Meeting to focus on future of Silver Springs GID board

Silver Springs residents will get a chance to weigh in on the proposed ordinance that would dissolve the current General Improvement District board.

The Lyon County Commissioners will hold a special public hearing on the ordinance at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Silver Springs Senior/Community Center, 2945 Fort Churchill Road.

The proposed ordinance will not eliminate the district, just the board, and would install the county commissioners as ex officio GID board members.

A vote will not be taken on the measure, but the commissioners will hear testimony from residents.

The GID operates a sewage system in Silver Springs. Notices of the meeting was sent to all GID customers, qualified electors and property owners in the district, said county District Attorney Bob Auer.

GID Chairman Bob Freeman said he has been hearing from residents opposed to the possible takeover.

"They want to see it stay in the district, solvent to the people," he said. "There have been a lot of complaints about the commissioners interfering."

Unsigned notices at the Silver Springs GID office titled "They have changed your vote" hint at changes in taxes or monthly sewage bills if the commission takes over.

The GID has been the focus of the commissioners' attention for more than a year due to internal turmoil and disagreements among board members.

There has been a high turnover of both employees and board members, with many lodging complaints and charges against one another.

Freeman has hired an attorney to challenge the legitimacy of board member Kay Bennett, who was elected in 2008 along with Freeman, Bob Wells and Chrysti Barbee. Freeman has said Bennett has an illegal conflict of interest, since she is co-manager of the Silver Springs Airport, which contracts to take the effluent from the sewage treatment plant.

One plant employee has filed a sexual harassment complaint against Bennett, and another quit and sent a letter to the board complaining of alleged lack of professionalism and harassment by Bennett.

Bennett has filed an open-meeting law violation complaint against the GID board. A second, similar complaint has been filed by another person against the board, according to the state Attorney General's Office.

Another employee sent an e-mail to the contract plant operator looking for information to use against Bennett.

Bennett said she appreciates the commissioners holding the hearing in Silver Springs and supports the dissolution of the board.

"There has been mismanagement of this very valuable asset and the law allows the county to step in before it gets worse," she said.

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

If you go

WHAT: Lyon County Commission special public hearing on the Silver Springs GID

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Thursday

WHERE: 2945 Fort Churchill Road, Silver Springs

CALL: (775) 463-6531