Commissioners direct staff to explore donating small Silver City parcel to Comstock Foundation

The Lyon County Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 19 discussed a request from the Comstock Foundation for History and Culture to acquire Parcel 00804307, a small county‑owned lot in Silver City located adjacent to the Donovan Mill. County Manager Andrew Haskin said the parcel was acquired long ago as a tax‑delinquent parcel and is small — approximately 2,600 square feet — and that the first step is board direction so staff can research legal and procedural options.

Don Bergstrom of the Comstock Foundation described plans to place historic artifacts adjacent to the Donovan Mill, including sections of an old headframe and a Chilean mill, and said the slope and location make the parcel suitable for those items. Commissioners discussed whether a zoning change would be necessary and whether the county could gift the parcel versus selling it; one commissioner suggested using sale proceeds to fund community‑center improvements if sale proceeds were available.

The board directed staff to first pursue the possibility of donating the parcel to the foundation; if donation is not legally feasible, staff should report back with appraisal information and options for sale. Commissioners asked the foundation to pay for any appraisal; county staff said they would research the legal pathway (including NRS provisions referenced during discussion) and return with recommendations. The board passed the motion 5–0 to proceed with staff research and return with a formal agenda item once options are developed.