[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6096829,"mediaKeyId","2830437-d8707c0477aa361b3e9a2aacaf1db675","parentId",2830437,"title","Residents urge county and school board to reject Verizon tower sites near Pinion Hills and high school","audioSeconds",1579,"startMs",355000,"endMs",1934000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2830437-d8707c0477aa361b3e9a2aacaf1db675&start=355&end=1934","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2830437-d8707c0477aa361b3e9a2aacaf1db675/thumbnail_355000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6096829/Douglas-County/Nevada/Residents-urge-county-and-school-board-to-reject-Verizon-tower-sites-near-Pinion-Hills-and-high-school","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6096829-abdbb8a715c7cdea93ab94492ef7be62/orig.mp4?Expires=1770980081&Signature=Rb0ZqSwDxIPFmx~8cab-Kl9qRhAquJjBbAWDEmN9G-LfsjL0U6Xam4nTRZt1C7v8us1POLjo85ELhcvmEMd2k6OauWsKPhssiXwLQuO7SgmJpAL80I4ZMjy85wXdg62LgzEa1AEkglCJaxfjgrekmYxpIe0rWCTeMwXqDm1TYh56pH7cURFzdNHW36rjnVmISpit6qxqTFdfCygy25S54uoWFcPdkOHdzjg9NVz6fxYGt4Y1kOfI1muOv~9R3cMRZ74maLBakPhpfqke1jDXSaRnOFjIdPlq3F~WH1Lgu7hpErgP9UD47kbZWAT1z3zh8RvFerohaO72xZPnRP9KNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Douglas County Nevada","date","2025-03-20T00:00:00Z","article","Several dozen residents told the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners on March 12 they oppose two proposed Verizon telecommunication facilities, saying company analyses and siting choices are incomplete and that alternatives were not adequately considered.

Speakers representing a local group, Minden for Safe Technology, and several longtime area residents repeated technical and neighborhood concerns and said they have prepared alternative locations, engineering analyses and legal input ahead of appeals. The planning commission previously denied the Station 14 proposal and approved Station 6; speakers said both those decisions are on appeal with hearings set for April 3.

“The school district has been steadily in decline since 1990,” said Greg Roltson, identifying himself as a Mindontown resident, arguing that a tower near the high school could prompt parents to withdraw students and harm district revenue. “Even if you reduce 30 students out of that list… that's gonna be a decline of over $300,000 to the school district in student funding.”

Susan Roldson, who identified herself as a nurse of about 35 years’ experience in the valley, urged the commissioners to “please on the side of caution… Please don't put a tower at Station 14, the high school, and Pinion Hills.” She also said the community had paid for an independent RF engineer who identified other viable siting options.

Rhiannon, speaking for Minden for Safe Technology, summarized technical limits cited in Verizon documents and the county code: the group said Verizon’s own engineers had ruled out rooftop and stadium-light options because of height and coverage constraints, and quoted local code language limiting telecommunication facilities in the public-facility zone to 80 feet and prescribing setbacks tied to structure height. “They ruled both those locations at the high school out,” Rhiannon said, and expressed frustration that the high school siting was being returned to the table after previously being excluded.

Katrina French and Cindy Trigo, both with Minden for Safe Technology, and other residents said Verizon’s coverage maps lack transparency and conflict with the FCC’s National Broadband Map. They urged commissioners to require thorough demonstrations that proposed sites are necessary and are the least intrusive option, citing alternatives such as collocating on existing towers, upgrading existing equipment, cell splitting, or using fiber where feasible.

Bill Cerrito, also with Minden for Safe Tech, said the planning commission’s denial of Station 14 cited code and health-study concerns, while the commission approved Station 6 without the same stated reservations. “When it came to Station 6, they gave that to Verizon… they gave no reason for that,” Cerrito said, and described visual impacts he calculated for a neighborhood he said would face an 80-foot monopole \"toilet-bowl brush\" blocking mountain views for about 100 homes.

Speakers also asked the county to seek risk analysis and mitigation language in broader planning documents. Cindy Trigo urged staff to ask the mitigation consultant (Kara Easton, referenced by speakers) to include a technology-hazard risk evaluation in the county’s mitigation planning, saying the county had an opportunity to record such risks in the mitigation report.

