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Ely council OKs wireline crossing easements, Verizon tower easement and earmarks income for City Hall
Summary
The council approved multi-crossing wireline easements for Great Basin Transmission, an easement for Verizon, authorized the mayor to sign the Wireline Crossing Agreement, and voted to place income from those easements and 45G tax credits into the capital improvements fund for City Hall renovation; the mayor disclosed part-time employment with Nevada Northern Railway Foundation and did not vote.
The Ely City Council unanimously approved a package of easements on Aug. 14, 2025, allowing Great Basin Transmission to cross the Nevada Northern Railway line multiple times and granting an easement to Bell Atlantic Mobile Systems LLC (Verizon) for a new tower. The council also authorized Mayor Nathan Robertson, who disclosed he is a part-time employee of the Nevada Northern Railway Foundation (NNRY), to execute the Wireline Crossing Agreement and associated easements on behalf of the City.
NNRY President Mark Bassett told the council the agreement covers up to ten crossings of the Northern Line, uses some service roads, and represents several years of negotiation. “We’ve been working on this agreement for a couple of years, and we’ve gone through it with a fine-tooth comb,” Bassett said. The council first approved the Wireline Crossing Agreement and separately approved a motion authorizing the mayor to sign the individual crossing easements.
Bassett also described Verizon’s proposal to construct a new tower on City/NNRY property that will provide cellular service along US-93; council approved that easement unanimously.
During public comment earlier in the meeting, George Chachas raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest, noting the mayor’s employment with the railway and suggesting that an alternate councilmember should sign railroad-related documents; the mayor stated he would not vote on the item but would sign contracts as required by Nevada statute.
Separately, the council voted to place any income received from the Wireline Crossing easement agreements and related 45G tax-credit proceeds into the City’s Capital Improvements Fund and earmark those revenues for City Hall renovation costs such as fixtures and furnishings or match for grants. The action preserves flexibility for future council decisions but directs those specific revenues to capital rather than routine operations.
All related votes on the easements and the earmarking motion were unanimous among voting members; the mayor abstained from voting where required and executed the administrative authorizations specified by NRS.
