by Susie Vasquez Appeal Staff Writer Over the next six months, Fluke Biomedical in Carson City will move its manufacturing, service and finance operations to Everett, Wash. "The company wants to consolidate its manufacturing at Everett," said Eric Perron, president of Fluke. Fluke's worldwide headquarters is in Everett. It's a cost-saving move and does not reflect on the business climate in Nevada or Carson City, Perron said. H said it's more about the cost of having two facilities versus one. This decision will affect 35 positions in Carson City, where 95 people are employed. Marketing, sales, order entry, and technical support will remain in Carson City. Several members of the Fluke staff in Carson City have been offered positions in Everett and all affected staff will be offered a severance package, which includes one weeks' pay for every year worked, with a minimum of eight weeks, Fluke officials said. The staff will be given 90 days' notice. Joe McCarthy, economic development/redevelopment manager for Carson City, said manufacturing has been increasing steadily here over the past few years. Reorganization is common and loss of this business is no reflection on the business climate in Carson City, which has the most diversified economy in Nevada. Fluke Biomedical was created about a year ago when Bio-Tek Instruments and DNI Nevada merged with the Fluke Corp. The company produces medical test equipment, including patient simulators, ventilator testers, and equipment-management software. In addition to leasing a 12,000-square-foot facility on Convair Drive, Fluke owns a building on Arrowhead Drive. That building is for sale and has been on the market for a year. Contact Susie Vasquez at svasquez@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.
Carson City plans to create a nature park on 35 acres off Northridge Drive donated by a local developer.
The park, to be north of Northridge and west of Lompa Lane, may eventually have trails and facilities where visitors can explore the wetland wildlife, said Carson City's open-space manager Juan Guzman.
"It's just like a conceptual plan right now, but it's the beginning of something good," Guzman said.
Developer Jim Bawden will donate the land to fulfill a federal regulation requiring developments offset environmental impacts of building residences on what was natural landscape.
The wetland already existing on the land will be kept intact and the city will seek partnerships with state or nonprofit wildlife agencies to create an education or visitation area, Guzman said.
The property is near the future Boys and Girls Club, possibly adding an educational amenity to the club.
"We will be able to provide access to the facility to be used for the kids," Guzman said.
The project received initial approval from the city's Open Space Advisory Committee and will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors in the next month.
Other projects in the works for the Open Space committee are:
- The committee recently approved a plan to buy property owned by the state located north and east of Coombs Canyon Road and west of University Heights, in partnership with the city's development services department. Open Space will contribute $200,000 of the total price.
- The city is seeking to buy 58.6 acres at the Carson River just south of the Mexican Dam west bank to expand access and to conserve habitat on the river.
The committee authorized Guzman to begin working out a way to complete the project after negotiations with the Bureau of Land Management ceased.
Contact Jill Lufrano at jlufrano@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.