March 11, 2020, Letters to the Editor

Beach Club residents upset at short-term renters

Editor:

Contrary to your article last week, Tahoe Beach Club residents have been upset at the number of short-term renters and their behavior since the club and beach at Tahoe Beach Club opened last summer. There are eight short-term rentals at Beach Club presently of 46 units, with one pending, or 17-20 percent, which is much higher than the existing 531 permits (10 percent of housing stock) Mr. Cates mentioned at last Thursday's meeting, and residents are fighting to keep it from increasing, especially since construction on an additional 48 units will begin this year.

The majority of current owners are opposed to short-term rentals at Beach Club and the Lake Tahoe basin. We were thrilled by the actions taken by the commissioners last Thursday, especially the 600-permit cap and the density study ordered for a future meeting, as well as special approval required for Tier 3 permits (greater than 10 occupants). Clearly they are listening to residents, as opposed to the real estate agencies and developers. We recognize that short-term rentals are here to stay, but 600 should be enough for all parties.

Steven Scheiner

Stateline

Hurting our schools

Editor:

The old joke that is asked, when do you know when a politician is lying? When their lips are moving.

Well, it applies again. This past election one of our elected commissioners who only won by a few votes stated that he moved here from Las Vegas because he looked all over the state and found that Douglas schools were the highest-rated district in the state, which is true, and that he wanted his three children to have the best the state has to offer.

Well, right after being elected, he takes his three children to out of district schools and had the audacity to say publicly that he removed his children because sexual harassment and other negative attacks against our top rated schools instead of working with our great public school leaders in our county to correct any issues.

After our huge loss to our state and county because of COVID-19, our schools are to suffer a loss by cuts from the state. According to online reports, our schools here get $12,335 per enrolled child, that means this commissioner just took $37,005 from our schools in Douglas County.

I, for one believe our schools are already underfunded and this only hurts our teachers. I believe that our county elects people that serve for the best interest of the majority of the people and not elect some politician that moves here to use us as a stepping stone to try to advance his best interest. Thank goodness we have four other servants to the people and do not act like politicians.

Please remember our teachers when he runs for any office in the future. So, I ask, when do you know when a politician is lying?

David Burns

Gardnerville

Why meet in the afternoon?

Editor:

During the March 4 Douglas County Board of County commissioners meeting, Commissioner Tarkanian asked if the meeting start time could be shifted from 1 p.m. to 9 a.m. This would have allowed him to pick up his kids on meeting days from school, which is located in Reno. A majority of the BOCC declined to shift the time, but failed to give a full explanation for the later start time.

First, the afternoon start time allows commissioners to prepare any materials they have and consult with county staff and others for that day’s agenda items, including any late breaking information. Second, often the board agenda includes items that may impact one or more Douglas County businesses and members of the public who may be directly affected by the board’s actions.

The agenda can then be arranged so that those items can be heard later in the day, possibly after business hours. Many of our businesses are operated by sole proprietors, who may otherwise have a difficult time attending the meeting. I hope this is helpful to Mr. Tarkanian and others who might have wondered about the afternoon start time.

Lynn Muzzy

Minden