News does not go away when holidays approach. Here are four stories we’re watching this week and will report on developments as they occur.
Wildcreek Golf Course Sale
The sale of Wildcreek Golf Course is up for consideration at Tuesday’s County Commission meeting. The transfer of the property by RSCVA to the school district has been a source of contention from some who want to see the property maintained as a golf course and open space.
The school district, however, said that it’s conducted its due diligence of the purchase of the land for the future Wildcreek High School. The county commission meets Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. at the Washoe County Chambers, 1001 East Ninth Street.
Opiate Lawsuit
The City of Reno, against the wishes of Nevada’s Attorney General, is mulling a lawsuit — along with Las Vegas — against opiate manufacturers.
Attorneys have started to line up to pitch their services for the suit on behalf of the city. Vegas attorney Robert Eglet is one, along with Bill Bradley of Bradley, Drendel and Jeanney. Peter Wetherall also pitched his services to the city.
City staff: “Staff requests direction from council to issue a request for qualifications to law firms interested in representing the City of Reno.”
New Homeless Shelter
The city is also scheduled to hear on Wednesday an update on construction of a new homeless shelter on Sage Street.
The effort is considered critical since, for the first time, both the regular and overflow shelters have been consistently full before the onset of winter weather.
“The numbers of individuals that are utilizing the overflow shelter are at a record high,” city staff said. A new temporary, heated tent has been set up on Record Street to help keep people from freezing.
Hurdles over the property’s proposed use have arisen, but Councilwoman Neoma Jardon said she is optimistic the Sage Street site can ultimately be used for a new overflow shelter and a tiny homes village.
City staff: “If council directs staff to proceed, it is intended that a professional services contract will be sought to provide a preliminary site design. It is estimated that this contract will require the expenditure of approximately $10,000.”
State To Consider Transferring Feral Horse Ownership to Private Nonprofit
The Nevada Board of Agriculture is proposing that a nonprofit take over permanent ownership and management of the state’s only feral horse population on the Virginia Range.
The board is directing the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) to transfer ownership of the horses to a “non-profit animal advocate organization through a request for proposal process.”
The move comes in the wake of the state severing its agreement with the nonprofit, Return To Freedom (RTF). NDA officials said that RTF did not live up to its side of the agreement. RTF disputed that claim.
The board is scheduled to meet by video conference at NDA’s headquarters, 405 South 21st Street in Sparks, at 8 a.m. Tuesday.
