Animals and water are two of the most hotly debated issues in Nye County, if not the entire western U.S.

Nye County Commissioners made appointments to the new Nye County Animal Advisory Committee last week, while prospective nominees to the Nye County water district board must submit their applications by Sept. 19.

Seven members were appointed to the animal advisory committee, representing various interest groups.

They include:

* Stephen Benson, representing animal rescue organizations;

* Sharon Davis, representing livestock owners and handlers;

* Mary Ann Gantvoort, owner of a pet boarding facility;

* Jenn LaMan, representing humane groups and livestock owners;

* Scott Shoemaker, representing animals with special conditions;

* Yvonne Smith, a representative of livestock owners who is active with 4-H clubs;

* Dr. Suzanne Zervantian, a veterinarian.

The seven were chosen from a field of 28 applicants, who were whittled down to 10 finalists to be presented to the county commission by Nye County Emergency Services Director Brent Jones and Pahrump Regional Planning Commission Chairman Mark Kimball.

Tim McCarty, animal control officer, said the board should hold its first meeting before Sept. 19, which will be primarily an organizational meeting to go over the Open Meetings Act and elect officers.

The ordinance specifies the board will meet within 30 days of their apointment. Board members will serve staggered two year terms.

Meetings will be scheduled bimonthly for the first year, or more often if needed. After the first year, unless there's a special issue, the board will meet quarterly.

McCarty said people cited for having vicious dogs, loud dogs, and unlicensed dogs could request to have their case heard by the animal advisory board. That decision could be appealed to Pahrump Justice Court, where such cases now go directly.

The board is expected to take much of the workload off Pahrump Justice Court for animal cases. McCarty said he delivered five cases on animals to justice court on Monday afternoon alone.

"The animal community has a forum for the first time," McCarty said. "Prior to this there's been nothing other than coming to animal control and we don't have the ear of county commissioners."

The committee will also make recommendations on revisions to Nye County Code Title Six governing animal control. The county commission received a draft of changes to that ordinance back in 2006, but withdrew the ordinance in light of a roar of opposition.

McCarty feels the animal control ordinance, title 6 of the Nye County Code, is outdated.

"It needs refreshing. It's a bit old. There's a little too much gray area in there," he said.

Water is another hotly debated issue in the West. The Nevada Legislature passed Senate Bill 222 last session, to create a Nye County water district.

The water district board will have wide-ranging powers. It will be empowered to levy taxes, incur debt, issue bonds, acquire land, acquire water rights and construct work for the development of water delivery systems.

The legislation mandates seven people will serve on the board: three Pahrump residents, a resident of Beatty or Amargosa Valley, a Tonopah resident, a resident of Smoky Valley or the Currant Creek area and an at-large resident of Nye County from outside Pahrump.

The mission of the water district board, according to a summary by Nye County hydrologist Tom Buqo, along with planners Cheryl Beeman and Van Robinson, is:

* to develop a long term sustainability plan of development for county water resources;

* to evaluate and mitigate environmental impacts associated with use of water resources;

* to better define ground water and surface water resources and

* to define alternative approaches to manage the water resources.

Members will serve staggered two year terms. Terms of three of the initial appointees will expire July 1, 2009, the other four members will serve until July 1, 2010.

A Pahrump groundwater evaluation study will be used as the basis to start planning efforts.

The water district will have $146,810 in annual operating expenses, according to the first year budget. The general manager will receive a $40,000 annual salary for the rest of this fiscal year, increasing to $80,000 in the 2009-2010 fiscal year. The budget also includes $14,000 to purchase a half-ton pickup for the general manager's use. Payments to water rights attorney George Benesch are expected to amount to another $12,000.

The water district is expected to be financially self-sufficient in five years.

Directors on the water district board will be paid $80 for each monthly meeting, plus travel.

County commissioners didn't engage in any discussion on the recommendations for advertising the vacancies, the proposed compensation and map of the board member boundaries. Commissioner Peter Liakopoulos made the motion to advertise to fill the vacancies, and again to approve the boundaries, Commissioner Roberta "Midge" Carver made the motion to approve the reimbursement.

Darrell Lacy, Nye County nuclear waste repository project office director, made a few brief remarks.

Lacy said after the meeting the state statute was a little vague, so the consensus was to name directors representing 42 different ground water basins.

The director of subdistrict one for example, represents Reese River, Big and Little Smoky valleys, Monitor Valley, Gabbs Valley, Smith Creek Valley, Ione Valley, Hot Creek Valley, Coal Valley, Garden Valley, Railroad Valley and White River Valley.

The subdistrict two director represents Ralston Valley, Gold Flat, Cactus Flat, Stone Cabin Flat, Emigrant Valley, Kaqwich Valley, Stonewall Flat and Alkali Spring Valley.

The subdistrict three director represesnts Lida Valley, Sarcobatus Flats, and many areas on the Nevada Test Site like Yucca Flat, Frenchman Flat, Indian Springs Valley, Papoose Lake Valley, Mercury Valley, Rock Valley, Jackass Flats, Buckboard Mesa, Oasis Valley, Crater Flat and the Amargosa Desert.

"We really want to get people on it. It's an important position for Nye County," Lacy said.

The Nye County hydrologist budgeted $35,000 in training costs for the water district board and $35,000 in training for the water district manager, as part of a $430,000 turn key budget approved in March.

Lacey said that would be similar to the training sessions that were required when the Pahrump Regional Planning Commission was created.