7 June 2007

Pat Whitten
Storey County Manager
Commissioner's Office
P.O. Drawer D
Virginia City, NV 89440
 

Dear Pat,
 

What follows is a summary of the minimum impacts on health and human services should the Cordevista project go forward. Of course, this is not a permanent list — it is, at best, an approximation of future need, a projected picture that could change.

Health care: assuming the population of Storey County would be roughly 77% of Lyon County (about 42,000 versus 54,000), there would need to be two full time public health nurses. We currently have a nurse for the County six days per month.

Youth programs - elementary: assuming there were two new elementary schools, we would need before-and-after-school programs at the two elementary schools, requiring 4 additional full time staff. We currently have two full time staff in these positions.

Youth programs - middle and high school: we currently have one full time person offering at-risk youth programs. We would need two additional full time staff in this role.

Counseling: we currently have two full time counselors. There would need to be two (minimum) additional counselors for the region. This (potentially) could include domestic violence, drug/alcohol, personal, and family counseling.

Food closet: we currently have one part-time person to operate the food closet. This region will necessitate a much larger food closet and hence at least 1.5 persons (using the Food Bank as the primary source of low-cost food).

Early childhood education: we currently have two classrooms on wheels serving Storey and Western/Central Lyon Counties. They both have waiting lists. This region would require at least-two additional full time staff and buses for that purpose or a childcare center with appropriate staffing (3-plus full time personnel).

Prevention: we currently have a part-time person working on substance/poverty prevention. This region would require a full time person to implement these programs.

Impact Statement/2

Site of services: we currently have a facility for the provision of some of the above services. There will need to be a facility built to house these services and/or a community center to provide the larger community with recreation/gathering space. As is planned for in Virginia City, the nurse and childcare center could be located in the facility.

Coordination of services: we currently have one director of services. There would need to be a staff of at least two to implement all of the foregoing programs and to do so in conjunction with the current service provision at Community Chest. Community Chest could subcontract to provide these services if it was in the best interests of the County and CCI.

This does not address staffing of aging/WIC/TANF/and/or other federal programs - and recreation which are required of counties this size.

This proposal does not address any cultural or arts criteria, which will be required of a population base that size. That is, the Arts Council will be looked to for programs and coordination (along with other arts and culture organizations in the County). This will necessitate building in a budget for this purpose in the County (there are currently two arts organizations in Lyon County).

Thus, at minimum, it would require 18.5 additional staff, a facility to house the services, and a clear delineation of service coordination by CCI and the County.

Approximate cost: $925,000 to $1,150,000 for personnel (depending on qualifications) and a facility (current community center costs are $2,016,500) for 6,000 square feet of space. Note: the state budget for health and human services is 30% of the general fund or 5.5 million in Lyon - or $4,235,000 at 77% of their population in Storey County.

If the project should go forward, these health and human service requirements should be part of the proposed "Storey County Community Foundation." I would also recommend the ongoing operational costs of the Virginia City Community Center be included in this revenue stream (and the "hidden" costs of programs by Community Chest— as they will be impacted by the growth of the County).

Thank you for your consideration of these potential impacts.

Sincerely,
 

Shaun Griffin, Executive Director
Community Chest, Inc.