Letters to the editor 8-7

Train robbery loot

needed for V&T tickets

I'm wondering if the V & T Railway ticket takers will be slinging six-shooters and be raising neckerchiefs over their faces as they take our money to ride the V & T.

Since my 13- and 14-year-old kids will be considered adults, for my family (two parents, two teens and one under 12) to ride, it'll cost $228! I was looking forward to the day the V & T would start running, but I hadn't thought of the cost of the ride.

Unfortunately, in this economy, $228 represents more important things like a monthly payment of both gas and electric, a week's worth of groceries, almost all school supplies and new clothes for one child for the upcoming school year, a month of childcare fees - I could go on.

Just like those displaced Californians who find themselves here because they were priced out of that state, hardworking Northern Nevadans are being priced out of their entertainment dollar.

I will cheer on the V & T when they open, hope for success while their operating losses add up, and point out to my kids another empty building when the V & T fails.

Brian Brabazon

Carson City

New floodplain rules

unfair to homeowners

The Federal Emergency Management Agency recently produced a new map showing its concept of the Carson Valley floodplain. This new map adds several hundred Douglas County homes to the floodplain.

None of these additions were even touched by the 1997 flood. The monetary impact is that the owner of any home with a mortgage within the newly defined floodplain will be required to carry federal flood insurance. This insurance will cost from $800 to $900 per year per household.

The monetary drain to the Carson Valley for just the flood insurance is going to be significant. The premiums for this insurance will go to FEMA and in reality are nothing less than an additional federal tax. Moreover, the price of houses within the floodplain will certainly be subject to further decline. Potential real estate buyers will be very skeptical about purchasing a house lying in a floodplain specified by the U.S. government.

This is certainly not going to help to entice retirees to move to Douglas County especially if they realize that FEMA can add their home to the floodplain without any justification. Many of the homes which have been added to the FEMA floodplain map are already owned or occupied by seniors or retirees. An additional $900 a year to pay for their flood insurance premiums is more than many of them can afford with their fixed incomes.

It's about time that our elected representatives take action to protect their constituents against incompetent FEMA officials and correct this debacle.

Paul Lockwood

Minden

Shade tree council

provides trimming info

I read L.L. Vanderwal's letter concerning a frustrating situation with trees which are near, by or under power lines not being trimmed by NV Energy. Those concerns for safety are valid.

I contacted NV Energy's tree trimming division for information on how to schedule an appointment to have those trees trimmed.

Gerald Fassett is the manager of the trimming program and schedules the tree trimming for the utility. Mr. Fassett said that if the letter writer will call him at 775-834-7986, they can work together to get the trees trimmed. Mr. Fassett is in and out of his office, but does return his telephone calls. Mr. Fassett needs the location (address) of the trees which need to be trimmed in order to schedule an appointment for trimming. The power company trims those trees that will grow into or near the company's power lines for public safety reasons as well as to prevent damage to company equipment.

A detailed description of NV Energy's tree-trimming program is available on its Web site at www.nvenergy.com/safety/treetrim

ming.cfm#why_trim. Requests for trimming can also be submitted via this Web site.

I hope this information is helpful to concerned tree owners in Carson City.

Lee-Ann Keever

Carson City Shade Tree Council chairwoman