Ely council approves historic preservation commission, revises redevelopment grants and asks RNDC to propose loan administration

Mayor Nathan Robertson called the Ely City Council to order at 5 p.m. Sept. 11 at the Ely Volunteer Fire Hall and presided over a meeting that produced several administrative and policy actions, including adoption of a local historic-preservation ordinance and changes to redevelopment grant rules.

The council unanimously approved the second reading of Ordinance No. 765 (Bill No. 2025-05), which amends Ely Municipal Code Title 2 by adding Chapter 6 to create a City of Ely Historic Preservation Commission. "We conducted the second reading and approved creating a Historic Preservation Commission," Councilwoman Jerri Lynn Williams-Harper said after moving the ordinance; Councilman Dennis Perea seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

As part of redevelopment oversight, the council also approved revised residential and commercial grant application templates intended to clarify eligibility and limits based on zoning. Councilman Perea said the revisions stemmed from prior discussions and aim to place clearer parameters on what the agency will fund. "If there's an entity that owns property in the Redevelopment Area and they have money to invest, the Redevelopment Agency should be partnering to do that," Mayor Robertson said during discussion.

On municipal utilities business, the Council approved a Municipal Utilities Board recommendation to remove past-due utility penalty charges up to $156.93 for the property at 36 Third Street in McGill, at the request of Chris Walker. The motion to remove the penalty was moved by Councilman Perea, seconded by Councilwoman Melody Van Camp and carried unanimously.

The Council also authorized staff to approach the Rural Nevada Development Corporation (RNDC) and ask for a proposal to administer the City's revolving business loan program. Perea said RNDC "does that for a living" and could draft a set of rules and collection procedures; any final loan approvals, he said, would still come back to the council. Mayor Robertson noted the proposal may include an administrative fee and that the Council would retain final approval authority.

Councilmembers approved a number of other housekeeping items including the consent agenda (minutes and bills) and a revised meeting schedule (one regular meeting in November on Nov. 13 and one regular meeting in December on Dec. 11).

Council action also authorized staff to pursue placement of flashing "Deer Crossing" signs at the outskirts of Ely and select in-town locations and to consult with the Nevada Department of Transportation and the Nevada Department of Wildlife on placement and cost-sharing. Captain Fincher of the White Pine County Sheriff's Office recommended signage on approaches such as US-6, US-93 and Highway 50 and identified multiple in-town spots where deer crossings frequently occur.

Votes at a glance: the agenda was approved (unanimous); the Redevelopment Agency revised grant applications were approved (unanimous); a $156.93 utility penalty for 36 Third Street, McGill was removed (unanimous); the City will approach RNDC to request a proposal for administering the revolving loan program (unanimous); the second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 765 establishing a Historic Preservation Commission was approved (unanimous); the consent agenda and meeting-date changes were approved (unanimous). The meeting adjourned at approximately 5:32 p.m.

The council did not receive any public comments during the historic-preservation public hearing; additional public-comment items and requests for records were raised earlier and later in the meeting, and were recorded in the minutes.