NEWS ARTICLE: INCLINE LAKE WORTH FAST-TRACK PLAN

RENO GAZETTE JOURNAL

Thursday, August 11, 2005

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., deserves praise for his plan to speed up the government purchase of a stunning piece of real estate near Lake Tahoe.Ensign on Wednesday announced the fast-track plan to buy the 777-acre parcel that includes Incline Lake using funds from the sale of public lands in the Las Vegas area under the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act.

The proposal won’t cut the red tape involved in the purchase, but it will get the process started a lot sooner than normal, improving the prospects of the deal actually being completed.

Despite the minimum $75 million price tag, purchasing the property would be a good deal for the public. Along with the lake and land, described as “awesome” by Washoe County Commission Chairman Bonnie Weber, the property includes cabins and a deep-space observatory that would continue to be used to educate area students. The current owner, the Incline Lake Corp., has offered Washoe County a $10 million endowment to maintain the property.

The purchase was ranked No. 2 in a statewide list of proposals for SNPLMA money, and it enjoys widespread support in Northern Nevada. It is surrounded by U.S. Forest Service land.

So it’s critical that the public agencies involved strike while the iron’s hot. Sen. Ensign’s fast-track plan will ensure they’re able to do that.