board members

Doing the right thing is not determined because one consistently votes with the majority. One should always vote on the principle of what is right and fair. A vote may be a lone vote, if so, just say and repeat as needed: You can't break me. I don't have a breaking point.

From the Board of Supervisors meeting held on July 16. Agenda item No. 11. This item dealt with directing staff to examine the feasibility of Carson City joining the Nevada League of Cities (NLC). This is somewhat problematic, how could any Board member not consent and give the go-ahead to a feasibility study?

In the movie Dances with Wolves there is a line, one of the characters says, and it goes something like this: “Somebody back east is saying, why don’t he write?”
Many of you might be wondering the same thing about me. Why I haven’t written for a spell? I could list numerous reasons, some might be worth mentioning, and others would be insignificant.

In simple true-to-life terminology — I’m back. A few of the hot topics from the June 18th Board of Supervisor meeting.

Oakland Raiders Offensive Line Coach, Mike Tice, and Carson Valley Inn Owner Mike Pegram, present a check in the amount of $128,500 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada, Carson Valley Branch.

Accepting the check was Board Members Sherry Dilley and Brenda Robertson, and Susie Messina, Special Events Coordinator for the Clubs.

Carson City Pop Warner would like to invite parents with youth interested in either tackle football and cheer squads to a Carson City signup this Friday, June 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Governor’s Field near the snack bar during the little league end of the year barbecue.

Courtney Warner has been selected as Carson City’s new Senior Center Director. A panel consisting of Senior Center Advisory Board members, and City Staff recently conducted interviews for the position. Mrs. Warner was selected after careful review of the applicants’ work experience and education.

FISH, also known as Friends in Service Helping, would like to thank all the celebrity waiters and their guests who made the 2015 Have a Heart Celebration on May 16 a huge success. Community members raised over $30,000 for the human services organization. All of the donations will be used to fund FISH’s programs for the homeless and hungry, including a food bank, a family dining room, two homeless shelters, and a clinic.

The Nevada Department of Transportation plans this summer to implement a new brand and communications plan developed by strategic communications students at the Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Students at the University of Nevada, Reno have researched and created an exhibit called The Tahoe Recreation Experience: Fun at the Lake. This exhibit highlights the history of recreational activities at Lake Tahoe such as boat racing, skiing, hiking and camping as well as the historic environmental impacts on the lake.

Below is my article that was published in Nevada Appeal (3/22/2014), although it is titled: Become educated, involved in local government.

For this column I will state personal views on a few topics: education, city employees, the Sheriff Department, the Board of Supervisors, ending with a little insight about Jim Shirk.

A foundation to help raise money for the Carson City School District will be launched next week during a reception at Carson High School.

“Our only mission is to support the kids in the community,” said Ian Hill, chairman of the foundation’s board. “For the first time, we’re going to be joining together all the people who care deeply about the Carson City School District.”

The Tahoe Fund announced Monday the election of Kevin Marshall, Pete Sonntag and Julie Motamedi Teel to its board of directors. The three new members each bring a strong commitment and love of the Lake to their positions.

They are charged with helping the organization expand its impact by growing support of environmental improvement projects that will restore and enhance the Tahoe environment.

What happened at the Common Core Forum in Carson City on 1/13/15

The ground rules agreed to by both sides for the two forums: two people would participate on each side of the issue. The pro side would contain two policy makers from either the Nevada Department of Education (NDE) or the Nevada State Board of Education; the con side would contain Drs. Stotsky and Milgram. Drs. Stotsky and Milgram were the only two members of Common Core’s Validation Committee who are content area specialists and who have also written high K-12 standards.

The creation of Nevada Chiropractic Council is the realization of a years-long dream held by chiropractors throughout Nevada, whose mission is to protect the integrity of chiropractic, according to Dr. Brad Pastro, DC.

Pastro, whose practice, Advanced Chiropractic and Wellness Center located in Carson City, serves as NCC’s secretary, and after years of collaboration, is excited to see Nevada Chiropractic Council established.

“To get along, one must go along.” All too often I have heard this in the last two years. For me, the epiphany of understanding this phrase came in my second year when I realized nothing is going to change, not even this phrase. Puzzling to me is why some think there is a need to build a political consensus; yet, they build a political Berlin Wall and stand behind it saying, “it ain’t me causing this.”

Board Appointments

A recent article in the Nevada Appeal titled: Swearing in, 2015 Carson City board kickoff Monday by John Barrette published on December 31, 2014. Here is an excerpt from that article.

“Mayor Robert Crowell said Tuesday he intends to suggest Abowd remain in her roles as mayor pro tem on the board, handling the gavel if he’s absent, and as chairperson of the authority. He also said in the past there hasn’t been controversy in divvying up board members’ committee work with members usually agreeing on what they want, but if any slots are contended they will be handled when that comes up.”

