Sheldon aldermen divided over sheriff's coverage

Nevada Daily Mail

Sheldon mayor Jerod Lamb voted to extend Sheldon's contract with the Vernon County Sheriff's Office for 12 hours a week of extra coverage breaking the deadlock among the Sheldon Board of Aldermen at their meeting Thursday.

"I understand we probably have more coverage because we're paying for it," alderman Perry Fowler said. "But since our tax dollars already support Vernon County, I oppose our funds for that extra coverage. Sheriff Mosher has publicized he covers the county 24/7. I know they can't be everywhere all the time. We would still have coverage, but we're paying double. Our tax dollars are going up there twice."

Alderman Robert Moran agreed and voted nay as well as Fowler.

"We're spending in the neighborhood of $8,000 per year for this extra patrol," Moran said. "In the end, I don't object to the quality of work they do. As good a job as they do, we could use that money better for other things to improve Sheldon."

Alderman Josh Lamb moved to extend the contract for 12 months, and Alderman John Scifers voted to second it.

"It's really unfortunate, because I believe this is a good town, and more often than not we don't have to worry about these things," Mayor Lamb said. "We existed a long time without it. But out of the city businesses, seven requested this. I am in favor."

In the sheriff's report, Moran asked the deputies to vary hours they come to Sheldon to include before and after school hours during the school year.

In other business, Lamb donated $5,000 worth of playground equipment to the park in honor of his daughter.

Sheldon Park Board representative Amanda Hall also requested $4,000 from the town to purchase $16,000 Simon Says playground equipment for the park.

The aldermen voted 4-0 to donate $4,000 toward the purchase of the equipment over the next three years, and then they discussed whether to pay for installation.

The installation would cost $5,500, but also include a warranty. The aldermen voted 4-0 to use $20,000 in the water depreciation account to buy the equipment and pay the installation fee outright. The park board would then pay back the amount, except for the $4,000 donation.

"We've talked for a lot of years about improving the playground equipment and doing things to improve Sheldon," Moran said. "Here's the demonstrable, obvious, realistic improvement. There's going to be some blowback from the community, but I still think the project is meritorious."

Hall added the board would be looking into replacing the fencing at the park since the wood is weak.

In other business, Mayor Lamb said of the 12 properties letters had been to sent to for mowing ordinance violations, six had come into compliance. He asked the aldermen how they wanted him to proceed.

"We had so much dissatisfaction last year," Moran said. "There was a feeling last year that the abatement board was prejudicial."

Moran wrote a recommendation where properties would be posted, tickets issued and an appeal process would be put into place that could end in court. He agreed to bring his recommendation to the board in bill form at the next meeting.

In the meantime, Lamb said the unmowed properties would be mowed and billed, and letters for tall grass and other nuisances like junk and trash would be sent out.

One of the property owners who was out of compliance spoke to the aldermen about his property at the meeting. The resident complained that a city employee mowed his lawn to a disastrous result without due process.

The aldermen asked how the town could make amends since the employee acted without permission. Unable to come to an agreement, Lamb suggested the property owner come into compliance regardless.

In other business, the aldermen reviewed a report on six buildings inspected by a Kaysinger Basin Regional Planning Commission building inspector.

"There is a public safety issue here," Moran said. "We need to deal with what is demonstrably the most serious public safety issue first."

The aldermen agreed to designate 200 W. Main Street as the first dilapidated building to be addressed. A letter will be sent to notify the owner of the ordinance.

The aldermen also voted 4-0 to purchase four, wired security cameras for city hall, extend the fire chief's $300 stipend for six months and move ahead on applying for year two of a recycling grant for the town.

Phyllis Sprenkle asked the aldermen if they would like her to write the grant to include a recycling bin on every block in town.

"I'm afraid if you have a recycling bin on every block, it's going to be full of trash all the time," alderman Fowler said.

Mayor Lamb suggested writing the grant for a vehicle to transport recyclables from the school and businesses. The aldermen agreed to recommend writing the grant for additional fencing around the recycling trailer and a vehicle.

Sprenkle added she would be writing a $3,000 KCP&L grant to improve the park. The aldermen suggested she write the grant for burying power lines around the park.

In other business, Marlene Moran told the aldermen the library would put on a library carnival 9 to 11:30 a.m. Aug. 6, at the library with prizes, activities, food and drink.