Lyon County Board of County Commissioners Meeting Summary ― April 17, 2025

News Release                    

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 18, 2025               

Lyon County Board of County Commissioners Meeting Summary ― April 17, 2025

Yerington, Nevada – The Lyon County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met on Thursday, April 17, 2025 to hear presentations and take action on several significant agenda items. Highlights from the meeting include:

Dayton Valley Chaves Road Bridge Project

The Board unanimously approved an Interlocal Agreement between Lyon County and Carson Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) for Surface Transportation Block Grant Program Funds (STBG) in the amount not to exceed $1,254,000 to complete a feasibility study for the Dayton Valley Chaves Road Bridge Project with a County match of $66,000. The match is proposed to be funded from Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) funds if approved at their next meeting or through a budget transfer from the General Fund contingency. Lyon County officials agree that this is the next necessary step toward constructing a second bridge in Dayton.

Bureau of Land Management Update

BLM Carson City District presented multiple updates including that the Atlantic Richfield Company has applied for the direct purchase of 2,062 acres of public land at the Yerington Anaconda Mine Site, requiring reclassification of 60 acres. Several off-highway vehicle races are scheduled in Lyon County from August to November 2024. Further, multiple solar energy projects are progressing, including Parker Butte, Mason Valley, Pine Nut, Libra Solar, Artemesia Solar, and Sleepy Orange Solar, with construction ranging from 2026 to 2029. The Board requested that BLM representatives engage with County staff earlier in the process for solar applications to address responsible project siting and alignment with County land use principles to reduce impacts to natural resources, road congestion, and to mitigate natural hazards.

Northern Nevada Industrial Center GID

Representatives from the Northern Nevada Industrial Center (NNIC), presented a recommendation for Lyon County to create a General Improvement District (GID) for the purpose of furnishing power to NNIC. NNIC presented that NV Energy is unable to energize the industrial park until 2032 (estimated), and proposed that a GID would allow for the development of immediate capacity via a microgrid until the industrial center can be tied into the NV Energy grid. As proposed, the GID may be formed in such a way to avoid financial risk to the Lyon County by ensuring general and special funds are not leveraged for the project. The Board provided direction to the County Manager to continue to work with representatives from NNIC and NV Energy and to bring back a Resolution for an ordinance to establish the power GID.

Other Board Actions:

• Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officers (SRO) – The Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Lyon County and the Lyon County School District for the School Resource Officer (SRO) Program to provide five (5) deputy sheriffs to be assigned to schools in Dayton, Fernley, Silver Springs, Yerington and Smith Valley from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027, with the School District providing up to $460,000 on an annual basis for FY26 and FY27. The MOU will bring Yerington Schools into the Sheriff’s Office SRO program, including the zero tolerance policy, and will allow for consistency throughout the school district.
• Facilities and Park Improvements – Approved the purchase of a portable baseball mound for Mark Twain Park from Park Construction Tax funds not to exceed $6,000.  The Board also approved a request from the City of Yerington to use park construction tax in the amount of $30,000 for tennis and pickleball courts on E. Goldfield Ave.
• Community Development – Approved the Master Services Agreement (MSA) between DOWL and Lyon County for development-related services, including County Engineer, County Surveyor, Floodplain Management, and Inspection Services. In addition, the Board approved the development of a comprehensive public-facing GIS-based Development Map, including associated software licensing, hardware, and professional consulting services, in the amount of $13,600, to be funded through a budget transfer from the General Fund Contingency.
• Silver Springs GID Board – The Board recessed to reconvene as the Silver Springs GID Board and approved to direct staff to negotiate a contract, and if the negotiating terms are not met, to terminate the contract with the Silver Springs Municipal Water Company for billing and related services. If the contract is terminated, Lyon County Utilities will assume the billing and administrative services on behalf of the Silver Springs GID.

The complete agenda and back up materials are posted online at www.lyon-county.org/Agendacenter. Residents can view recordings of Board of County Commission meetings on the Lyon County YouTube Channel.