CARSON CITY – The Legislative Interim Finance Committee today approved what would be the first Nevada jobs paid for by the federal stimulus package.
At a cost of $700,000, 20 people will be hired to plant trees in state parks and clear brush for fire protection along state Route 319 and in the town of Pioche. The contract is to last 18 months. The workers would be paid the federal prevailing wage in Lincoln County -- anywhere from $30 to $50 an hour.
Nice. Wonder what Democratic political hacks got them?
Assemblyman Joseph Hogan, D-Las Vegas, called the jobs the “first boots on the ground” in putting people to work in a state where unemployment is above 10 percent. In Lincoln County the jobless rate in February was 7.4 percent.
State Forester Peter Anderson said a project must start by Wednesday to receive the funds. Anderson said his division has submitted additional requests for money from the stimulus package and he has his “fingers crossed” that the state will receive millions.
The state Transportation Department will open bids April 9 for repaving 20 miles east of Lovelock on Interstate 80. It will be the first state road building project using the federal stimulus funds and it is estimated to cost $14 to $16 million. |