I Smell a Rat

I Smell a Rat - It’s Getting into the House Through the EDAWN East-West Connector

Jed Margolin

August 13, 2023

Part 1

It started when Storey County Commissioner Jay Carmona posted this message on the Highlands Message Board on May 10, 2023:

Greetings,

I was asked to help spread the word for this event, this is not an event I or Storey County is endorsing. This event is being organized and run by EDAWN ( Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada ) https://www.edawn.org/. With that said, I will be in attendance.

A Town Hall Has been scheduled for the Virginia City Highlands. This event is hosted by Mike Kazmierski from EDAWN.

The town hall is a short presentation with time for questions on the proposal for an East-West Connector in Storey County to address the transportation challenges associated with the growing congestion on I-80 and the need for an alternate route to TRIC from Reno-Sparks. The road would connect South Meadows to USA Parkway.

Details:

May 19, 2023 ( Friday )

5:30pm - 6:30pm

Station 72 aka VCH Firehouse-2610 Cartwright Road

See attached flyer…

[Click Here for the Flyer]

The phrase “The road would connect South Meadows to USA Parkway” set off an alarm bell for me. That is the road that Sunny Hills Ranchos would have put in if they had been successful in ‘jacking 1200 acres from Storey County and transferring it to Washoe County. Sunny Hills Ranchos wanted to put in a high density master planned community which Storey County would never have approved but Washoe County would.

I thought about it and on May 16 I posted:

Commissioner Carmona said:

Greetings,

A Town Hall Has been scheduled for the Virginia City Highlands. This event is hosted by Mike Kazmierski from EDAWN.

Details:May 19, 2023 ( Friday ) 5:30pm - 6:30pm Station 72 aka VCH Firehouse-2610 Cartwright Road

From: https://www.edawn.org/about/

The Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN) is a private/public partnership established in 1983, committed to adding quality jobs to the region by recruiting new companies, supporting the success of existing companies, and assisting newly forming companies, to diversify the economy and have a positive impact on the quality of life in Greater Reno-Sparks.

I am attaching the file showing who makes up EDAWN. [Click Here for the file]

A. Storey County does not have a representative on the BOARD OF TRUSTEES OFFICERS or the VOTING BOARD OF TRUSTEES. Storey County has one representative on the list of DESIGNATED TRUSTEES (EX-OFFICIO):

Mike Kazmierski EDAWN, President/CEO

Keith Burrowes Sierra Integrated Systems, LLC – Immediate Past Chair

Brian Sandoval University of Nevada, Reno

Karin Hilgersom Truckee Meadows Community College

Bob Potts Governor’s Office of Economic Development

Eric Brown Washoe County – Governmental Executive Committee Representative

Austin Osborne Storey County

Devon Reese City of Reno

Kristopher Dahir City of Sparks

Neal McIntyre City of Fernley

Dr. Kumud Acharya Desert Research Institute

Mariluz Garcia Washoe County

Ann Silver The Chamber – Chamber Liaison

Dr. Susan Enfield Washoe County School District

The people on this list presumably don’t get a vote but it is consistent with EDAWN being heavily weighted to Washoe County/Reno, even with those directly associated with government.

The purpose of EDAWN is to promote the interest of business, not the interest of residents.

B. I don’t see anything on EDAWN’s Web site about this new proposed road. No map, no nothing. All I know so far is that it will connect South Meadows with the USA Parkway.

This sounds like the road that Sunny Hills Ranchos wanted to put in to connect their high density master planned community to South Meadows after they split off 1200 acres from Storey County and moved it (figuratively) into Washoe County. They knew that Storey County would not approve a high density master planned community but Washoe County would. I blogged it: www.sunnyhillsranchos.org/

Sunny Hills Ranchos would have been close to the Highlands and would have ruined the character of the Highlands. Storey County defeated their plan. (2014)

In going to the USA Parkway it would go through the area where Cordevista wanted to put in a high density master planned community. Storey County previously defeated this plan. (2007) I blogged it. www.cordevistahoa.org/

It would also go through the area where Mr. Berns (of Blockchains) wanted to set up his own private Magic Kingdom that would be independent of Storey County. (2018) www.blockchainshoa.org/ Also see https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/innovation-zones-promoted-by-sisolak-would-create-semi-autonomous-city-at-behest-of-blockchains-llc

I see a progression here.