Hope everyone had a Holiday Season filled with joy and cheerful moments that create lasting memories. My wish to all: HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The Nevada Appeal on December 28th had the following article, “Balancing Development, Services” written by John Barrette. The context covered what each Board member thought were the highlights in 2014, as well as their priorities for 2015. Informative and covering a broad spectrum of topics, three Board members classified the 1/8 of a cent sales tax as their number one highlight of 2014.

Another door has opened for animal welfare Carson City is proud to announce the official grand opening of Nevada Humane Society Carson City just in time for the holiday season. On Wednesday, Dec. 3 at 4:30 p.m., the Carson City Chamber of Commerce will host a special ribbon cutting in honor of a new beginning for homeless pets.

University of Nevada Cooperative Extension’s Living With Fire Program introduced The Nevada Network of Fire Adapted Communities, or The Network, through The Network’s inaugural conference Friday, Oct. 24.

There were 80 Nevadans from 10 counties in attendance representing many stakeholders in Nevada’s wildland-urban interface fire issue, including members of wildfire-prone communities; local fire service representatives; local, state and federal agencies; and landscape partners.

As a resident of Silver City, I am a proud board member of the Comstock Foundation for History and Culture. Born and raised in Carson City, I spent much of my youth on the Comstock. I focused much of my studies on Nevada and western history obtaining my undergraduate degree in history from the University of Nevada, Reno.

I was honored when asked to serve on the Foundation’s board and it has been incredibly rewarding to work with the Foundation during this exciting time for the Comstock Historic District.

Common Core is the latest loop in the death spiral of American education since the first “progressive” reforms a hundred years ago. The more “reforms,” the worse our schools.

You protest and you protest, but the educrat establishment ignores everything you say if you don’t agree with them and their “experts.”

Common Core is not on the ballot. Nevertheless yes, you can:

1. Stay up to date with your child’s homework and progress in school. Look at what they are taught in school.

2. Talk to other parents. Compare notes, share experiences.

The Brewery Arts Center has announced that the organization is going through a reorganization and has let go its professional staff, but will continue to operate its current programs with help from volunteers.

The following statement was posted on the organization's website:

Have your voice heard at this public meeting regarding you, your family and future generations access and use of the Open Spaces purchased with public dollars or transferred by BLM to the people of Carson City.

Monday, August 18 the Carson City Open Space Advisory Committee will be holding an Open House and Open Space Meeting at the Community Center to address the future of the Carson River corridor properties and approve the rules and regulations for proposed management plan for use and access of the Open Space properties.

Monday, August 18 the Carson City Open Space Advisory Committee will be holding an Open House and Open Space Meeting at the Community Center to address the future of the Carson River corridor properties and approve the rules and regulations for proposed management plan for use and access of the Open Space properties.

After years of relative non-enforcement and mounting concerns of vandalism, trash dumping and illegal off road riding on public land designated as open space and not for motorized use, the Carson City Sheriff's Office will step up patrol of the Prison Hill Recreation Area south to Fifth Street.

The past year has seen some accomplishments for the Carson City School District, Superintendent Richard Stokes told board members Tuesday in his annual State of the District address.

The Brewery Arts Center, known as the capital city's epicenter for the arts since 1977, has developed a survey for Carson City residents to take that will help BAC board members determined future needs and what locals expect from their arts center.

The survey is only 22 questions and accessible through the live link here and will remain live until the end of February.

Three basic principles of leadership are: to willingly place the needs of others above your own; make decisions for the betterment of the majority, and have the courage and self discipline to stay the course regardless of the consequences.

As an elected official serving Carson City I would like to share my thoughts on the Mayor’s “State of the City” report which gave the status of the City’s financial stability, showed major accomplishments of the past year, and provided an overview of forthcoming projects.

The Carson City Council of the United States Navy League will hold its first meeting of the New Year on Wednesday, January 15, 2014 in the Banquet Room at Casino Fandango, 3800 S. Carson St., Carson City.

This is a change of location!

The social and dinner hour will be from 5:30 PM to 7:00PM. Attendees will be accessing the Casino Buffett from the Banquet Room. The meeting will start promptly at 7:00PM. Our speakers will be Glenna Smith of Senator Heller’s office and Ken Gray from Congressman Amodei’s Office. We will also be installing the new 2014 Officers and Board Members.

The New Year has begun, and quite surprisingly the past year has gone by extremely fast. Unsurprisingly, rarely did anything surprise me during my first year as a Supervisor. Granted there are moments when one believes he/she is making the right and prudent decision, but I did learn that regardless of how one votes, there will always be consequences.

What is most popular in the public opinion could and often does influence and create pressure for city staff to revitalize their position on the issues of the day, and then they may or may not make an agenda item for that subject matter.

Larry Werner isn’t Carson City’s city manager anymore. He exited that role to enter retirement Thursday, running the show during his last Board of Supervisors meeting, at which he was thanked profusely by board members and staff colleagues.