July 23, 2020 The Lyon County Board of Commissioners unanimously supported the attached letter to be sent to Governor Sisolak. This decision was made today at a special County Commission meeting. The Board is requesting the Governor to lessen restrictions on an entire County and look at specific communities that do not meet the criteria to remain in the green zone. The meeting, which took an hour of discussion, came as a request from Commissioners Gray and Dini during the July 16, 2020 regular Board of Commissioners meeting.
The letter is provided below:
July 23, 2020
Governor Steve Sisolak
State Capitol Building
101 N. Carson Street
Carson City, Nevada 89701
Dear Governor Sisolak,
The Lyon County Board of Commissioners recognizes the COVID 19 Pandemic as a threat to the health of our citizens and the citizens of the State of Nevada and the United States. Lyon County has consistently coordinated and collaborated with our Quad County (Carson City, Douglas County, Lyon County and Storey County) partners in response to and recovery from the COVID 19 pandemic. Lyon County has made every effort to implement and adhere to your emergency directives to reduce the exposure of COVID-19.
Lyon County has five distinct populated areas (Smith Valley, Yerington/Mason Valley, Silver Springs/Stagecoach, Dayton/Moundhouse/Silver City and Fernley). Lyon County has concerns that decisions are being made about our economy based upon numbers as a County as a whole when in reality two of our populated areas meet your requirements to limit business activities.
Lyon County has experienced the following COVID-19 cases and deaths as of July 16, 2020
- 0.0026 % of people in Lyon County have contracted covid-19
- Dayton: 0.003 % of residents have contracted covid-19
- Fernley: 0.003 % of residents have contracted covid-19
- Silver Springs: 0.0012 % of residents have contracted covid-19
- Mason Valley: 0.0016 % of residents have contracted covid-19
- Based upon the available data the Death rate in Lyon County of identified positive covid-19 test is 0.013 %.
These numbers do not indicate the need for the drastic measures and regulations put in place on our local businesses. The Lyon County Board of Commissioners request that you open our businesses with common sense requirements of wearing personal protective equipment, social distancing and sanitation.
The Lyon County Board of Commissioners also requests that the State of Nevada recognizes that each county’s population is spread out differently and look at tighter restrictions by community or zip code rather than by a County.
The Lyon County Board of Commissioners applauds the work and efforts of health officials from the State of Nevada and Carson City Health and Human Services to test, trace and document the COVID-19 pandemic. The data provided by these officials does not, in our opinion, warrant the limiting and closure of some businesses in Lyon County.
Lyon County has been moved to a yellow rating and in order for Lyon County to be moved from that rating we have to complete 150 tests /day. Resources are limited to meet this criteria and the Lyon County Board of Commissioners requests that you reactivate the National Guard to assist with the drive thru testing operations to ensure weekly drive thru operations within Lyon County.
Governor Sisiolak, Lyon County is and has been working with health officials to reduce the impacts of COVID-19. Lyon County has, to the best of our ability and legal authority, adhered to your emergency directives. Lyon County has taken a proactive approach to gain public compliance of your emergency directives. The Lyon County Board of Commissioners respectfully requests that the State of Nevada cease burdensome closures and/or limits of our businesses.
Respectfully,
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Commissioner Vida Keller, Chair
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Commissioner Joe Mortensen, Vice Chair
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Commissioner Bob Hastings
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Commissioner Ken Gray
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Commissioner Jay Dini