Carson Rifle and Pistol Club deal approved by Carson City supervisors

Before a long afternoon session dedicated to Carson City’s budget, the Board of Supervisors Thursday morning took up other routine business of the city.

The supervisors approved a six-month agreement with the Carson Rifle and Pistol Club to provide range safety officers and other services for the Carson Rifle and Pistol Range.

The agreement replaces a 20-year agreement with the club that had expired days earlier and gives the club a portion of the range for four hours on two Sundays a month to hold their matches.

The agreement was recommended by the Range Task Force, which decided a short-term agreement was called for while the range’s future is being determined. Currently, the range is open to the public all day on Sunday and starting this past week on Wednesday and Thursday evenings while the city works to upgrade safety features at the range and also plan long-term for a new location.

The board also approved a contract with Hometown Health to provide health insurance for the city’s employees and retirees. There’s no rate increase with the new contract and the city negotiated to place a 12 percent cap on next year’s rates, when the city could also consider other providers.

The city’s previous provider, Prominence Health, requested a 12 percent rate increase, or 5 percent if the city didn’t go out to bid. The city approached Hometown Health and negotiated a rate pass.

The annual costs are $2,143 for employee only, $3,269 for employee plus spouse, $3,128 for employee plus children and $4,430 for employee plus family.

The supervisors passed a resolution regarding the annual assessment of the downtown neighborhood improvement district. The assessment covers the businesses’ cost of streetscape maintenance downtown.

This year’s assessment will be $52,831.

Lee Plemel, director, Community Development, said the NID and its contractor were meeting to address some problems.

“There will be more garbage cans on Curry Street. Hopefully that will address some issues,” said Plemel. “They purchased a new power washer. They should be able to do a faster job, better cleaning overall.”

At the same time, Plemel said there would be more outreach to the businesses delineating the responsibilities of the contractor and the business owners.

The lengthiest discussion involved a lease agreement between the city and Lopiccolo Family 1998 Trust for 31 feet of city sidewalk right of way. The Lopiccolo Trust is working with Wells Fargo on a lease agreement to place a bank ATM on a portion of its property and to use its utilities, but it needs the city property as well.

The city originally considered an easement agreement, but determined a lease agreement was more flexible and provided more protection, said Todd Reese, deputy district attorney.

“I believe it was changed to a lease so the city could charge,” said Jenny Lopiccolo.

The city plans to charge $400 monthly for the lease of the property.

Mark Lopiccolo said the Lopiccolo’s made the stage at McFadden Plaza a reality by providing an easement for it.

“The Lopiccolo family has done a lot for McFadden Plaza,” said Mayor Bob Crowell. “But if we’re in the business of giving property away for free we should all be fired.”

Supervisor John Barrette suggested a cut in the lease to $325 per month, but that motion failed, and the board voted 4-1 on the $400 lease with Barrette voting no.

The board also heard presentations on the Western Nevada Development District and on the Public Guardian’s office, and voted to accept a $300,000 grant for Title X Family Planning Services, and to modify the Blackstone Ranch Phase 1 Lompa Ranch subdivision map, as recommended by the Planning Commission.