Nye County Commissioner Peter Liakopoulos said Tuesday he was disappointed in the results of a request for the expenses paid county hydrologist Tom Buqo and environmental compliance specialist Mary Ellen Giampaoli.

Commissioners voted 4-1 to extend Giampaoli's contracts to work on the desert tortoise habitat conservation plan and the development of the Amargosa Valley Science and Technology Park, but only for two weeks.

Giampaoli requested an extension to June 30, 2009, and an additional $61,000, bringing her total cost for those two projects and other assigned duties to $216,050.

Commissioner Butch Borasky wanted to study the proposals after a heated argument.

"This is a powder keg that's about to blow up. I'd like a cooling-off period and bring this back at the next meeting," Borasky said.

Nye County Manager Ron Williams said Giampaoli was working on nine different projects, including a plan to divert flows from Wheeler Wash into gravel pits to reduce storm water runoff, a project championed by Public Works Director Samson Yao -- and Borasky.

Giampaoli said she's just about to submit an application for an easement on the drainage ditch after working with the BLM for almost two years.

Giampaoli requested $16,000 to finish work on the science and technology park, which was never completed. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management granted a right-of-way to enable power to be brought to the site, Giampaoli said. It is being considered as a lay-down yard for the Independent Scientific Investigation Program for Yucca Mountain.

Commissioner Roberta "Midge" Carver made a motion to extend Giampaoli's contract, which was seconded by Commissioner Joni Eastley. Liakopoulos, however, said Eastley wasn't permitted to second the item as chairwoman of the county commission, and the motion later died for lack of a second.

Eastley, who cast the sole vote against the two-week extension, defended Giampaoli's work. She said $21,500 of Giampaoli's request was reimbursement for work already done on the desert tortoise habitat conservation plan.

Eastley criticized Borasky's request for a two-week continuance to study the contracts.

"I think as an active and functioning member of this board, it's my responsibility to become familiar and understand these contracts. I've done that. I don't expect anything less from anybody on this board," Eastley said.

Developer Tim Hafen had concerns over Giampaoli's $45,000 request for more consultations on the desert tortoise plan. He said county commissioners decided May 19 to terminate the plan being prepared by Giampaoli and take no further action. A subsequent plan was presented by Borasky June 17 based on recommendations from consultant Julene Haworth.

Liakopoulos wanted to see minutes proving the board authorized Giampaoli to work on the desert tortoise plan. His motion to deny any extension of the contract failed by 2-3 vote, with only Commissioner Gary Hollis voting in favor.

Giampaoli also has worked on the Nye County public lands bill; the Brownfields program which aims to clean up contaminated industrial sites; provided support for the Nye County air quality program and done research on the new county landfill site.

Eastley asked who would finish the projects, since the county doesn't have a natural resources department any more.

Nye County Public Works Director Samson Yao told commissioners they could be violating the law if they don't have an environmental person to submit reports on things like the landfill.

Liakopoulos said the report on Buqo's contracts was vague. He asked for detailed reports including names of subcontractors.

Buqo's contracts for the Yucca Mountain program list work like aquifer testing, water resources technical support, the alluvial aquifer testing program, regional water level monitoring among other tasks. Under the natural resources department, he worked on water rights filings and subsidence issues.

"This commission cannot be forthright in how much is being spent and where the money is being spent. It's great to have a snow job, especially when the temperature is 100 some degrees," Liakopoulos said.

He demanded, for example, to know what money is being spent on the Tonopah Airport.

Willliams recommended Liakopoulos submit a request under the Nevada Open Records Act to the respective county department head for the financial records.

"What specifically is the problem with these two?" Eastley asked. "Whoever these anonymous people are who are making requests of you, perhaps they would like to contact the county manager and make a formal public records request."

Liakopoulos said he unsuccessfully asked for a workshop to discuss the contracts.

Buqo, the county hydrologist for 12 years, didn't comment during the commission session, but was visibly angry outside the Bob Ruud Community Center.

"I attended a meeting in Carson City and that meeting was prefaced with, 'Who is this Commissioner Liakopoulos guy and what's his problem?' That reflects on Nye County when a commissioner wants to get up there and wants to grandstand. He has to understand his comments make it into the public. They have an effect and they are not always a good thing for Nye County," Buqo said.

"I send detailed invoices to Nye County routinely that state the work performed, services rendered, use of any subcontractors, any other direct costs. It's all itemized in detail. There is no question," he said.

Buqo said since July 16, 2007, he received $1.18 million in contracts, of which $211,000 has been spent to date and $662,000 was returned unspent.

"When the county gives me a contract I don't treat it as a pool of money to draw on. I charge them for my efforts and those of my subcontractors, and I charge them at a fair price," Buqo said.

Buqo's major contract was $430,000 in March for a turn-key setup of the Nye County Water District. Buqo said he only spent $9,054 of it so far.

"It's either a contract for me for $30,000 to let it go out for bid to whomever they want or give them a turn-key program for $430,000. What Buqo gets out of it is $30,000 either way," he said.