Editor:
I've been an observer, and many times an activist, before the Board of County Commissioners for the past 8 years. On Jan. 5, 2009, I attended the board of county commissioners meeting - the first for newly elected county commissioners Greg Lynn and Michael Olson. The first order of business was for the commissioners to choose a chair and vice-chair. What occurred was both unprecedented in my experience and disturbing. In a nutshell, the board blew a chance to create a more unified and forward-looking board that could well serve the best interest of Douglas County during these economic hard times. Instead, it was politics as usual.
Here is what happened:
In a likely pre-arranged charade, newcomer Mike Olson nominated Commissioner Nancy McDermid for chair. She has served on the board for the past two years and got the nod. Then commissioner Olson nominated newcomer Greg Lynn as vice-chair. Before the vote, commissioner Johnson pointed out that with all due respect to Commissioner Lynn, he was brand new and had no prior experience on the board and that it would be a mistake to have an inexperienced newcomer assume such a responsible position.
Johnson spoke in favor of Commissioner David Brady for vice-chair who is a well experienced commissioner. Nonetheless, Commissioner Lynn was voted in as vice-chair by a split 3-2 vote with newcomers Olson and Lynn, supported by commissioner McDermid, voting in favor and Commissioners Johnson and Brady in opposition.
Of course this outcome was not a spontaneous happening. Speaking for many of us, we're not naïve as to the typical machinations that likely went on after the election regarding the selection of a new chair and vice-chair. Nor are we so naïve as to believe that certain outside business interests had nothing to do with this result.
Here was a golden opportunity for the commissioners to achieve a balanced board. By putting a much experienced Commissioner Brady into the vice-chair position, with Commissioner McDermid as chair, a significant movement towards a more unified board could likely have been achieved. Such a disposition could have greatly reduced the historic dissension that has characterized the prior Board. Quite obviously, it is now likely that the old animosities will continue. That's bad news for Douglas County. I suspect the County Manager T. Michael Brown knows that and his job will be that much more difficult during these trying times.
My unsolicited advice to the commissioners: Stop playing politics with the welfare of Douglas County citizens.
John H. Garvin
Minden
Editor:
Mr. Brady has been thrown under a 747. Maybe he should be grateful since the last time it was just a bus.
Mr. Faff, I am pleased you were at the county commission meeting on Jan. 5. Your comments during the public comment section were right on and I agree with every word you said.
How dumb do they think the residents of Douglas County are? The election of McDermid as first chair, and the Mr. Newby, Greg Lynn for second chair is an embarrassment to the citizens of Douglas County.
I gave the commissioners a precious gift " my vote. I would like to take it back. Mr. Brady, good luck with your adversaries. You will have my support.
Ken Allen
Minden
Editor:
Congratulations to the Douglas High School Amnesty International club for reaching out to the people of Darfur who have suffered incredible indignities, deprivations, and loss of family members and friends over the past five years of brutal war. How wonderful I feel to know that young people in our community care about our world. They have shown through their efforts that all people are worthy of dignity, respect, and the hope of a better life for themselves. My kudos also go to advisor Dena Jensen-Dugan for leading the group in their humanitarian efforts.
Thank you to The Record-Courier for covering this positive news of intelligent caring youth at Douglas High School.
Linda Hiebert Sekiguchi
Minden
Editor:
This letter is in response to the numerous letters from Paul Lockwood regarding his desire for a new senior center in Douglas County. And frankly, sir, I'm sick and tired of seeing them in the paper. Do you even have a clue about what's going on with the economy across the country, let alone in Douglas County? Are you aware that layoffs have already begun at Douglas County because of a $950,000 budgetary shortfall from decreased revenues?
People are losing their very source of livelihood, yet here comes another redundant letter from Paul Lockwood about how Douglas County is "not doing enough for seniors." According to Mr. Lockwood, the reason for the "For Sale" and "For Rent" homes in the area is because seniors are driving over the mountain from California and straight to the senior center and saying "Look at this place Mabel...We ain't movin' here." This has then caused all of the building permits to stop; local businesses to close; and the need to roll up the streets at night because the "Grey Wave" from California has ceased. It has nothing to do with the national debt; the mortgage crisis; state revenue projections; and/or gaming and room tax in major decline. It's entirely because Douglas County has an inadequate senior center. He mentions that senior services et al "flourished" in "the latter years of the 20th century" and seniors "flocked to our county." Well he's right there. During everyone's time of "flourish," people bought new cars, gambled, stayed in our hotels, and purchased larger ticket luxury items. Did the seniors come? Yes they did. They "flocked" to Douglas County. They sold their homes in California, drove right by the current senior center, and came here with buckets of money and paid cash for their new luxury homes in "our county." Check out some of the new developments and the fancy homes in the Johnson Lane area; Saratoga Springs; and Pleasantview/Silveranch subdivisions to name a few. If they're not engineers at GEntly or white collar out at Starbucks, then they're occupied by retired folks. You can bet on it.
