Andersen land purchase sought

The Carson City Board of Supervisors today will consider whether to purchase land in east Carson City as a way to preserve its agricultural use and potentially solve an ongoing wastewater problem.

"I'm thrilled this matter has finally come before the board," said Joe Childs, a resident who lives near the area that is part of a section of the city best known as Buzzy's Ranch. He once headed a group, Save Buzzy's Ranch, that wanted to keep development out of the area.

"Open space has eyed this property for years and the city finally gets the chance to acquire it," he said.

The appraised worth of the 86-acre Andersen parcel is $3.5 million.

The neighboring 397-acre Jarrard property is worth $4 million and comprises the other half of Buzzy's. Discussions about the city also purchasing the Jarrard site continue, said Juan Guzman, the city's open space manager.

In 2004, when Buzzy's was last appraised, the Andersen property was worth $625,000 while the 397-acre Jarrard portion was valued at $1.8 million. At that time, the possibility of both pieces being developed was stronger.

The two neighboring pieces were more valuable together because Jarrard had more flood potential. The two sites together would have allowed for someone who wanted to build on it to cluster development as densely as possible on the Andersen side, Guzman said.

"We're seeking additional grant funding to help pay for the land purchase," Guzman said about the potential acquisition.

Buzzy's provides wetland, wet meadow and riparian habitat. While it supports a variety of creatures and plant life, it's especially important to birds because the river there maintains trees and willows they need to survive.

Money for these types of purchases comes from a source independent of most other city expenses and operations: A tax approved by voters in 1996 called Question 18, the Quality-of-Life Initiative. The initiative also funds parks and recreation improvements and maintenance on those facilities, as well as land- management costs associated with the open space program.

The city has secured $300,000 from the state for the purchase. It was an amount based on the older appraisal, however, so the city now will try to obtain up to $1.75 million in state grant money, Guzman said.

Water rights on Buzzy's Ranch are going to be sold separately by the Andersen and Jarrard families. Vidler Water Co. is negotiating the sale of up to 1,000 acre feet of water a year to Landmark Communities in Dayton and plans to build infrastructure stretching from Buzzy's Ranch to Dayton.

The pipe also would be used to help Carson and Lyon County deliver water to residents. Water removed from Buzzy's would be replaced with treated effluent from Brunswick Reservoir, which is leaking. If the separate water deal doesn't go through, the families would be able to sell the water rights to someone else - even the city, Guzman said.

This property is north of Silver Saddle Ranch and south of Riverview Park off of Carson River Road.

"I hope the supervisors do what's best for the city," Childs added.

• Contact reporter Terri Harber at tharber@nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111, ext. 215.

If you go

WHAT: Carson City Board of Supervisors meeting

When: 1:30 p.m. for Andersen discussion. Morning session begins at 8:30 a.m.

WHERE: Sierra Room,

Carson City Community

Center, 851 E. William St.