Scene In Passing: Road ahead trumps rearview mirror road

Rearview mirror checks are valuable, but the news business is geared to that more than looking ahead to make out what’s coming.

What happened previously is important knowledge, to be sure, but if you fixate mostly on the rearview and check the road ahead just sporadically you will be an accident looking for a place to happen rather than a safe motorist. With that in mind, let’s peer through the windshield at what is rushing toward Carson City in days and weeks to come.

On Monday, the Board of Supervisors meets in a special session at the Community Center to tackle a $65 million general fund blueprint for spending in Fiscal Year 2014-15. The fiscal year starts in about six weeks. While the budget isn’t bold, neither should it be as this community, state and nation slowly move out of a long hiatus from frisky economic times.

Tuesday brings two events vying for serious citizens’ attention.

A Charter Review Commission meeting is slated for 5:30 p.m., also in the Community Center, at which the method of electing Carson City supervisors is up for debate. The question is whether they should be chosen at large but must live in the wards they represent, chosen by ward across the board or nominated by ward and elected at large in citywide general election balloting.

A half hour later at the Plaza Conference Center, there is a forum on GMOs Tuesday. That acronym stands for genetically modified organisms used in agriculture.

Wednesday morning Nevada Business Connections will meet in Carson City but have a Reno focus. Kevin Schiller, the new assistant Washoe County manager replacing the retiring John Berkich, will talk during the 8 a.m. breakfast gathering about economic development. The resigning Berkich once served as manager for Carson City. The breakfast is at the Gold Dust West Resort and Casino.

Also Wednesday, the Chamber of Commerce will hold a 6 p.m. candidates forum at the Brewery Arts Center’s Performance Hall for primary candidates seeking to be Carson City’s sheriff, represent pertinent local districts in the Legislature or wards as city supervisors. At the same time, the local Airport Authority meets Wednesday evening in the Community Center’s Sierra Room.

Looking down the road a bit more, local government’s new city manager takes the reins early in June. On his plate as Nick Marano enters City Hall June 2 are a host of details regarding capital improvement projects. Marano will get up to speed in part via those matters, partly by an already announced 60-day sprint to immerse himself in his new community. A management consultant and retired Marine colonel, he comes here from southern California.

Here’s a bet: 100-to-1 says Marano will use what he learned in the past but forego staring in the rearview mirror, focusing instead on the road ahead.

John Barrette covers Carson City government and business. He can be reached at jbarrette@nevadaappeal.com.