Why should Carson City do Douglas County's dirty work? That's the first question that came to mind when I read that our local Planning Commission had approved a slaughterhouse for Carson City. Most of the cows are in rural Douglas County, so why should Carson Valley Meats "process" (slaughter) their animals in our more urban state capital?
Now that an appeal has been filed in a concerted effort to overrule the Planning Commission's unpopular decision, Carson Mayor Lori Bagwell and four city supervisors will decide whether to approve or deny a special use permit that would allow a Douglas County company to operate a slaughterhouse near residential neighborhoods just off Highway 50 East.
Downtown business owner Maxine Nietz filed one of the appeals, noting that the Planning Commission "approved this item (the slaughterhouse) over the objections of many Carson City citizens," adding that "the slaughterhouse will be near residences and destroy peoples' lives."
Two Carsonites who live near the proposed slaughterhouse site, Bob Buttner and Jennifer Verive, assert that the bloody business will create "unbearable" odor and noise, result in decreasing home values and pollute nearby ground water sources.
"Based on extensive research, we're certain that the proposed slaughterhouse… will have a significant negative impact on the health, safety and welfare of our citizens," Buttner and Verive argued, and I share their concerns. "We have gathered over a dozen studies, some from peer-reviewed journals, and the evidence is overwhelmingly on our side," they added.
In an email exchange, Buttner and Verive told me Carson Valley Meats "tried to build a slaughterhouse in Douglas County, but when the county rejected their proposition, they ignored the community and sued the county. They lost and now they're trying to build the facility in Carson."
My friend, District 40 Assemblyman PK O'Neill, also opposes the slaughterhouse. "We are an urban environment, and this type of business does not fit within the urban structure," he told me, while reminding me that the Douglas County Commission has already rejected the slaughterhouse.
Once again, why should we do Douglas County's dirty work by allowing that county's ranchers to slaughter their animals in our beautiful Eagle Valley? Most of the cows are in Douglas County. We don't need this kind of ugly economic development.
Carson Valley Meats representatives assured planning commissioners that they'll abide by all conditions of a special use permit by holding all animals — no more than 60 at a time — indoors before "processing" them, claiming that their slaughterhouse will support "the need for more farm-to-table food sources in Carson City." Please! The next thing you know they'll tell us that the slaughterhouse is part of the elitist "green dining" movement.
Buttner and Verive also noted a special use permit would allow Carson Valley Meats to slaughter additional animals six times per year for “local events.”
“Who determines what constitutes a ‘local event?’” they asked. And "what would prevent them from processing additional animals during the annual 'Jazz and Beyond' music festival," or over the Nevada Day weekend? Good questions because both are very popular local events.
So I urge the supervisors to deny a special use permit to allow Carson Valley Meats to "process" their animals in Carson City. I don't think their proposed slaughterhouse is in the best interests of our community and believe that most Carson voters agree with those of us who oppose this dubious project. What do you think?
Appeal political columnist Guy W. Farmer is a confessed carnivore who eats scrumptious Basque Burgers (Douglas County beef) at the historic J-T bar/restaurant in Gardnerville.