It is my opinion that this area is nothing more than a giant retirement home. Mr. Lockwood in entitled to his opinion, well there's mine. And now that they're here and situated, they want, want, want. It's easy to complain, but here's my solution for Mr. Lockwood. Deal with the current senior center until the economy "flourishes" again; put a donation jar at the front door of the senior center and take some of that leftover equity money from the sale of your homes in California that you have in trust for the grandkids and pay for it yourselves; or simply move, and become just another statistic in the "For Sale" and "For Rent" home crisis. Whichever solution you choose, do me a favor and do your complaining into the mirror each day. People are losing their jobs.
Greg Worms
Minden
Editor:
Your Nov. 9 edition quoted Rob Anderson, of R.O. Anderson Engineers in Minden, consultant to Park Cattle, in his testimony before the Douglas County commission, as listing the University of Nevada, Reno, as having endorsed the Park Cattle project that was ultimately rejected by the commission.
I wrote shortly thereafter to the president of UNR to check the accuracy of Mr. Anderson's statement, which turns out to have been incorrect. UNR did not endorse the Park Cattle project.
I believe representatives of UNR contacted The Record-Courier directly to make this clear, but thought it important for the citizens of Douglas County to know this as well.
Thank you for allowing me to correct the record.
Terry Burnes
Gardnerville
Editor:
This letter is in response to the Dec. 24 article on pay hikes for judges.
While I respect the work of our hard-working judges, I do find it incredibly distasteful that judicial pay raises of such immense proportions were granted at a time when our country and the State of Nevada face an unparalleled financial crisis since the Great Depression.
The article states that "when compared to judicial salaries for the 50 states ... Nevada's Supreme Court salaries (are) among the 10 highest in the nation and the district court salaries in the top five."
Given this information, how can anyone begin to justify a $30,000 annual pay raise at a total cost of $2.8 million when the unemployment rate in our state tips at 8 percent; when more businesses are going bankrupt; when the home foreclosure rate is one of the highest in the country; and when the governor is slashing the state budget such that leaves schools and services hemorrhaging?
To protest that judges have not received pay raises in years is meaningless at such an economically depressed time.
Though many working people may deserve them, they regularly go without pay increases or medical benefits.
I would submit that during these difficult times most people who have jobs are happy to have them and many have even opted to take pay cuts in order to preserve their employment.
And our judges are receiving a $30,000 pay hike.
Who let that happen?
One can attempt to justify, but cannot deny, that while the taxpayers of this state are working hard to keep their jobs and their homes, it is they that are flipping the $2.8 million bill to pay for these raises.
This smacks of favoritism and a lack of social consciousness on the part of those who chose to pass this increase.
Ann Swallow
Gardnerville
Editor:
On behalf of the Carson Valley Arts Council, I wish to express heartfelt gratitude to the sponsors of the Dec. 12 Tony McManus concert for their very generous donations.
They include: Tahoe Ridge Winery, G.E. Energy, Stockdale Creative, Greg Lynn Construction, Waddell & Reed, Town of Minden, Artistic Viewpoints Gallery & Studio, Bing Materials, A.G. Edwards/Wachovia, Carson Valley Medical Center, Resource Concepts, A Wildflower, Define Fitness, Bravo Cafe & Bakery, Cleavage Creek Winery, Valley Pediatric Dentistry, Starbucks, Douglas High School culinary arts class, Judy Larquier, Michael and Connie Caughlan, City National Bank, Lira's Market, Dr. D'Ascoli, David McCallister and Richard Beemer, Stress Busters Massage & Fitness, Angler's Edge, Shear Heaven, Joyce's Jewelry, Deborah Johnson's Mary Kay Cosmetics, R&S Optimum Offset, Carson Valley Inn, Clarity Sound, International Minute Press and The Record-Courier for the fantastic media support. CVAC also wants to say, "hats off to you, Carson Valley patrons," for your enthusiastic support of the arts.
A recent article in the Community Driven Institute newsletter stated that it is important to remember that each of us is creating the future, every day, with everything we do. If we aim our work at creating visionary change, and we have tools for accomplishing that change, there is no end to what we can accomplish. Thank you, Carson Valley. Together we are creating a community united and inspired by the arts. The council is looking forward to seeing all of you at the Great Basin Brass concert on Jan. 16.
Theresa Chipp
Secretary
Carson Valley Arts Council
Editor:
I would like to thank Mrs. Trujillo and Mr. Pope of the Douglas ASPIRE program for allowing me the time to work in collaboration with a few of their students. As we worked to develop anti-drug use messages, many positive objectives were accomplished, from independent work, to team collaboration, to collaboration between teams.
There was wonderful and thoughtful individual support of peers which resulted in contagious enthusiasm. The students appeared to have fun and stayed on task.
My hope is that because these students were willing to put themselves out there, some in a very vulnerable way, other Douglas County teens will hear their message, listen, and hopefully learn from the aspire students' experiences.
Teri Clark
Gardnerville
