Community assessment off and running

Organizers said 438 Carson Valley residents participated in an assessment of their community conducted by the Nevada Rural Development Council.

Residents had 2,100 answers to the three questions, what the biggest challenges are to the community, what its assets are and what short- and long-term goals should the community pursue.

Council members presented their results to about 50 residents at a meeting held at the CVIC Hall in Minden.

Anyone who's regularly attended a county commission meeting or read correspondence published in the newspaper would be familiar with residents' answers.

People asked that the Valley's natural beauty be preserved, said the county was hard to do business with, that there's a lack of affordable housing, commercial development and a clear vision of where the county's going.

They pointed out that the county has lots of human assets in the form of its volunteers and experienced elderly people and that its residents enjoy its quality of life and safety.

Short-term goals included a music venue, hiking paths, wastewater and potable water improvements, reviewing the county code, and figuring out how to pay for it all.

Long-term goals included a multi-use center, rerouting traffic around the towns of Minden and Gardnerville, a nature preserve in Genoa, maintaining the Valley's historical integrity, and expanding Western Nevada College.

Council members divided the comments into eight major themes, which included business opportunities, communications, community participation, essential services, public safety, infrastructure, keeping the rural character of the Valley, seniors and students.

Both seniors and students pointed out that it was hard to get around the Valley without driving and that there weren't many affordable activities in the county.

Clint Koble said the council will hold listening sessions at Lake Tahoe on May 27 and in Topaz Ranch Estates by June 3.

They'll return with a final report on July 30, so county residents can set priorities.

The Douglas County Community Assessment is sponsored by Douglas County, Nevada State Bank, U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development and the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension.

ON THE WEB

Community assessment summary

www.douglascountynv.gov