Verizon’s representatives did not speak during the county meeting’s public-comment period. Several speakers said they have shared alternative locations, legal analyses and RF-engineer reports with Verizon and with county staff and expect those materials to be considered during the appeals process.

What happens next: speakers repeatedly noted an appeals hearing set for April 3. The planning commission’s prior actions — denial of Station 14 and approval of Station 6 — were cited by multiple public commentators as background for those appeals. No final county board decision on siting or permits was recorded during the March 12 meeting.

Ending: Residents asked the county and the school district to prioritize options they say would be less intrusive and to require clear, transparent evidence of need and of the “least intrusive” alternative before permitting large towers near schools and neighborhoods.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Douglas County Board of County Commissioners | March 20, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Several dozen residents told the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners on March 12 they oppose two proposed Verizon telecommunication facilities, saying company analyses and siting choices are incomplete and that alternatives were not adequately considered.","taxTitle","Douglas County, Nevada","taxId",56916,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6096819,"Douglas County reports sale of Justice Center bonds, announces terms",65,9935000,10000000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2830437-d8707c0477aa361b3e9a2aacaf1db675&start=9935&end=10000","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2830437-d8707c0477aa361b3e9a2aacaf1db675/thumbnail_9935000.jpg","/articles/6096819/Douglas-County/Nevada/Douglas-County-reports-sale-of-Justice-Center-bonds-announces-terms","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6096819-d1a3c1c6b331b6eb978259669b835cee/orig.mp4?Expires=1770980081&Signature=Z10O7Z3fv~TY1Yzx4wgI2~zuLTfkHHP24xnNFb0BQIEK9eWLBtiDCz8fj~JU1QooUmA02AiRTZEzyrQqxD~LCGCWLWoLZAs4nWx0Lbj3U0l13FTQ1jre3xJW3xgQbGQjCwJp0-CL7vI7QjSs8FeFD7VtfHJUOj9lVfUk1cPiVo1SX5pg3yVCWqr4yHl8CNR1SFMSucAThu82RdMCgl-yz-GbtYG03rBK5hwK8OSKvme-b00Zg7WxQgH0zMbbg8RxOGODbdHAGuNCp0yuEsWV3-53PIGfAuR~na1MHbFdUzA8qEuRRATjLpviHXL3ZG0XeF5~z4Isb1xSDJm2B6Bi~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Douglas County announced on March 12 that it sold bonds to finance the county’s Justice Center project.

Chief Operating Officer Cathy Lewis told the county board that two bond series were sold: a primary series of $34,545,000 purchased by RW Baird at an effective interest rate of 4.46 percent, and a second series of $14,000,000 sold to Jefferies at an effective rate of about 3.2 percent. Lewis said the county received multiple bids on both series and expects final closing and funds to be in hand in April.

\"On Tuesday, we, sold the bonds for the Justice Center,\" Lewis said. She described the sales as a major milestone and said documentation and closing remain to complete the financial transaction.

Lewis said the market has been volatile and that staff will complete the closing paperwork in the coming weeks. She characterized the bond sale as “a big milestone in the construction of the Justice Center.”

Ending: County staff said the April closing will finalize the financing and allow project work to proceed to the construction phase.","Chief operating officer announced March 12 that the county sold two series of bonds to fund the Justice Center; the main series was $34,545,000 at an effective rate of 4.46% and a second $14,000,000 series at about 3.2%. Closing is expected in April.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6096824,"Tahoe Blue Event Center reports strong first-year bookings and growing conference business; commissioners seek more fiscal detail",3804,2061000,5865000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2830437-d8707c0477aa361b3e9a2aacaf1db675&start=2061&end=5865","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2830437-d8707c0477aa361b3e9a2aacaf1db675/thumbnail_2061000.jpg","/articles/6096824/Douglas-County/Nevada/Tahoe-Blue-Event-Center-reports-strong-first-year-bookings-and-growing-conference-business-commissioners-seek-more-fiscal-detail","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6096824-bb72479a4c02ffc5c89b02619cbb8157/orig.mp4?Expires=1770980081&Signature=EOJScoNKJ1jYrGysxEqvoKns5bVK0TOBxPGrrGpaQh4iFLR8SvPgyUqX~shYkvlPT1FEbW3ViAGs7FgKF8OpN78mIoijS3MsALjSQLRziYfcIb2vRqCYXbm2eNT-yphdBUJc3leQZ66UFBcjColdblQsclUPFSF8Ie3u7vgsB6I0KBXaTL4ZcsmAlERTVAzYPSrhMhZ9pyxVUu3hGHBPyR41OjQKiTSfe8zA33ZEW-kGnQaDOawYMdlHjSugQFuR-KVVbNGAIgeYKY~DQ4ONf8nz-lIkwApIA~~A4sOYD~sjxelKCszshLbF0lizthYsE40JM1XH1W4RSTlxhdxJIw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Officials from the Tahoe Douglas Visitors Authority (TDVA) and the Tahoe Blue Event Center told the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners on March 12 that the venue completed a challenging first year and that conferences and youth sports are driving weekday and shoulder-season demand.

