Many improvements are planned for the 50-year-old Laura Mills Park. A reconstruction for the park will be done in two phases.
Photo by Steve Ranson.
Fallon Mayor Ken Tedford updated the State of the City at the April 30 Churchill Entrepreneur Development Association business council breakfast and said challenges loom.
CEDA provides direct client services in business development and works as the coordinating agency with federal, state, and local government, community organizations and other partners to create a thriving business community.
The Fallon native has served the city for almost 40 years, first as a councilman and then as mayor. He is also the owner of Tedford Tire and Auto Service and the father of four adult children.
“The city of Fallon is something that I have a real passion about — my hometown,” Tedford said. “The state of the city of Fallon is sound and is good, but as we approach the 250th birthday of our nation, we face challenging times globally, nationally, in our state and locally.”
Speaking from his dual perspective as mayor and small business owner, Tedford stressed the importance of using “critical thought, careful analysis” in making every financial decision. Over the past five years, he said consumer prices have drastically increased, as have the cost of construction projects, road maintenance and related services and the cost of financing public and private projects. Tedford said the city has taken steps to streamline operations and to economize while also maintaining the availability of essential services such as electric power, sanitation and public safety.
With revenue shortfalls predicted between 10 and 20%, the cities, counties and school districts in Northern Nevada are struggling to balance budgets. Tedford said inequity in the state-led taxation and tax distribution policy means the impact of the rise in costs is felt more deeply in the rural communities.
“The positive news is the preliminary report shows sales tax revenues are up for the month of March,” Tedford said. “The city of Fallon and Churchill County have a number of projects which will provide business opportunities and economic growth for the entire community.”
Tedford then provided a glimpse of some current projects and some that are in the works. Fallon/Churchill Volunteer Fire Department recently completed its annual fire hydrant testing. The annual “Keep Fallon Green” city cleanup week in April encouraged locals to place larger unwanted items near their garbage cans to be hauled away by city trucks for free. A preventive maintenance project that began last fall will continue this year to repair asphalt cracks and apply slurry seal over 40 streets throughout the city.
Following the successfully completed projects at Oats Park, a much-needed reconstruction of Laura Mills Park will occur in two phases. Over time, the city will replace the irrigation system, replace the interior and exterior walking paths, install an exercise center on the northwest side and build two new large playground structures on the east side.
Two existing water tanks at the top of Rattlesnake Hill will eventually be demolished to make room to build a replacement tank. Tedford said the $6 million funding for the project has been acquired and rescinded twice since it began.
A reconstruction and extension project to connect Kaiser Street and North Whitaker Lane to Auction Road will increase pedestrian and vehicle access to Western Nevada College, the Fallon Convention Center and senior living residences. Tedford said enhancing access to this area is “vital” to what the city believes is successful economic development.
Tedford said several projects — a traffic signal at the intersection of U.S. Highway 50 and Sherman Street near Fox Peak Station, a New River Substation electrical feeders project, a dewatering press for the wastewater treatment plant and a new fixed-based operator building at the Fallon Airport — were approved by Congress and are on hold until the funding transfers.