1. Cordevista came first to Storey County. (2007). That didn’t work.

2. Sunny Hills Ranchos skipped Storey County and went directly to the Legislature. (2014). That didn’t work.

3. Mr. Berns [Blockchains] skipped Storey County and the Legislature and went directly to the Governor (Governor Sisolak). He failed, too.

If this road were to be built I suspect that Cordevista, Sunny Hill Ranchos, and Mr. Berns’ Magic Kingdom would rear their ugly heads again. And this time we might not be able to stop them.

That is because of Nevada Senate Bill SB81 Regional Orderly Growth which would set up a regional board to make all of the decisions for what gets built where. As I recall (I don’t have the list in front of me) Washoe County would have 5 votes. Storey County would have 1 vote. Other counties (and their cities) would have 1 to 3 votes. https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/82nd2023/Bill/9666/Meetings

Guess how Washoe County would vote?

This regional board would also decide how the property taxes from the area would be apportioned.

Storey County’s Master Plan would effectively be repealed and Washoe County would decide what happens to Storey County. And to the Highlands.

Storey County would disappear other than as an impotent name.

C. Where will the people who will be using this new road be coming from? If they are using this new road instead of I-80 they will be using I-580. During rush hour I-580 can already be a nightmare.

The other place they can come from is the resurrected projects of Cordevista, Sunny Hill Ranchos, and Mr. Berns’ Magic Kingdom.

Is that the real goal? It sounds like someone, or some people, are playing the long game.

And they should call the new road the Skip Daly Memorial Highway. Nevada State Senator Richard “Skip” Daly (who represents part of Washoe County) submitted the bill and is fighting viciously for it.

D. If EDAWN wants to relieve the traffic problem on I-80 they should do it on I-80.

Jedidiah the Mad Prophet (On Empire)

- Growth For Growth's sake is the Philosophy of a Cancer Cell.

For various reasons I did not go to Mr. Kazmierski’s dog-and-pony show at the VCH firehouse.

On May 17 I received an email from Mr. Kazmierski:

J Margolin

I was forwarded your email below and would be glad to answer any questions you may have. EDAWN represents the region and Storey County has exactly the same board representation as Washoe County, one rep. All the local governments are designated trustees as they designate who is on the board, EDAWN does not choose or select the board member and historically local governments do not like to be put on the record with votes yet their input has been vital to any EDAWN position.

As for EDAWN, as you can see from the board list, we represent the community not just the business community and are engaged in may non-business issues like the list below.

Finally, EDAWN goal is to address the dangerous commute thousands in our region must make daily to Fernley and TRI. A single two lane winding road with thousands of trucks on it (I-80) is not acceptable and the widening of I-80 is at least 10 years out. Your litany of prior efforts to “destroy” Storey County are irrelevant as we are just looking at a road, an alternate route to TRI, and the no-housing policy of Storey County and current zoning is not impacted in any way.

I am always available for coffee if you would like to discuss more but can assure you this is not in any way connected to your “Magic Kingdom” or any other prior initiative.

Thanks

Mike

[Click Here for his email]

I responded (of course):

Dear Mr. Kazmierski,

>I was forwarded your email below and would be glad to answer any questions you may have. EDAWN represents the region and Storey County has exactly the same board representation as Washoe County, one rep.

