Indian Hills city battle begins at home

Debate over the incorporation of Indian Hills started last week when some residents questioned the wisdom of becoming a city.

The debate started at the Indian Hills General Improvement District's meeting. Tempers rose as a small group of residents challenged everything from the estimated costs for court and fire protection to taxes.

Indian Hills resident Brian Nelson said he doesn't want to live in a city, and he can't afford to move. He said the salary estimates included in the proposed city budget were low.

"Why not overestimate, rather than use low-ball figures?" he said.

Jim Bentley, general manager for the district, said research indicates the salaries represented in the proposed budget are commensurate with those in the surrounding area.

The study cost about $20,000 and took about nine months to complete. The document lays out the facts, but the voters of Indian Hills will make the final decision, Bentley said.

"Does an area of 6,000 people need to be a city?" said Indian Hills resident Barbara Semans. "What are the advantages, and why would we be better off?"

Local control is one of the advantages. The new city would have its own planning commission, community development department and more. Right now, many of those services are provided by Douglas County, Bentley said.

"The decisions are being made 15 miles away," he said.

Board member Riley Evans said city residents would also have more control over growth.

"I had some objections to a subdivision built near my home," he said. "So I like the idea."

Semans said growth comes when a developer owns land and wants to make a profit. Challenges can lead to lawsuits.

"Being a city won't give us control over what a developer wants to do with his land," she said.

Taxes would decrease, according to the study, which includes revenues from a proposed commercial development east of Highway 395 and north of the improvement district's current boundaries. A proposed 950-home residential development to the east of that commercial development would also provide a funding source.

At this point, those areas are not part of Indian Hills.

"The process to create a city requires us to declare boundaries," Bentley said. "Creation of the city also depends on a vote of the people. If you vote in favor of a city and its boundaries, they are valid."

The town's boundaries would also include Wal-Mart and the Carson Valley Plaza in North Douglas County, a redevelopment district.

Annexation of the Carson Valley Plaza and Wal-Mart could mean a boon in tax revenues, but only after the redevelopment debt is paid, in about 30 years.

The $9 million debt could be paid by Indian Hills officials following incorporation to speed the flow of those revenues. Because of these issues, there's a very good chance Douglas County would protest the annexation, Bentley said.

Board member Diane Humble-Fournier said a lot of time and effort has been expended to preserve this community, but when the financial resources are taken away by the county, the issue needs to be resolved.

"I want more police officers around, to watch our parks and streets," she said. "All the board members have lived here for years. We want to preserve what we have.

"If someone has another idea that doesn't include incorporation, they need to let us know," she said.

The Indian Hills General Improvement District meets the third

Tuesday of each month.

Details of the plan will be posted on the district's Web site:

www.Indianhillsnevada.co.