White Pine Chamber presents Q1 economic report; public commenter raises concerns about exclusivity and city funding

Shadrach Robertson, CEO of the White Pine Chamber of Commerce, presented the Chamber’s quarter-one economic report to the Ely City Council on March 27. Robertson summarized statewide and local labor trends, noting an increase in unemployment filings statewide and a local change from about 3.4% to 4.5% in White Pine County; he described seasonal expectations for tourism as Cave Lake reopens.

The Chamber announced several local initiatives: a jobs page on its website to support EmployNV and Career Hubs; a Construction Zone Grand Giveaway (April 1–June 30) offering $1,000 in Chamber bucks as a prize to encourage patronage of businesses affected by revitalization construction; a new community guide distributed statewide; renewed mine representation on the Chamber board; and plans to stock Cave Lake in April and hold a reopening event on June 7.

During earlier public comment, George Chachas argued the City should not fund a private club that promotes only dues-paying members, saying the City is "funding an entity that excludes businesses and individuals that are not dues payers" and implying council members who are Chamber members may have conflicts of interest. Mayor Nathan Robertson disclosed the Chamber CEO is his husband and said he would not abstain; Councilwoman Melody Van Camp disclosed her granddaughter works in the Fire Department. The transcript does not contain a response from the Chamber to the allegations during the meeting.

The Chamber CEO said he will represent local business interests at the state legislative session and continue quarterly reporting to the council.