A. It was not an email. I posted it to the Virginia City Highlands Message Board.

B. Washoe County includes the cities of Reno and Sparks. These are the people who represent them:

Eric Brown Washoe County – Governmental Executive Committee Representative

Mariluz Garcia Washoe County (Mariluz Garcia is a member of the Washoe County Board of County Commissioners)

Devon Reese City of Reno (Devon T. Reese is the Vice Mayor and At-Large Reno City Councilmember.)

Kristopher Dahir City of Sparks (Kristopher Dahir is a Sparks Councilman)

>Finally, EDAWN goal is to address the dangerous commute thousands in our region must make daily to Fernley and TRI. A single two lane winding road with thousands of trucks on it (I-80) is not acceptable and the widening of I-80 is at least 10 years out. Your litany of prior efforts to “destroy” Storey County are irrelevant as we are just looking at a road, an alternate route to TRI, and the no-housing policy of Storey County and current zoning is not impacted in any way.

C. Either you are being disingenuous or you are acting in reckless disregard of the likely consequences to Storey County by your actions.

I am not surprised. In your report Empowering Entrepreneurship, Nevada Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Assessment and Strategy, April 2023, you mention Storey County only once. You mention it only in passing and you misspell our name. From PDF page 85:

Rural Counties

Douglas and Churchill counties are among four counties (including Story and Lyon) that are close enough to the two urban centers to benefit from them. While rural in terms of population, these counties benefit from many urban assets, including stronger transportation and bandwidth infrastructure.

You don’t say anything about the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center, the largest industrial park in the world. https://tahoereno.com/

Your report is at:

https://www.edawn.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/EMPOWERING-ENTREPRENEURSHIP-Nevada-Ecosystem-Assessment-and-Strategy-April-2023.pdf

[Or Click Here for the EDAWN Report]

Here are the likely consequences of your road.

1. You put in your road.

2. Traffic on I-80 is eased somewhat.

3. Traffic on I-580 increases and becomes a nightmare.

4. NDOT does a study and determines it is because of your road that many more people in Reno and Sparks are using I-580.

Cordevista has not gone away. As far as I know the people behind Cordevista still own the property (8,600 aces).

Sunny Hills Ranchos has not gone away. As far as I know the people behind it still own the property (1,200 acres).

Mr. Berns has not gone away. He still owns the 67,000 acres he wanted to use for his Magic Kingdom.

I expect they will come forward as the public-spirited citizens they are and say the solution is for them to build their communities. The people who live in their communities and work at TRI won’t be using I-580, just your road.

And if Storey County’s Master Plan has been shredded by Nevada Senate Bill SB81, Washoe County will approve their communities. Yes, there will be hearings and board meetings for several months, but the real decision will be made by Washoe County and it will be made in the time taken by only a few heartbeats (thump..thump..thump).

D. I assume you have already determined a route for your proposed road. Please post the map. Or send it to me and I will post it.

Have you started negotiating to get the easements you will need to put in your road? If you have, then you are already in contact with the people behind Sunny Hill Ranchos and Cordevista. The main developer behind Cordevista is Fritz Duda, a bigtime Texas developer: https://www.fritzduda.com The main developer behind Sunny Hills Ranchos is Mr. Tien P. Zee. See Reference 1.

E. If all you want to do is reduce some of the problems on I-80 you should support NDOT’s plan to build a highway connecting La Posada Drive in Lemon Valley directly to USA Parkway. Many TRI workers live in Lemon Valley. You already know about this plan. From Reference 2, PDF Page 6:

REPRESENTATIVES FROM GOED, EDWAN, WASHOE COUNTY RTC, CITY OF RENO, CITY OF SPARKS and TESLA PARTICIPATED IN THE DISCUSSION.

Perhaps State Senator Daly can help you with this.

F. Your Web site says you are a private/public partnership and in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development.

I believe that makes your organization subject to the Nevada Public Records Act (NPRA) – NRS 239. I will be sending you some requests shortly.

Regards,

Jed Margolin

Virginia City Highlands

Nevada

I did not receive a response from Mr. Kazmierski.

