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Ely council accepts CDBG award, approves ordinance first reading and grants temporary extensions
Summary
At its July 10 meeting Ely City Council accepted a $199,050 CDBG award for 7th Street drainage with a $66,350 city match, approved first reading of an ordinance restricting permitted activity on a section of High Street, extended the city attorney’s probation while updating residency code language, and granted a short demolition extension for a condemned property.
The Ely City Council on July 10 took a series of administrative and regulatory actions, accepting a state CDBG award, approving ordinance first reading, extending a demolition deadline and approving a personnel-related probation extension.
Council accepted a Nevada Community Development Block Grant of $199,050 for the 7th Street Drainage Improvement Project; the city will provide a required match of $66,350. Councilwoman Jerri Lynn Williams-Harper moved to accept the award and Councilman Dennis Perea seconded; the motion carried unanimously. Several members of the public had earlier urged inclusion of sidewalks in the scope during public comment.
On local code changes, council approved first reading of Ordinance 763 (Bill No. 2025-03), amending EMC Title 5, Police Regulations, Chapter 1, Section 16(G)(1) to designate an area on High Street—from the eastern boundary of Second Street to 550 feet west of Second Street—where certain activity is permitted. Councilwoman Melody Van Camp moved the ordinance for first reading; Councilman Dennis Perea seconded and the motion passed without opposition. The record shows council advanced the ordinance on first reading; additional hearings or a second reading would follow the city's usual ordinance-adoption process.
On personnel and municipal-code matters, City Attorney Chris Arabia asked for a six-month extension from residency enforcement; he said he was not seeking a salary increase at this time. "I would like to ask that you give me an extension for the next six months from the residency requirement," Arabia told the council. Council approved extending his probationary period by six months, and directed staff to revise the Ely Municipal Code to align residency language with Nevada Revised Statutes. Mayor Nathan Robertson noted NRS prohibits cities from imposing the county residency requirement on a city attorney and said the code will be corrected.
In a separate code-enforcement action, council granted a short extension through July 24, 2025 to property owner Sam L. Bida to demolish a condemned structure that is the subject of an April 15, 2024 condemnation order. Owner representatives said a local contractor would complete the demolition in a day or two and asked the council to allow the work rather than proceed with immediate seizure. City Attorney Arabia said the extension was intended to give the owner one final opportunity to comply.
Other items approved on unanimous vote included minutes and bills on the consent agenda, a $14,000 Redevelopment Area commercial grant to a property owner Scott Lee (Redevelopment Agency action taken during a recess), and two municipal-utilities items to approve a Will Serve sewer connection at 940 Avenue C and waive the related Will Serve fee up to $2,975 because the joined sewer service predates current ownership.
Public comment bookended the meeting. Resident George Chachas raised multiple concerns, including fees, perceived unequal treatment on past utility items, and a request that the CDBG 7th Street work include sidewalks for low-income/minority areas. The council adjourned at 6:36 p.m.
