Lyon commissioners will be asked to OK filling abandoned mine shaft

YERINGTON - Lyon County commissioners on Thursday will be asked to authorize filling an abandoned Silver City mine shaft.

Already ranked by the Division of Minerals as "high" hazard by its abandoned mines program, this summer vandals set the Oest Mine shaft on fire and tore the headframe down. Repeated attempts to get owners, Rule Resources, to secure the property have been unsuccessful.

According to Nevada Revised Statutes, the county has the authority to bring suit against the owner if the provisions of the law regarding safety of open excavations are not met. If the owner fails to act, the county may authorize the site to be backfilled.

In an Aug. 25 memo to the commission, State Director of Mining Services Doug Driesner noted the recent destruction of the headframe and said, "From a public safety point of view, the situation is more precarious than before. I would be willing to see that this shaft is backfilled upon written request and authorization from Lyon County."

According to Driesner, the tearing down of the headframe caused the foundation to break apart, making the collar of the shaft very unstable. A fire July 2 burned most of the mine's support timbers.

In April 1979, two teenagers fell to their deaths into the shaft.

Other agenda items include:

-- A 10 a.m. public hearing on an ordinance proposing to set limitations for outside burning. If adopted, the open burning of plastics, rubber, paint, fiberglass, petroleum products, vehicles or materials from vehicles, treated lumber or timbers, and railroad ties would be prohibited. The ban would not apply to weeds, small wood fires for recreational, ceremonial or cooking purposes.

-- Consideration of a request from Dayton Justice of the Peace Ed Johnson to hire two alternative sentencing officers. The request was previously discussed during the spring budget meetings and funding was not approved.

The Lyon County commissioners meet at the Administrative Complex, 27 S. Main Street, Yerington, beginning at 9 a.m. Call 577-5037 (Dayton/Silver Springs) or 463-6531.

IF YOU GO

What: Lyon County Commission meeting

Where: Administrative Complex, 27 S. Main Street, Yerington

When: 9 a.m. Thursday