December 5, 2018 Pursuant to NRS a Meeting of the Nye County Board of Commissioners Was Held at 10:00 Am
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Page 1 December 5, 2018 Pursuant to NRS a meeting of the Nye County Board of Commissioners was held at 10:00 am. in the Commissioner Chambers, 101 Radar Road, Tonopah, Nevada 89048. John Koenig. Chair Dan Schinhofen, Vice-Chair Lorinda Wichman, Commissioner Butch Borasky, Commissioner Donna Cox, Commissioner Sandra L. Merlino, Ex-Officio Clerk of the Board Angela Bello, District Attorney Sharon Wehrly, Sheriff Tim Sutton, County Manager Also Present: Lorina Dellinger, Assistant County Manager; Kelly Sidman, Deputy Clerk; Samantha Tackett, Administrative Manager; MarIa Zlotek, Chief Deputy District Attorney Sheriff Wehrly was not present at this time. ‘1. Pledge of Allegiance The Pledge was recited. Commissioner Koenig polled the audience to see how many people wanted to talk under public comment. He explained there would be public comment when he opened agenda item 2 and everyone would have two minutes. Once that was done he would start with everyone who wanted to be nominated. They would have five minutes to present themselves after which the Board would have a discussion! a motion, and a vote. Commissioner Koenig asked the public to maintain decorum with no shouting, no yelling and no clapping. 2. For Possible Action — Discussion and deliberation for the Board of County Commissioners to nominate a gualified individual to be considered to fill a vacancy in Nevada Assembly District 36, vacated by Dennis Hof for the remainder of a term to expire upon the next regular election from the list of following individuals: Adam Westley 1-luckeby, Bailey Kesl, Brent Leavitt, Brigitte Dubin, Charles R. Navarro IV, Denise Mraz, Gregory T. Hafen II, Jared Fisher, Jonathan Hernandez, Joseph J. Bradley, Joseph M. Burdzinski, Nathan Taylor, Patrick J. Nary, Sandra Faye Tulley, Thomas “Tom” Duryea, Tina L. Bond-Kuglin, Walter S. Grudzinski, Wayne Villines, William S. Gray Sr. Robert Thomas Ill said Dennis Hot ran on a very specific platform that he felt two of the 15 proposed names supported. Mr. Thomas thought Gregory Hafen sounded like a Democrat and did not stand for any of the platforms that Mr. Hof stood for. Mr. Thomas thought the Board would be better served by naming Joe Burdzinski. Page 2 December 5, 2018 2. For Possible Action — Discussion and deliberation for the Board of County Commissioners to nominate a qualified individual to be considered to fill a vacancy in Nevada Assembly District 36-Cont’d. Ammie Nelson presented Dennis Hof’s platform and his slogan to elect a pit bull: not a lap dog. He said he would fight to repeal the Oscarson commerce tax, He would also fight for water rights, gun rights, parental rights, constitutional rights, parental school choice, and against sanctuary cities. He had a plan on how to accomplish those goals and his platform got him elected. Ms. Nelson hoped when the Board heard the candidates speak that they kept in mind why Mr. Hof was elected and put aside any personal feelings. Karen Williams stated her support of Joe Burdzinski as she thought he embodied Dennis Hot’s platform. She was not sure Gregory Hafen was a Republican with Republican principles and she did not want him in the seat. Debbie Dwelle said although Gregory Hafen’s resume sounded good, it was laced with regulatory agencies and that did not follow the platform. She felt Mr. Hafen came with his very own special interests, the family water business, and since he would have to make decisions about water that meant he would be going after everyone’s water. Rich Buchart said although Dennis Hof won the election, the greater controversy was the primary contest between Dennis Hof and James Oscarson. He felt it was important to appoint someone with the same values Mr. Hot had — minimal taxes, fewer regulations, a business friendly environment, and more freedom. Mr. Buchart endorsed Joe Burdzinski as he believed Mr. Burdzinski had the drive, temperament and wisdom to do the job. Dwight Lilly said the vast majority of the people living in Pahrump were conservative. He believed Dennis Hot’s campaign pledges best represented the values of the County. Mr. Lilly wondered if any of the Commissioners had ever received any financial gratuities or contributions from any of the candidates or their families. If so, then those Commissioners should recuse themselves from voting on the issue to avoid the appearance of special treatment of someone that they had gained financially from. He asked the Board to do what was right for the people. John Bosta felt his vote had been stolen from him because he voted