Foothill woman named to planning commission

Nine-year Foothill resident and Carson Valley Quilt Guild President Laurie Lile was appointed to the Douglas County Planning Commission.

Lile served as Palmdale assistant city manager and city manager for Monrovia 2012-2013.

The seven-member advisory committee is charged with reviewing projects and making recommendations to the Douglas County Board of Commissioners. They are preparing to revise Title 20 this year in preparation for updating the Douglas County Master Plan the following year.

Retired Douglas County Community Development Director Mimi Moss thanked commissioners for appointing Lile to the planning board.

“You had a strong list of candidates, but she was the right choice,” Moss said “(Lile is) someone with land use and planning experience, who understands the theories and principals on how a master plan works.”

Moss applied for the position in December but did not re-apply in January.

“I applied for the planning commission because I attended several planning commission meetings and I saw that was lacking based on the questions and comments provided by some of the planning commissioners,” she said.

At the time, Commissioner Sharla Hales expressed concern about Moss’ experience with multiple projects during her years running community development.

“The last time we looked at planning, I said one of the candidates had too much experience,” Hales said. “Laurie Lile is just in that right sweet spot and doesn’t come with the complication of having made decisions on many, many, many things in this county, already.”

Commission Chairman Wes Rice agreed, saying Lile rose to the top of the list.

Also nominated was retired public works director Dan St. John, who spent seven years as Incline Village General Improvement District manager.

Commissioners Walt Nowosad and Danny Tarkanian backed the four-year East Valley resident.

“I’m grateful for your willingness to serve on what can be a very demanding commission,” Hales said to all four candidates.

Six-year Minden resident Allison Baumann was endorsed for the Audit Committee by Minden resident and planning commissioner Maureen Casey. Baumann is a director of compensation, benefits, Human Resources Information systems for a mortgage company.

Topaz Ranch Estates resident Gerrit Buma was appointed to the Advisory Board to Manage Wildlife. The 22-year Topaz Ranch Estates resident has a degree in wildlife management.