WINNEMUCCA — Brushing aside the advice of legal counsel, the Humboldt County Commission voted 3-2 on Monday (March 1) to hear an appeal on the Regional Planning Commission’s decision to extend the conditional use permit issued to Jungo Land & Investment for the development of a class 1 landfill.  The extension was for five years and did not include any additional conditions concerning environmental protection, which was requested by some members of the public.

The appeal hearing was set for March 15.

Humboldt County Deputy DA Angie Elquist advised the commission that after further study it appeared as though Robert Dolan and Massey Mayo, who sought the appeal, did not have the legal standing necessary to do so. Elquist's legal findings were outlined for the commissioners in a memo (see page 2).

CARSON CITY — It was a Special Session of the Nevada Legislature that promised battle but delivered  compromise instead. With the exception of a few skirmishes, and an assemblywoman who stood up and cussed out lobbyist before storming out of the room (a moment we’re sorry we missed) no one was really bloodied.

Well, not the Legislators, at any rate.  Feeling the blows in particular were higher education, banking and small mining companies.  Assemblyman Pete Goicoechea addressed the impact the rural counties could expect.

WINNEMUCCA —  The Humboldt County Commission will not prepare a fiscal impact statement in connection to the proposed Jungo Rd. landfill because there are too many variables and too many unknowns they said on Monday (March 1). 

Nevada Revised Statutes require a fiscal impact determination for initiative and referendum ballot questions.  A committee is currently circulating petitions to have the issue of the proposed Jungo Rd. landfill put on the ballot in November -- if the county commission takes no action before that.  The initiative, if successful, would limit the amount of garbage at secondary landfills and the referendum would repeal the ordinance allowing out-of-district garbage.

The commission voted 4-1 to adopt the statement, “The fiscal impact cannot be determined at this time because Humboldt County cannot reasonably estimate the amount of revenue or the amount of loss that may be generated by Humboldt County with a reasonable degree of certainty.”  Commissioner Garley Amos was the lone holdout.  He commented, "I think it's pretty well researched and I think there is an economical and fiscal impact."

WINNEMUCCA — Candidates for public office lined the Humboldt County Clerk's front desk on Monday -- the first day to file for office.  Arriving first were current office holders seeking reelection:  County Recorder Mary Ann Hammond, County Assessor Jeff Johnson, County Treasurer Gina Rackley, County Clerk Tami Rae Spero, and County Commissioner Dan Cassinelli (shown left).

There were also some new faces joining the political arena. Jim French, the former NDOW wildlife biologist, filed for Humboldt County Commission Seat E.  That seat is currently held by Commissioner Chuck Giordano who's prevented by term-limits from seeking reelection.  French retired last June and decided to seek office now that he has the time to serve.  He said he's considered running in the past but now was really the right time.  He noted the county has some promising prospects on the horizon, such as the potential for developing alternative energy sources, as well as  some challenges, including some changes to the federal  land designations.