Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Works topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Elko County approves road maintenance agreement with Gold Standard Ventures (Orla Mining)
Summary
The county approved a new road maintenance agreement with Gold Standard Ventures/Orla Mining to maintain County Road 715 and related segments; planned improvements include drainage upgrades, widening and a possible 2‑inch overlay on recently paved sections (material costs for overlay estimated above $600,000).
Dennis Price, Elko County Road Superintendent, presented a proposed road maintenance agreement with Gold Standard Ventures (Orla Mining) that would have the company maintain County Road 715 from the SR‑28/Twin Bridges turn through Lucky Nugget and tie into County Road 720/BLM management roads to the mine site.
Price said the route covers several distinct road segments, includes recent paving on Lucky Nugget (about three miles in the last three years) and that the company agreed to consider a 2‑inch hot‑mix overlay on the new pavement to create a more durable surface. Price estimated the 2‑inch overlay material alone could exceed $600,000.
He described additional investments by the company including drainage improvements, raising and widening roadway sections, and upgrades along the route to the mine site. Commissioners asked whether the overlay thickness would handle anticipated truck and bus traffic; Price said county standards are typically 3–4 inches but that the proposed work should meet needs and that he expected 6‑inch minimum structural sections in places where heavier traffic is expected.
A motion to approve the agreement was seconded and the board voted in favor by voice; the motion carried.
Price thanked the company for cooperation and said the agreement should keep heavy equipment and contractor traffic consolidated on the improved route rather than across the entire reservoir perimeter.
