Nye County commissioners Tuesday were briefed on the difference between OSDS and ISDS by Dick Johnson, the manager of building safety and code compliance.

ISDS stands for individual sewage disposal systems, the types of septic tanks used in residences. OSDS stands for on-site sewage disposal systems, or commercial systems.

In the Pahrump area OSDS includes nitrate recovery, since Pahrump is in a nitrate management area, Johnson said.

Nye County already supervises the installation of individual sewage disposal systems through its contracted building department, Charles Abbott and Associates.

Commissioners approved a memorandum of agreement Tuesday with the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection to take over the commercial inspections, as NDEP doesn't have the staff.

Nye County will inspect commercial septics with a capacity of 3,000 gallons or less as well as holding tanks. Above 3,000-gallon systems, the county may permit them at the discretion of NDEP, according to the agreement.

Nye County won't permit any treatment systems with industrial waste, only domestic sewage. The county will take immediate steps to resolve any health hazards which occur as a result of OSDS failures, under the agreement.

A bill was also passed amending the Nye County Code, incorporating NDEP regulations. It requires a professional engineer to verify results of percolation tests and the proper design and installation of on-site disposal systems.

Charles Abbott and Associates was given a five-year contract to add the inspection of on-site disposal systems to their work. It will receive 60 percent of the fees.

A general permit to construct or make major modifications to an on-site sewage disposal system with a capacity of 3,000 gallons or less will cost $200; beyond that, the cost will increase to $600.

Johnson said commercial inspections have been held up waiting for NDEP inspectors, similar to what happened before Nye County was given authority over individual sewage disposal systems in 2001. The physical engineer can stamp the drawings for the installation, which means the county building and safety department won't have to travel to Tonopah or Round Mountain, he said.

Commissioner Joni Eastley complained about the state handing off responsibility for the project without giving any money. Johnson said there won't be any increase in fees paid by businesses and inspections will be more timely.

Commissioner Lorinda Wichman made a motion to keep the same fees for the ISDS inspections in Pahrump, not to increase them to be in line with state OSDS inspection fees. Johnson said those ISDS inspection fees haven't changed since 1997.

Saturday school

Commissioners rejected the request at the last meeting, but it was brought up again Tuesday, for a temporary, part-time, clerk aide for juvenile probation to work a Saturday school program. The position will cost $883.54 for 80 hours, with half the amount to be paid by the Nye County School District.

Drug testing

Nye County expects to begin implementing pre-employment and random drug testing for safety sensitive positions in January, Human Relations Director Danelle Shamrell told commissioners. The testing is authorized in section 2.9.10 of the new personnel policy approved by the commission.

Safety-sensitive positions includes employees operating heavy equipment and jobs where mistakes could present a threat to the health and safety of co-workers or the public.

A supervisor who suspects an employee is under the influence of alcohol or drugs may request a random test, under section 2.9.8 of the policy.

Shamrell told commissioner Butch Borasky employees are evaluated a minimun of once per year.

Board appointments

Guidelines adopted on appointments to committees allow the human resources manager to review applicants -- and while attempting to achieve a balance of qualified applicants covering a range of qualifications and perspectives -- make recommendations to the county clerk and county commissioners.

The county clerk's office will provide notice to the public as vacancies occur, except for the Animal Advisory Board or the Nye County Water District Board, which provide notices themselves. Applicants to committees must fill out a form provided by the clerk or the responsible department, or download it from the county Web site.

"It's no longer a policy, it's a guideline because we have some unique circumstances that exist in certain communities," Eastley said, admitting she wrote most of it. "A perfect example would be if we only had one opening for a board, and we only had one applicant."

Emergency agreements

Agreements were approved between Nye County Emergency Services and the Tonopah and Round Mountain volunteer fire departments. The memoranda require volunteer fire departments to participate in standardization with a county model on training, equipment, operating guidelines, logistical support, accountability, station identification numbers, station upkeep, communication and inventory control.

The fire depatments will participate with the Nye County Volunteer Fire Department leadership team to establish highly motivated, well-trained responders.