Water could soon be safer in TRE

In a press release dated June 8, U.S. Senator Harry Reid announced that Douglas County will receive $725,000 in federal funding to help make its drinking water safer.

The money will be used to replace a non-functioning well, construct a new pump house and replace a transmission line. The project will bring the water system into compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act.

"This is great news for Douglas County," said Reid. "This funding will ensure that the residents of Topaz Ranch Estates have access to the safest and cleanest drinking water possible. I am pleased to know this money will be used to protect the health of Nevadans."

The Safe Drinking Water Act was originally passed by Congress in 1974 to protect public health by regulating the nation's public drinking water supply. The law was amended in 1986 and 1996 to further protect drinking water and its sources: rivers, lakes, reservoirs, springs and ground water wells.

Topaz Ranch Estates General Improvement District has been approved for a $614,000 loan and a $111,538 grant. The funds are provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development.

Other improvements are in the works for TRE as well. Four roads in TRE are slated for paving before 2007. Limestone, the west end of Pinenut Road, Pebble Road and the section of Walker View on the east end of that street are all scheduled for this improvement. According to Lee Van Brunt, board of directors for TREGID, $65,000 has been set aside to finance the project.

For residents of Pebble Road, this comes none too soon. Years of petitions and pleading from some of the residents has finally seen the possible light at the end of the tunnel. It comes with the understanding that TRE is definitely a rural community and dirt roads are part of the conditions of living in the area. That doesn't soften the irritation of the volumes of dust raised by passing cars on the road that has become more heavily traveled in the past few years. Most people try for the consideration factor but even at the 25 mph speed limit, on a hot summer day, clouds of dust are raised by even the most cautious and considerate driver. Having been a Pebble resident myself, I know first hand, the choking summer dust problem, as well as the muddy ruts in the winter after a few light snow showers.

The TRE road crew has made a gallant effort to keep the problems to a minimum but in a high desert area like this it is more like Don Quixote tilting at windmills. They water the road in the summer and within 20 minutes it is like nothing ever happened. The occasional thunder showers provide the same relief and for the same amount of time. In the winter the ruts are graded and smoothed which is great until the next snow storm and the process begins all over again. Yes, paving is going to be a major improvement in living conditions for residents who live on these more heavily used dirt roads in TRE.

For all of us in Douglas County, remember Minden is celebrating its centennial year this Sunday in Minden Park. Starting at 11 a.m. there will be all kinds of fun activities to participate in, including a walking tour of the original homes, a concert in the park provided by the Carson Valley Pops Orchestra, a free box lunch for the first 1,000 guests to attend the event, an ice cream social in the afternoon, a display of historical Minden pictures in the CVIC Hall on Esmeralda Avenue and a brand new print of the Minden Flour Mill by artist, Buz Schott, which will be available for purchase from The Lone Tree Gallery.

Until next week, thank you TREGID for working on improving the quality of life for TRE residents, happy birthday to Minden and keep on keepin' on.

n Jonni Hill can be reached through The Record-Courier at jhill@recordcourier.com or by calling 782-5121, ext. 213, or after hours at JHILL47@aol.com