Green Energy Nevada will be in search of a new training center after the Mineral County School Board of Trustees voted Dec. 3 to evict the company from the vacant 6th Street School building.
In an email read into record by Mineral County School Superintendent Chris Schultz, Green Energy Nevada (GEN) sent the electronic correspondence to Schultz and Mark Nixon, School Board President, stating, “We are waiting further instruction from our attorney before moving forward.”
In the copy of the lease agreement, obtained by Independent-News, once the lease was signed, GEN would pay the District $4,000 to cover the cost of the appraisal to execute the said lease. It goes on to say, “The cost may also be applied to the in-kind expense incurred by GEN.”
To date, no in-kind services have been performed on the school, which is badly in need of a roof. The rental agreement goes on to say, “The rental fee may be satisfied by in-kind expenses incurred by GEN in performing restoration and repair of the premise. Said in-kind payment must be approved in advance by the District. The value of the payment shall be determined by a cost estimate provided by GEN or actual expense, whichever is higher. Said payment shall not exceed the lease fees.”
GEN went on, “Please submit a proposal of what GEN needs to pay as of Nov. 23 to continue the lease.”
Schultz countered GEN’s email in one from himself stating, “Please refer to the lease payment schedule…the Board agreed to extending payments by four months to November 2014. The project must be District approved. This means the county building permit based on the Toby-Wade Engineering and your contractor’s plan must be given to Mr. Tom Gallegos, our maintenance supervisor. Cash or in-kind work must be submitted to the district by Nov. 23, 2014 as indicated by the lease.”
Clearly in default of the district’s request, GEN wouldn’t answer the Schultz’s request until Nov. 25, two days after the requested date.
GEN stated, “…it was our understanding the Mineral County School District would obtain estimates in conjunction with GEN estimates. If GEN was unable to commence estimates or give an estimated date for completion, the school board would repair the roof and GEN will make an in-kind payment.
Schultz would remind those in attendance that the in-kind payment would have been the repair on the roof.
Continuing, GEN would go on to say, “GEN was unable to secure firm bids for this project an email was sent to Mr. (Mark) Nixon indicating. During Nov. 5 meeting it was clear that the school board would continue with estimates and repairs independent of GEN’s efforts. At this time, GEN is seeking a clear cut proposal from the school board as to how much money is exactly expected.”
Per the lease contract, the amount was clearly shown at the appraised value of 40 cents per square foot per month, a rent of $4,040 per month will be paid, payable annually as set forth on the rent schedule. It also included a 5 percent per day delinquent charge assessed for late payments with eviction proceedings initiated after 30 days of non-payment.
In the struggling economy of Mineral County, the board knew GEN would need to revamp the older 6th Street School, placing into the lease, “The parties acknowledge that the building on the subject premises will require renovations by GEN in order to be granted a certificate of occupancy. Accordingly, the parties agree that for the first six months of this lease term, rent shall be prorated to $500 per month. The first rent payment shall be delayed due within six months from the execution of this lease agreement.”
Schultz verified to the board that no money had been placed into escrow and now the school will be fixing the roof in the winter. He would go on to say, “I don’t know why we would continue trying to maintain relationship with them [GEN]. We are going to have to finish a roof, regardless. At a future time if they want to come back to us with a proposal, we can obtain entertain it.
Public comment was heard from many residents of Nevada and Mineral County. Michael Guss, an economic development authority in Nevada, addressed the board, saying, “We have case studies on how we can improve Economic Development. Everyone wants to see it [GEN] succeed. Not all dreams succeed.”
Stewart Handte, a Walker Lake resident and outgoing sheriff for Mineral County, spoke as a citizen in stating, “I was cautiously optimistic but am now skeptical. This angers me. They [GEN] came here to dupe people…”
Board member Barbara Lambright made a motion to proceed with legal eviction of Green Energy Nevada for breach of contract and to proceed with obtaining the $4,000 back that was paid as an appraisal fee. The motion carried unanimously.
The once bright light of Green Energy Nevada is becoming that of fading hope such as Delta Star and Peninsula Flooring. Companies that came in with great hopes of saving Mineral County residents from economic disaster but in reality caused only division amongst neighbors and a heap of paper work for the district attorney to wade through.
Green Energy Nevada will once again be placed in the spotlight on Dec. 17 when it’s rumored that it will be back on the Mineral County Board of County Commissioner agenda for failure to produce bond money needed to secure the land formerly known as Babbitt for a chicken/egg production plant.