Part 2

There is an item on the Agenda for the August 1, 2023 meeting of the Storey County Board of Commissioners that looked harmless but has turned out to be an existential threat to my community (the Virginia City Highlands and Highland Ranches, collectively the Highlands) as well as the other parts of Storey County where people actually live. This is as opposed to the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center (TRIC) where many people from outside Storey County come to work:

12. DISCUSSION/FOR POSSIBLE ACTION:

Consideration and possible approval of letter to the Governor’s Office of Economic Development supporting the continuation of the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN) being one of the county’s two official Economic Development Authorities.

This is EDAWN: https://www.edawn.org/ For the presentation in the Agenda Packet Click Here.

The presentation was given by Mike Kazmierski, the head of EDAWN who retired shortly after this meeting.

Most of his presentation was benign. He extolled the virtues of EDAWN. For an mp3 of his presentation Click Here (13.2 Mbytes, 0:18:07)

But then he said this (For an mp3 Click Here):

The Southern Connector, you’re aware of this, that dotted line at the bottom, is just an estimate. We actually, as of Friday, got funding from NDOT to do an engineering, a preliminary engineering study that should give us a pretty good sense of the actual route. And we’ve asked them to do whatever they can to keep the route as far north as possible. We did have a great session with the Highlands community, that was one of the requests, but we’re moving forward on that. It’s critical with the expansion of Tesla and Redwood and the Switch growth and several other major developments in the industrial park, the Interstate is a problem and will become more of a problem when they actually start to go widening it because there are some places where they are not going to be able to alter traffic. They are going to have to shrink it down to one lane and whenever that happens you get two hour backups, so this needs to be in sooner rather than later and we have the Governor’s commitment to have us move forward on this. Next slide, please. It’s a partnership, we’re all of the same team, we work as a region. Next slide please.

What is the Southern Connector (formerly the East-West Connector)?

The Tahoe Reno Industrial Center (TRIC) is in the northern part of Storey County. Most of us who live in Storey County live in the southern part of the County. There is no road connecting TRIC to where we live. To go to TRIC you have to either go west down the mountain to Reno, then north on I-580, and then go east on I-80. It is about a 1.5 hour drive. Or you can go south to Lyon County, go east on SR50, then north on the USA Parkway to TRIC. It takes almost as long as going through Reno. As a result very few Highlanders work at TRIC.

Most of the people who work at TRIC come from Washoe County (notably Sparks) or Lyon County. The people who come from Washoe County have to use I-80 to get to TRIC.

I-80 cannot handle the traffic. This is not a new problem, it has been going on for many years. To make it worse, the Nevada Highway Patrol (NHP) does not patrol this road. NHP is critically understaffed. With no enforcement many people (especially truckers) drive too fast and cause accidents which shut down the Interstate for several hours.

The solution is:

1. Widen I-80 in this area;

2. Give NHP the funding they need so they can pay a competitive wage so people will be willing to become NHP patrol officers;

3. There was a plan to build a highway connecting La Posada Drive in Lemon Valley directly to USA Parkway. Many TRIC workers live in Lemon Valley. Build the highway.

Instead, they want to build a road through Storey County connecting I-580 to TRIC. This will greatly increase the traffic on I-580 which can already be a nightmare during rush hour.

I predict that when this happens they will use that as a reason to set aside Storey County’s Master Plan and put tens of thousands of homes in Storey County next to the Highlands. When this happens it will ruin the peaceful rural lifestyle that most of us Highlanders moved here for.

C. Why are they now calling the East-West Connector the Southern Connector? Is it so people won’t realize where it is going?

This is where it is going, it’s the thing towards the bottom that looks like a Crotalus lepidus klauberi (banded rock rattlesnake) which is a venomous pitviper:

First, the properties labeled Virginia Highlands LLC are not the Virginia City Highlands (my community). That was the name taken by the Cordevista people. They have since changed it to Nevada Uplands LLC. For the story of Cordevista go to www.jmargolin.com/cvhoa. And while you’re at it, for the story of Sunny Hills Ranchos go here: www.jmargolin.com/sunny

Second, they conveniently left out the Highlands so I will fill it in for them as best I can.

