Community events stir up annual turf wars

Douglas County commissioners refused to referee Thursday in the annual turf wars over two of Carson Valley's oldest community celebrations.

The trouble started brewing when requests were made to pull outdoor festival applications from the consent calendar for activities related to Carson Valley Days and the Genoa Candy Dance.

The normally seamless procedure stretched in to nearly two hours of debate over who has the right to what.

First up were Steve Orlando of Buckaroos and Renee Harrington from the French Hotel.

They were asking for a reduction in hours and fees for extra security from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office during what's become a Carson Valley Days tradition on Friday night.

This year's 99th Carson Valley Days celebration begins Thursday.

On Friday night, the gathering at downtown Gardnerville bars has spilled over into Highway 395 in Gardnerville.

In the last few years, the bars have moved the party to the back parking lot with live music.

"We cannot afford four deputies from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.," Orlando said. "With everything else, this would put us in the hole and we would actually take a loss."

Orlando said when the band stops playing at 1 a.m., the crowd disperses.

"We have our own security out there as well," Harrington said.

Sheriff's Capt. David Aymami agreed to reduce the hours to 8 p.m.-2 a.m.

"Douglas County actually has about 25 officers out there on foot patrol, supervisors and transport officers. They're only paying for four officers but they're getting 30 officers down there."

Orlando disputed Aymami's estimate that the Friday night crowd is 5,000-10,000 people.

"If we had 10,000 people out there, we'd love it. It's maybe 4,000-4,500," Orlando said.

With the reduction in hours, the sheriff's office agreed to lower the fee from $1,376 to $1,032.

The board next heard from the Carson Valley Active 20-30 Club No. 85 objecting to the bars' using "Carson Valley Days" in advertising the Friday night festival.

President Brian Deaton said the club was in the process of registering "Carson Valley Days" as a trademark.

Former member Mike Blackledge said he wanted assurance the commissioners would continue to support the club's rights to the event.

"We absolutely support you," said Commissioner Doug Johnson. "But this is kind of our event, not just yours. We celebrate the history of the whole area."

Commission chair Nancy McDermid cut off the discussion when Blackledge tried to bring up the future.

"It's not on the agenda. This has strictly to do with an outdoor festival permit," she said.

When Deaton complained that Gardnerville used "Carson Valley Days" on a flier not authorized by the club, town Manager Jim Park said it was to be posted in all establishments to remind patrons to drink responsibly over the weekend.

Once the dust settled over Carson Valley Days, Genoans took the podium to arbitrate a squabble over an ongoing dispute on competition from two residents over vendors for the 89th Genoa Candy Dance Sept. 26-27.

"People are getting the picture that Genoa is a place where residents don't get along, there are fistfights at the town board meetings, and constant turnover of town managers - that it's kind of the Wild West out there," said Genoa town board Chairman Brian Williams.

The Genoa board wanted the commission to reject the outdoor festival permits from their competitors.

"The past two years have been pivotal in bringing order to the town and fostering a greater sense of community. I hope this shows we're working hard to bring about unity," he said.

Then Williams explained the town had spent $10,000 in legal fees on an agreement board members thought had been reached for a single festival permit during Candy Dance weekend with competitors Phil Stoll and Martha Williams.

Williams' Peddler's Fair located on the southern boundary of Genoa leases out 44 booths according to a breakdown prepared by the town. Stoll's Autumn Festival is located inside the town along Genoa Lane with 65 booths.

"Now, they're applying for separate permits," Brian Williams said.

Martha Williams told the board she'd lived in Genoa for 46 years and donated her time for 40 years, including chairing past Candy Dances.

"I've put in a lot of time," she said. "I hate to have new people come up and say I haven't."

Once again, McDermid spoke up.

"We do believe in the value of the Candy Dance and its integrity," she said. "You can argue about what's right and what's wrong. The reality is they have a right to apply for a permit. Your contract doesn't involve this board. It's sad for me it didn't come about the way we hoped it would. Hopefully, next year, we may try it again."

"Everybody gets up and says 'how well we all play together,' then they say all this stuff," Johnson said. "What I'm looking at is whether they met their requirements for the festival permits."

County Clerlk-Treasurer Ted Thran said the requirements were fulfilled.

The board voted unanimously to approve the permit applications.

"A candle for Genoa is being burned at both ends," said Commissioner Greg Lynn.