Memorial bricks are commemorative, not advertising space

GARDNERVILLE -- Enterprising business owners may have thought they found a new place to advertise services, but the idea was a complete surprise to the Gardnerville Town Board.

The board decided that all applications to purchase memorial bricks to adorn the new Heritage Park pavilion must first get town approval.

Gardnerville Business Association President Anet Sewell told the board July 1 some area businesses want to use the memorial bricks to advertise services.

"We need to tell them no," said Randy Slater, Gardnerville town board member. "We don't want to see bricks bought for memorial bricks next to ones that say, 'shop at ... whatever."'

"It never crossed anybody's mind" that memorial bricks would be used for advertising space, said Town Manager Jim Park.

Brick sales begin this month for individuals, families and businesses to have their names displayed in perpetuity. The bricks are 4 inches by 8 inches, and hold up to three lines of print with 20 characters each.

Business Association members are selling bricks for $50 each to help pay for improvements to the town and park. The association hopes to raise between $50,000 and $70,000 this year with brick sales and other community fund-raisers.

Applications to purchase memorial bricks are at the following Gardnerville businesses: Netti's Creations, JT Basque Bar and Dining Room, Aladdin Flowers & Gifts, Wells Fargo, Historian Inn and High Sierra Furniture and the Country Carousel.

The memorial bricks will be applied to the face of the new pavilion and its planters on a first-come, first-served basis.

Also on July 1, the town board approved a $96,640 contract with Bison Construction to construct the new Heritage Park Pavilion. The park is on Gilman Avenue near downtown.

The American Society of Civil Engineers Capital Branch designed and engineered the pavilion at no cost.

The contract also includes removal of two large stumps from poplar trees cut down to make way for the new pavilion.