Mia's Agrees to Restore Historic Sign

Mia and Max Kuerzi, owners of Mia's Swiss Restaurant in Dayton, have agreed to restore a historic sign on the south side of the old Odeon Hall in Dayton, while also listing their restaurant for sale.

The sign dates back to the early 20th century and has been a bone of contention among residents, the Kuerzis and the Comstock Historic District Commission since July1999.

The Kuerzis have agreed to repaint the sign in its original location on the south side of the building under the eaves at their expense.

Once the work has been finished and approved, the Comstock Historic District Commission will withdraw its complaint, filed in Lyon County by the Nevada Attorney General's Office on Aug. 8.

Mia Kuerzi was not willing to discuss the agreement Monday, but she did say they recently put the restaurant up for sale. They haven't decided on retirement and their plans are up in the air.

"We've lived in Dayton for 21 years, but we've decided to move on," she said, noting that her children no longer live here. "They (the children) aren't interested in the restaurant in Dayton and want to live in a more populated area."

Controversy over the sign has split the town. While some residents wanted the sign restored, others resented the historic commission's intrusion.

"It happened just before the 150th anniversary (of the discovery of gold in Dayton)," state historic preservation officer Ron James said, noting he believes the Kuerzis had the best of intentions. "They painted over the existing sign at that time to assist the community, to make the town presentable for (the celebration marking) the sesquicentennial discovery of gold in Dayton. They did it to improve the community."

But the restaurant, on Pike Street in Dayton, falls within the Comstock Historic District, where special rules apply to buildings to maintain a historic quality.

A nine-member commission oversees architectural reviews. The Kuerzis failed to get a certificate of appropriateness from the commission before they painted over the Odeon Hall and Saloon sign and put up their own.

"The work done on the building violated the provisions of NRS 384, and we were asking for relief under those provisions," Bert Bedeau of the Historic District Commission said, noting the commission asked that the sign be restored. Failing that, the Kuerzis faced the possibility of a $500-a-day fine.

"It's been on and off the (Comstock Historic District Commission's) agenda ever since. I've been dealing with this issue since I started work here in November of 1999," Bedeau said.

"We thought we had a deal worked out in May," Bedeau said. "Various community groups chipped in for the cost of repainting and (Lyon County Commissioner) Bob Milz offered to remove the wooden sign.

"Mia agreed at the (commission) meeting, but after talking to Max, the Kuerzis backed out. They didn't want to move the existing wooden sign and the deal fell apart," Bedeau said.