County trades drainage project for money to fix road

DAYTON -- Lyon County Commissioners have agreed to amend an agreement with Dayton Valley Investors, owners of the planned development surrounding the Dayton Valley Golf Course.

The agreement allows the developers to pay $150,000 toward improvements to Lakes Boulevard in exchange for relieving them of any obligation to install storm drainage improvements for proposed River Village Unit 5.

In making his request to amend the agreement covering requirements for subdivision's final map, Chief Executive Officer Joe Wade told the board the money would be better spent improving the deteriorating road then basing approval of the map on a drainage clause he probably could not resolve.

"This would be better then doing nothing and having the road continue to deteriorate. I will have a hard time marketing my property without improvements being made," Wade said. "Arguably, the county should be better off with me doing this."

Commissioner David Fulstone supported the concept, but unsuccessfully urged the board to delay a decision to allow time for more study and a cost analysis of the storm drain situation.

The River Village storm drainage system borders the northern boundary of the subdivision and dead ends to the east of Quilici Road. The county owns no easement between Quilici Road and the river.

Prior to Wade's purchase of the property, the county entered into an agreement in August 1998 with previous owner Comlaw to complete the storm drainage improvements for River Village Unit 5. The current owner is obligated to abide by all prior agreements.

Claiming the section of Lakes Boulevard extending south from Dayton Valley Road to near the curve to the west of the airport runway does not meet its standards, the county never accepted it for maintenance. The county claims when Dayton Valley Investors (Wade Dayton LLC) purchased the project in January 1999 they assumed responsibilities of all prior ownership agreements.

There has been some contention between the county and Wade as to whether the county did actually accept the road at one time, but no resolution has been arrived at and the road continues to worsen.

Noting the county's ultimate need to get an easement for drainage from Quilici Road to the Carson River, Public Works Director Chuck Swanson initially was hesitant to support the request. However, with assurances from Commissioner Bob Milz the drainage issue will be the responsibility of any future developer of the property, and not the county's responsibility, Swanson backed the change.

"I have some concern with the county being left on the hook, but as long as you understand there is some risk I am willing to work with him (Wade). We will do what we can with the $150,000," he told the board.