And the corner is about 4.3 miles from the Petroglyphs. The road will come even closer.

If you don’t know what the Petrogylphs are and why they need to be protected Click Here.

What steps will EDAWN take to protect the Petroglyphs from their road and the people using it?

D. There is (or at least was) a Plan to connect Spanish Springs to the USA Parkway. And Sparks is trying to get about 40,000 acres of BLM property east of Sparks and north of Interstate 80 (I-80) for this kind of project. Although the Plan was introduced as being at least 20 years in the future the governments of Sparks and Storey County are working to make it happen sooner.

From the NDOT Director’s Report Transportation Board December 11, 2017 (Reference 2):

People don’t want to wait 20 years for this road.

From the Minutes of the Storey County Planning Commission for September 17, 2020:

11. Board Comments (No Action) – Commissioner Thompson told the commission there was a major announcement in today’s Reno Gazette Journal concerning Storey County from the new mayor of Sparks Ed Lawson. The previous mayor recently passed away and the paper was interviewing the new mayor in the article.

Thompson read a quote from the article “We’ve kind of ignored the gorilla in the room that is Storey County so it’s time that we embrace that and moved out and became more of a partner with Storey County”.

Thompson stated that what he (Ed Lawson) said in the article is that his priority is putting in a connector road from Spanish Springs into the industrial areas in the north part of Storey County. This has been percolating behind the scenes for quite some time. Sparks has been trying to get about 40,000 acres of BLM property east of Sparks and north of Interstate 80 (I80) for this kind of project.

What this would mean is a connector road probably much like USA Parkway going directly out of the industrial areas in the north from the Patrick Interchange and from the USA Parkway interchange would go right in to Spanish Springs meeting in the La Posada corridor.

The importance of this is that more than half of the workers in the industrial park (TRI) live north of I80 in Sparks or north Reno. This would give them an option to bypass I80 going west from Patrick. Potentially all that traffic would bypass Lockwood and would greatly reduce the traffic count. This is a great development and Mayor Lawson has been a great partner with Storey County in the past in a variety of positions. The article said that he is committed to this.

This is great news for Storey County to hopefully relieve a lot of the traffic issue on I80 near Lockwood.

See Reference 7 (Page 6).

From the minutes of the October 20, 2020 meeting of the Storey County Commissioners:

8. DISCUSSION/POSSIBLE ACTION: Consideration and possible approval of Resolution No. 20-

592 of the Board of Commissioners of Storey County, Nevada, requesting the Nevada Delegation to

advance federal public lands legislation commonly referred to as the Truckee Meadows Public Lands

Management Act to support conservation, recreation, and economic development in Washoe County.

Sparks Mayor Ed Lawson explained this is an important legislation for Sparks. It is anticipated that

50,000 thousand employees will be in Storey County – 80% living in the Reno/Sparks area. The plan

is to grow Sparks to the east and put in a road aside USA Parkway – cutting the commute almost in

half. This will take pressure off of I-80. This is a win-win for everyone and (Storey County’s) support

is appreciated. They will try to get the Lands Bill through after the first of the year.

County Manager Osborne commented it always a pleasure to work with the city of Sparks. What is

planned for the east I-80 corridor is very complimentary to what we plan to do. We support the Lands

Bill as well. Staff recommends approval of the Resolution. This is the practical way to address the

traffic on I-80 – the process needed to widen the interstate would take 3 to 10 years, there is funding

that would be difficult to sustain. It may happen one day but it doesn’t address the immediate need.

