to Nevada Rural Housing Authority, adopting a regional floodplain plan update, and appointing a new county public guardian.","taxTitle","Douglas County, Nevada","taxId",56916,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6494879,"Douglas County outlines monitoring steps after residents raise health, safety concerns at Painted Rock Mine",3382,11530000,14912000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5615048-75cc4f062f3ff3229f0ba88e9ecbfefb&start=11530&end=14912","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5615048-75cc4f062f3ff3229f0ba88e9ecbfefb/thumbnail_11530000.jpg","/articles/6494879/Douglas-County/Nevada/Douglas-County-outlines-monitoring-steps-after-residents-raise-health-safety-concerns-at-Painted-Rock-Mine","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6494879-daff9ce22bf205ff0b8870bf75a9f47a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770969662&Signature=C5J0cebhLK~nxwqDUe9rgVLuOnlIcA6yNC7KZxF8TpZNGqyQKbim3eEmCD2Nb7kZIOKiePa~~HlSOJmMH54N678SmxkmoxxmG8jhSVGyzmJ3U1zJJ~eWd9KHTUiVsFX58fLg6a60zw7lO58QS7BYdbIlMJHt-~CAuoppAserL6GLYzzsmoIu~91NX1506m0FrXvozSwrthIYkd4so2ibrHi0AzAsDyNyqGgXiMty9nbpcPGWYgF~6j3Or8CCkERqHVbd9~hsH79hhDBaNodMh8vOTqAVcFRoBmH1Hjs0DycvjnjQP2vT7MuHtqz0Vvkyl6nf3GSo8qfbun46~sP2Jg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Douglas County commissioners heard an update on the county’s efforts to enforce and monitor terms of the Oct. 4, 2024, agreement with Knox Excavating Inc. over operations at the Painted Rock Mine, a phased aggregate-mining site on Bureau of Indian Affairs trust land that residents say has created dust, noise, road and water-supply problems for neighbors along Johnson Lane and East Valley Road.

The county’s assistant manager, Wendy Lang, told the board the county has increased on‑the‑ground enforcement, added traffic-counting equipment and license-plate cameras and pressed state and federal permitting agencies to investigate and impose controls after resident complaints. Lang said the county was continuing to refine how it collects data on truck trips and timing so the county can verify compliance with the agreement, which restricts hours and days of operation, limits annual average truck trips and forbids routine use of some local roads.

Why it matters: Johnson Lane residents and recreational users told the commission they regularly face dust plumes, repeated heavy truck traffic near school bus stops and cracked windshields from material shed by trucks. County officials emphasized they lack permitting authority over mining on BIA trust land but said the agreement and coordination with state and federal agencies have created new ways to monitor the operation and escalate enforcement when violations are documented.

What the county reported

• Monitoring and enforcement. Douglas County installed axle-count tubes and license-plate reader cameras at key locations and adjusted code-enforcement and sheriff’s patrol presence to respond to complaints. Lang said staff is considering relocating one license-plate camera to capture activity on East Valley/Fremont where residents reported heavy southbound truck traffic.

• Data so far. County traffic-tube data for multi‑week snapshots showed periods when 22–50 percent of heavy trucks on East Valley were traveling southbound — a higher share than the county expected under the agreement. Lang said one week’s audited round-trip truck average was 50 per day during a mid‑July sample period; staff emphasized the county is analyzing longer-term, annual averages as required by the agreement.

• Dust-control and road work. The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) told the county in a May 14 letter that the operator must take additional dust-control measures, including regular applications of water or chemical suppressants and keeping a contemporaneous log of those activities. County staff showed photos of earthen berms built for noise buffering and reported that road grindings had been laid from the terminus of Johnson Lane to the mine entrance; wetting and oiling of the road has been used for dust control.

