Schulz Ranch development map approved by Carson City supervisors

The Board of Supervisors on Thursday approved the final map for a new phase of the Schulz Ranch housing development in south Carson City.

The map calls for 100 single-family houses in an area zoned for 6,000-square-foot lots.

The item had been continued from the board’s Sept. 5 meeting while Lennar Corp., the builder, worked out a problem with a required drainage system from a previous phase of the project. Lennar had secured easements from nearby homeowners outside the development to lay the pipe for the system but was later told by the South Meadows Estates Homeowners’ Association that the easements were no good without the HOA’s approval.

Since then, the HOA approved the easements and the supervisors on Thursday also accepted their donation.

Schulz Ranch’s park was also dedicated to Carson City for public recreation.

“The park is complete and is the city’s second universally-accessible park,” said Jennifer Budge, director, Parks, Recreation and Open Space, who acknowledged Lennar’s contribution. “We’re very happy to accept it today.”

The board accepted the Audit Committee’s recommendation to close several audit items, including an audit done by Eide Bailly LLP, the city’s internal auditor, of the city’s temporary staffing policy and the Fire Department’s use of overtime.

The findings resulted in a new citywide policy for temp staff that requires departments to get approval from the city’s internal finance committee before hiring temporary workers. And the fire department is implementing a new timecard to better track overtime and is applying for a grant to fund more full-time firefighters to see if that will significantly reduce overtime.

The board also approved the auditor’s work plan for the 2020 fiscal year, which includes audits of the city’s social media policy, fee structure, and cash handling among other items.

The city could be auctioning off 10 properties that are behind on a total of $91,000 in property taxes. The board approved the auction scheduled for April 23, 2020 if the taxes are not paid before then.

And the supervisors approved a contract not to exceed $218,754.80 with Herback General Engineering LLC to repave the west side parking lot at the Carson City Senior Center and to build a stairway on the slope from the nearby bus stop.

For a future agenda, Supervisor Brad Bonkowski requested a discussion of whether growth of industrial hemp should be allowed by the city. He said there were businesses interested in making proposals and the city should be ready.

“I drove through Colorado, where it’s allowed, and it’s not pretty and it reeks,” said Bonkowski. “We need to discuss it.”