for Dennis Hof even though he had passed away believing there would be a fair and just hearing of the selection of thc person to replace him. One thing most important to Mi, Bosta was that Mr. Hof signed a pledge that he would not vote to raise taxes. Mr. Bosta asked Gregory Hafen this morning if he would sign the same pledge and Mr. Hafen said he could not sign it until he saw it. Mr. Bosta further pointed out that Mr. Hof was interested in protecting the right of the domestic use of water, but Mr. Hafen had worked against that in the groundwater management plan. Mr. Bosta beseeched the Board to replace Mr. Hof with someone who had the same ideas he was going to bring to the Legislature otherwise the Board had stolen his vote. Page 3 December 5, 2018 2. For Possible Action — Discussion and deliberation for the Board of County Commissioners to nominate a qualified individual to be considered to fill a vacancy in Nevada Assembly District 36-Cont’d. Sheriff Wehrly was present. Terry Svejda said he was speaking for Joe Burdzinski, overwhelmingly the people’s choice for this appointment. He felt Mr. Burdzinski embodied what Dennis Hot was. He noted that Gregory Hafen would not sign the tax pledge, had never been to a Republican meeting, and the only thing he had going for him was Jim Wheeler pitching for him. The Nevada State Republican Party said who they wanted, Mr. Burdzinski, and the voters of Nye County also wanted Mr. Burdzinski. Mr. Svjeda asked the Board to do what the people wanted otherwise he would lead the charge to conduct a recall. Both Commissioners Koenig and Schinhofen stated for the record they had never been contacted by Jim Wheeler. Deborah Walsh stated she was a registered Republican who did not attend the Republican meetings because she did not like some of the people’s crazy attitudes. She addressed the misconceptions about Gregory Hafen. She said he had worked his way up to where he was today. She had known Mr. Hafen for 14 years and saw him during summers while he was in high school digging trenches, pulling weeds, and installing infrastructure. Ms. Walsh said he was no one’s puppet or lap dog and these people did not know him at all. She thought Mr. Hafen would be very fair on the tax situation and was extremely knowledgeable in water rights. Tina Trenner said after the primary Dennis Hof called Tim Hafen to try to find common ground, but Mr. Hafen never returned the call. She reminded the Board that 68% of the people in the County voted for Dennis Hof. Jackie Freeman said everyone voted for Dennis Hof and Joe Burdzinski was by his side for almost everything. Mr. Burdzinski was at every event and knew the issues and what the people wanted. Ms. Freeman thought Mr. Burdzinski was the right man for the job. Don Cox felt Gregory Hafen was a young man that did not have enough under his belt to do the job. As far as a recall, Mr. Cox said he would be behind a recall too if the Board voted Mr. Hafen in. He felt Joe Burdzinski should be put in that seat. Kay LaPonte asked the Board to consider Joe Burdzinski. She reminded the Commissioners that almost 69% of the people voted for Dennis Hof who was an action packed person, not someone who was going to sit and roll over. She did not know Gregory Hafen, but she knew he had not been involved in the Republican Party. Ms. LaPointe stated the Commissioners had a moral and ethical obligation to select not who they wanted, but who the people voted for, and the person most like that was Mr. B u rd zi n ski. Page 4 December 5, 2018 2. For Possible Action — Discussion and deliberation for the Board of County Commissioners to nominate a qualified individual to be considered to fill a vacancy in Nevada Assembly District 36-Cont’d. Brian Shoemake said there were two gentlemen, one who came here from the east and was running an organization that most conservative Republicans did not participate in because it was not really a Republican Party, and one who had been here his whole life who was a businessman who worked hard for this community and was well vested in the community. While Gregory Hafen was not as old as everyone else, Mr. Shoemake saw that as a huge advantage. He said younger people were needed to represent the younger generation. Mr. Shoemake respected Mr. Hafen and his family and recommended the Board vote in favor of him for Assembly District 36. Betsy Lilly said the Hafens had been in the valley for quite a while. If the people wanted to follow their agenda for how they would like to see the valley developed then Gregory Hafen II would give a direct look at it. Sally Kerr said she was here as the voice of the Republicans that vote outside of the Central Republican meeting.