Old DRAC to help create new DRAC

The new Dayton Regional Advisory Council members could be heavily influenced by the old DRAC, since the current board will be taking proposals for the new five districts at its Nov. 1 meeting.

The seven-member DRAC board is to be dissolved and replaced with a five-member board, after a 5-0 vote by the Lyon County Commissioners in September. No current board member will be considered for the new DRAC board.

But the old DRAC members will vote on district proposals and be expected to have input on new candidates.

•••

John Wiltse has been nominated to fill Vern Sydow's term on the Mound House Regional Advisory Council. Sydow's term ends in December, and he has chosen not to seek another.

More nominations are being sought, according to chairman Gordon Hutting.

The vacancy left by Bud Clements' resignation several months ago will be filled by appointment by the county commissioners, Hutting said.

The Mound House Regional Advisory Council is seeking nominations for one vacancy, with Vern Sydow's term ending in December.

• • •

The Colorado & Carson Railroad station on the corner of Highway 50 and Main Street in Old Town Dayton is closer to becoming the property of the Historical Society of Dayton Valley - and will stay right where it is.

Historical Society member Laura Tennant said at a meeting this week that after speaking with county commission chairman Bob Milz and County Manager Donna Kristaponis, it was agreed that the building will not be moved, and that other commercial buildings will not be built on the property.

Landmark Homes developer Jim Bawden purchased the property for $450,000 in 2003 to hold the property until the county or Historical Society could obtain it.

The county received a $560,000 grant from the Nevada Department of Transportation early this year and plans to pay Bawden for the building by Dec. 1, Tennant said.

Eventually, the station will become a visitors center, housing the Historical Society museum and Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, which would staff the center to greet visitors.

The next step is to put together a viable business plan for the building.

"This is going to be a great thing for Dayton," said Del Minor, president of the Historical Society. "To have that building on the corner welcoming people to Dayton, that will be wonderful."

• Contact reporter Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee@nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111, ext. 351.