CALIENTE — A large crowd turned out for the Jan. 19 Caliente City Council meeting to support the discussion and approval for the Motor Cross Park.

Joe Livreri, a resident of the community, commented about how a track already existed and that there never has been a problem with people riding on the course. Because of its use in the community, Livreri asked that the current track be extended along with obtaining picnic tables from the city and possibly some trees remaining that were purchased with funds from the Community Development Block Grant.

Russ Funk of Sunrise Engineering explains current water use to the Caliente City Council, while offering suggestions for future water usage for the city of Caliente.

City Grants Administrator Stana Hurlbert thought it would be a good way to use some grant fund money to install a public restroom facility for the visitors and riders.

Later in her updates concerning ongoing grants administration, Hurlbert mentioned that the CDBG from 2001 for Industrial Park had not been closed yet, meaning not all funds had been used, and that the city would have to spend the money on park upgrades or return the funds.

Also in Hurlbert’s report was the status of the public swimming pool. With leaks in the bottom, the city intends to fix the pool and just received permission to winterize it. The pool was uncovered Jan. 19 and work started Monday at 3 a.m. to get the lines blown out to begin the project. As of noon Monday, the pool was drained and was beginning to be winterized. The weekend snow did not affect the work.

The council decided to table the item concerning the farmers market in the Industrial Park area.

Also approved during the meeting was a request for city employees to attend the Nevada Division of Forestry Arborist ISA certification workshop. The city arranged to have a course administrator come to Caliente. The workshop set for March 27 is free and open to the public. However, the testing March 28 will cost the city $250 per employee. Area residents can take the test for the $250 fee.

Next, a review of the city of Caliente Water System Capital Facility Plan was presented by Sunrise Engineer Russ Funk. The plan goes over the Equivalent Residential Unit for each Caliente inhabitant and estimates future growth and water use. For the upgrades the city has been installing during the last few years, Sunrise Engineering recommended system improvements to accommodate estimated growth.

Sunrise noted, if water conservation methods were integrated and the city could reduce customer’s water usage by 16.4 percent, the city’s existing culinary water rights would be sufficient for the build-out needs. Culinary water rights consist of anything used in the household…

Currently, the total existing water rights available to the city are 8,199 acre-feet. The city’s total required water rights based on population are 441 acre-feet, leaving a surplus of 7,758 acre-feet.

However, giving room for the estimated additional growth, Sunrise projects 8,586 acre-feet will be required in 10 years, thus leaving a deficit of 387 acre-feet the city will have to make up.

Sunrise presented recommended solutions the city could seek in order to protect the existing rights it holds, as well as ensure adequate rights in the future.

Sunrise noted, if water conservation methods were integrated and the city could reduce customer’s water usage by 16.4 percent, the city’s existing culinary water rights would be sufficient for the build-out needs. Culinary water rights consist of anything used in the household, as opposed to agricultural usage.

It also was noted that if the city were to acquire more water to store, then the storage capacity would need to be increased as well. Some suggestions for improving the source and total capacity were to add backup power generation to all the existing wells, incorporating a pump-to-pump waste line on wells No. 1 and 6, and constructing additional wells when required by future growth. It was recommended the city install 8-inch and 10-inch water pipes to have capacity for the project and growth.

The total cost of the recommended improvements is $1,364,200 if the city requires the projected build-outs.

Before the meeting concluded, council members heard from resident Doreen Brown, who complained about the closure of public restrooms at Rose Park. Brown resides close to the park and said when people can’t use the public restroom they are either “urinating on the park’s grass or knocking on my door and asking me.”

City Clerk Jo Whitlock reported Monday that the restrooms have been winterized and therefore have been closed. The restroom located at Dixon Park will remain open to the public.

Although not on the agenda, Brown did supply the council with water supply and distribution codes from the Plumbing Code book by the International Code Council in efforts for a resolution.

Other items approved by the council at the meeting were the Best in the Desert to hold events in March, April and May.

Mayor Keith Larson reported about a visit with John Ellison, assemblyman for District 33. Larson commented that Ellison was “amazed by all the improvements the city has made,” since his last visit.

The city approved for Whitlock to attend the Nevada Prima Risk Management conference to be held in Henderson March 22 and 23. However transportation was yet to be decided on.

The council approved sending Chris Glassburn and Gaylon Baker to a rural water class for recertification March 19-23 in Reno.

The city approved to reinstate city employee Jeremy Davis, immediately allowing him to return to work.

There were no reports on the Parks or Beautification Committee, as it has not yet had a meeting.

The city scheduled its next council meeting for Feb. 2.

DAVE MAXWELL | LINCOLN COUNTY RECORD

Photo by Rachel Williford