Dust Control – Soil Stabilization – Erosion Control

Many municipalities are having trouble these days complying with the federal governments mandates on dust control Why? simply put, the banks have cut off credit to the consumers, which in turn has killed the consumer market which has killed many support industries which have ended many jobs thus creating a shortfall in the amount of revenue everyone is taking in… Including local and state governments. Is this accidental, I don’t think so but regardless, Dust control is mandated by the federal government and must be paid for some how. Some would say raise taxes to keep the coffers full. That only takes more away from the people that still have jobs. The end effect is the government gets larger and the citizens supporting said government get poorer. is this the dust road we wish to travel. I don’t think so. SCI can help the local governments by aiding them in meeting these mandated requirements while at the same time conserving their precious resources. This next story is not only about dust Control it is about survival of a small town in the USA.

An increase in the Nye County gas tax from 4 cents per gallon to 7 cents was a necessity in light of a 32 percent decline in gas tax revenues, the Nye County Regional Transportation Commission decided Monday.

But in light of an expected onslaught of opposition, the RTC punted.

They passed a motion by Nye County Commissioner Butch Borasky to continue the discussion until next year to see if the economy improves.

"The only thing I got to say is it’s bad timing," Borasky said.

Borasky said the best time to pass a gas tax increase would have been a few years ago when the economy was booming. But he said the increase could be put on the 2010 ballot to let voters decide.

That suggestion was a little more palatable to RTC member Cameron McRae, a former Nye County commissioner who remembered the outcry the last time it was attempted in July 20, 1999, when the commission decided not to raise the tax by a 4-0 vote. It was also rejected in October 1991.

"We had our hat handed to us," McRae recalled.

RTC member Bob Howard said gas prices are going up — noting the price of oil hit $79 per barrel Monday — but the county is not getting more of it.

Howard said with more people driving hybrid cars the revenues will be even less.

The RTC, which meets quarterly, has control over the 4-cent gas tax money and a 1/4-cent sales tax for road improvements.

"It never has been and it never will be what this county needs because they will never overcome the 18,000 square miles," McRae said.

Fewer people are driving because of the economy, Commissioner Lorinda Wichman said. But she offered some consolation — fewer motorists will be out driving the roads that need maintenance.

Howard wondered, would the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency come after Nye County if it can’t afford to chip seal a bunch of new roads next year to comply with dust control standards?

"You can’t squeeze blood out of a turnip," McRae replied.

The RTC also approved a request by Nye County Acting Public Works Director Dave Fanning to do some engineering work on rebuilding Dandelion Street from Highway 160 down to Calvada Boulevard. That project would be considered in the 2011-12 fiscal year, he said.

"It needs to be worked pretty badly. It’s a bad road," Fanning said.

Nye County will receive $379,358 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Fanning said, also known as the stimulus package. It will be used for widening Gamebird Road from Pahrump Valley Boulevard to Homestead Road. He said it was the only road that met the road classification for the money.

Fanning said the county would have to contribute another $300,000 from other funds to get that widening work done.

The 15 rural counties and 11 cities split up $7 million in stimulus money. Projects must be "shovel ready" by December.