• Water use. County public-works staff told the board that Douglas County supplied roughly 2.8 million gallons of bulk water to the operator from January through July 2025, about 1 percent of the county’s total water deliveries to the East Valley area in that period. Staff said the operator reported a newly drilled well is due to be operational by the end of the month and that, beginning in September, operator statements indicate truck loads will be wetted at the mine prior to departure.

• Limits of county authority. Chair Hales told the room, “The county has never allowed the mine or denied the mine. It’s not in our jurisdiction or authority to be able to do that,” reiterating that the Bureau of Indian Affairs issued the federal permit and that the county’s role has been monitoring, negotiating the Oct. 2024 agreement and coordinating with state and federal regulators.

Voices from the meeting

• Wendy Lang, assistant county manager: “I appreciate the opportunity to be before all of you today... to provide you with an objective overview of the data and information and actions that have occurred up to this point.”

• Doug Ritchie, District Attorney’s Office: “It’s important to distinguish between criminal statutes, which apply to everyone, and the remedies under the law versus this is a contract. So there aren’t fines for violating of a contract. There’s a breach of a contract and there’s remedies.”

• Ron Conway, Johnson Lane resident: “They saw you coming.”

• Jim Jackson, Johnson Lane resident: “You just need to get a backbone and stand up to them.”

Board response and next steps

Commissioners and staff discussed several possible local actions to add enforcement tools and reduce impacts on neighbors. Those options include: exploring an ordinance to restrict heavy commercial trucks by axle weight or gross vehicle weight on Sunrise Pass and selected neighborhood roads; considering time‑of‑day limits for haul trucks; relocating or adding permanent traffic counts and a camera on East Valley/Fremont to better document access to the mine; pursuing federal grant funds for Johnson Lane rehabilitation or alternative trail routes for recreation; and asking state and federal permitting agencies (NDEP, BIA, BLM) to incorporate specific agreement terms as enforceable permit conditions.

Lang asked for direction on where to site additional monitoring equipment and confirmed staff will continue to provide regular updates to the commission and the community web page the county set up for the Painted Rock Mine matter. Sheriff Coverley’s office and code enforcement will continue to respond to documented violations; county staff also asked residents to submit photos or time-stamped video to help corroborate alleged breaches of the agreement.

Clarifying details

• Cameras and counters: License-plate readers are installed at the terminus of Johnson Lane; county staff are evaluating moving or adding cameras to better capture use of Sunrise Pass and East Valley/Fremont.

• Water: County-supplied bulk water Jan–Jul 2025 ≈ 2.8 million gallons; county staff say this is within the range estimated in the federal environmental assessment for a comparable period. Operator reports indicate an on‑site well will be operational by month-end.

• Agreement limits: The Oct. 4, 2024 agreement restricts hours (mine-site entries/exits generally limited to 7:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.), days (no routine Saturday operations), routine use of some roads (Sunrise Pass and other routes), and an annual average cap on truck trips; it also includes requirements for dust control, speed limits and posting of permits.

What was not decided

The board did not adopt a new ordinance at the meeting. Commissioners asked staff to return with options (text and legal review) that could include vehicle‑weight limits on particular roads, targeted hour restrictions for haul traffic and a tarping/load-containment requirement for vehicles. County legal staff cautioned that ordinances must be content‑neutral and defensible in court and that remedies for a breached private contract (the county’s agreement with the operator) differ from criminal or traffic fines.

What residents can do

County staff asked residents to submit time‑stamped photos or video and to use the county’s Painted Rock Mine web page to report concerns; the county will forward documented violations to permitting agencies and to the sheriff’s office when the complaint appears to be a violation of law.","County staff described new traffic and dust-monitoring measures, NDEP enforcement steps and possible local ordinances after months of resident complaints about truck noise, dust and water use tied to Painted Rock Mine on tribal allotment land.","actionData","errors"]

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Douglas County commissioners approve bond transfer to Nevada Rural Housing, adopt Carson River floodplain update and appoint public guardian

Douglas County outlines monitoring steps after residents raise health, safety concerns at Painted Rock Mine