County commissioners are once again butting heads with the Dayton Regional Advisory Council over how members are selected.
In reaction to the controversy, the commissioners Thursday approved a change, effective Jan. 1, that will make the council a five-member rather than a seven-member board.
"We've had some real issues with DRAC over the past several years," Commissioner Bob Milz said. "They don't like to follow instructions, even their own bylaws. It seems they want to have their own little clique to run things, and that's not benefiting their community."
There are six such boards in Lyon County, which make reports to the commission on planning and other issues.
The dispute arose over the nomination of Linda Adams, a resident of Dayton's District 4, to replace Dee Scott on the board. Scott resigned because he was moving out of the county. According to the meeting minutes, Mabel Masterman made a motion to forward the nomination to the county, but failed to obtain a second, and the motion died. Adams then withdrew her nomination.
"I thought it was horrid that a citizen of Dayton was treated in this fashion," said Masterman, a Dayton resident and member of DRAC, who emphasized she was speaking for herself, not the council. "I thought we had a level playing field."
Last December, Milz appointed someone not recommended by DRAC, causing a political furor. He later reappointed that person after DRAC agreed to new bylaws and to follow training offered by the county.
Training sessions were held and the county provided a handbook and county liaison to assist all the town boards with their duties.
Milz said all the other boards had five members except Silver City, which has three members. Milz directed County Manager Donna Kristaponis to write a letter to the Silver City town board to see if they were interested in becoming a five-person board as well.
Masterman said her view of a town board is, in addition to hearing planning items, it could get involved in community cleanups, grant funding of needed projects and possibly manage a county project.
Commissioner Leroy Goodman said the best way was for Dayton to become an unincorporated town.
"Let's get an unincorporated town board," Goodman said. "They'll have the ability to determine where taxes are spent. It's time for this."
Goodman pointed out that if incorporated, Dayton would be the 12th largest city in Nevada, with a population of about 12,000.
"You'll learn how things work," he said. "You can get a community center, a swimming pool. It's time for this."
• Contact reporter Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee@nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111 ext. 351.