Public Comment:

Kris Thompson : On behalf of Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center there is 120% full support of this plan by

Mayor Lawson, the Sparks City Manager, and staff. They are great neighbors of TRI. What is being

proposed is a natural build-out between Patrick, Sparks, and USA Parkway. This will be great for the

Lockwood citizens – taking the “heat” off the chokepoint on I-80, reducing accidents and traffic. The

County should support this 100%.

Chairman McBride: Storey County has always had a good working relationship with Sparks. Lands

Bills can take a long time to get through Congress, but this is a really good proposal. This will benefit

traffic coming from Reno, Sparks, and other areas going out to the Industrial Park as well as open up

economic development in that area for the City of Sparks. This is about creating economic

development and jobs for people living here. This is not seen as competition to Storey County - it

complements the County.

Vice-Chairman Carmona: Looks forward to this road which will take some “heat off” the folks in

Lockwood.

Commissioner Gilman: He has enjoyed working with Mayor Lawson for many years – he’s a strong

leader and visionary in Sparks. Everyone will benefit from the energy and foresight from the Mayor.

Some people pushed for a connector through Sunny Hills to join TRI from another direction. This has

not been supported as not being in the best interest or financially feasible. There is 100% support -this

is a “win/win” for the community. 70 to 75% of Tesla employees come from north on I-80, we are

looking at phenomenal results.

Public Comment: None

Motion: I, Jay Carmona, motion to approve Resolution No. 20-592 of the Board of Commissioners of

Storey County, Nevada, requesting the Nevada Delegation to advance federal public lands legislation

commonly referred to as the Truckee Meadows Public Lands Management Act to support

conservation, recreation, and economic development in Washoe County, Moved by: Vice Chairman

Carmona Seconded by: Commissioner Gilman, Vote: Motion carried by unanimous vote,

(Summary: Yes=3)

See Reference 8.

E. Conclusion

1. In Mr. Kazmierski’s presentation to the Storey County Board of Commissioners on August 1, 2023 he said:

a. We actually, as of Friday, got funding from NDOT to do an engineering, a preliminary engineering study that should give us a pretty good sense of the actual route.

b. And we’ve asked them to do whatever they can to keep the route as far north as possible. We did have a great session with the Highlands community, that was one of the requests, but we’re moving forward on that.

Yes, he is moving ahead with his Plan and damn the Highlands.

c. It’s critical with the expansion of Tesla and Redwood and the Switch growth and several other major developments in the industrial park, the Interstate is a problem and will become more of a problem when they actually start to go widening it because there are some places where they are not going to be able to alter traffic. They are going to have to shrink it down to one lane and whenever that happens you get two hour backups, so this needs to be in sooner rather than later.

Mr. Kazmierski presented no evidence of this, like maybe an NDOT report. If there is one I have not seen it. It sounds to me like he made it up.

Besides, he is grossly underestimating NDOT. A few years ago NDOT put an underpass under U.S. 395 (now I-580) extending Meadowood Mall Way to Kietzke Lane. They did this without disrupting the traffic on U.S. 395 except for a few nights for some critical work.

d. It’s a partnership, we’re all of the same team, we work as a region.

No. “we” are not all on the same team.

We Highlanders are not on his team. His road will ruin the Highlands.

The Paiute Tribe is not on his team. He did not address the need to protect the Petroglyphs. He did not address the issue of asking the Paiute Tribe to conduct an archeological study of this sensitive area.

He did not address the issue that this is an environmentally sensitive area.

And he did not address the danger that his road will present to our wild horses.

2. Mr. Kazmierski’s Road sounds expensive. How much is it going to cost and who is going to pay for it?

Is Storey County going to pay for it?

The State of Nevada?

The Feds?

3. The Storey County Board of Commissioners approved EDAWN’s Letter to the Governor without a discussion of the possible/probable impact of Mr. Kazmierski’s Road to the Highlands, the Petroglyphs, or our wild horses.

Shame on them.

Jed Margolin

Virginia City Highlands

Nevada

8/13/2023