Carol Chaplin, representing TDVA, and Kevin Boriski, general manager for Oak View Group (the venue operator), said the center opened in September 2023 after construction and permitting delays and delivered about 10 months of first-year revenue while still incurring startup costs. Kevin Boriski said the center hosted nearly 100 events in its first fiscal year and highlighted sellout concerts and national conferences.

“We had our first big conference and we had representation from 50 different states here in town,” Boriski said of a September event. He added the center’s conference business, which tends to occur during weekdays in shoulder seasons, is delivering the kind of midweek hotel nights the project was intended to attract.

TDVA and the operator said conference and youth-sports bookings have generated tracked room blocks totaling almost 10,000 room nights in fiscal year 2024. Boriski said that number excludes many concert-driven room nights that are difficult to trace to a single hotel block and that TDVA conservatively estimates total room nights are 25–30% higher than the tracked total.

Commissioners pressed for clearer fiscal reporting. “It would be nice to know what it's bringing in and also what the expenses are,” Commissioner Tarkanian said. Boriski and Chaplin replied that audited financials are available through TDVA and that the authority is under contract for an updated economic-impact study that will use actuals and is expected later in 2025.

Commissioner Gardner asked for ZIP-code attendance data to show where visitors are coming from; Boriski said TDVA can provide ZIP-code breakdowns and that those reports also inform operational decisions (for example, postponing a concert ahead of a forecasted major snow event based on ticket origin data).

Boriski also reported the center’s new tenant, the ECHL’s Tahoe Night Monsters hockey team, is contributing to weekday and weekend activity and is projected to produce about $750,000 in net revenue to the venue, according to the operator. He said the team has had seven sellouts and that youth tournaments and cheer competitions have doubled year over year.

TDVA noted a recent settlement with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) that changes how the venue’s vehicle-miles-traveled mitigation is measured: the venue now has an attendance cap expressed as annual attendees (250,000 per year) rather than a fixed event-count limit, and four larger summertime events are permitted under defined caps. Chaplin said TRPA accepted parking-gate counts rather than Bluetooth counters as a more reliable way to measure in-and-out traffic for mitigation purposes.

Commissioners and staff also discussed micro-transit revenues tied to the venue: Boriski said fiscal-year 2025 projections showed $736,000 in micro-transit funding driven by event activity, with most of the revenue supporting Lake-Link micro-transit services.

TDVA and the operator committed to return in the future with the full audited financial statements, a complete revenue-and-expense picture for the venue and ZIP-code reports so the board can assess whether the center is meeting its objective to raise off-season occupancy and visitor spending.

Ending: TDVA said it will bring the completed economic-impact study and audited results later this year; commissioners asked for follow-up reporting showing revenue, expenses, and the venue’s contribution to off-season room nights.","Tahoe Douglas Visitors Authority officials reported nearly 100 events and thousands of room nights in the first year of Tahoe Blue Event Center operations. Commissioners asked TDVA for clearer revenue/expense figures, ZIP-code attendee data and audited numbers to assess the center’s economic impact.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents urge county and school board to reject Verizon tower sites near Pinion Hills and high school

Douglas County reports sale of Justice Center bonds, announces terms

Tahoe Blue Event Center reports strong first-year bookings and growing conference business; commissioners seek more fiscal detail