Parks board looks to expand display

Nevada Daily Mail

Nevada Parks Board Chairman Jeff Post has long been a fan of the Lights at the Lake display and has wanted to see it grow, but any meaningful expansion has not been possible because of the cost of the displays. That has changed.

"Now we have found reasonably priced displays," he said, of a different supplier of LED lights.

"You can get a lighted Christmas package for $35," he said.

The current display has a couple of these displays, one of which is an elf shooting a cannon.

This company also has a variety of animated displays, he said. Things like penguins sliding down a hill, police cars, fire trucks, race cars, tractors, and other characters.

"Now that we have found the displays, we can go to businesses and organizations and get them to sponsor displays," Post said.

For example, get an implement company to sponsor a tractor," he said.

Post told the board members these displays are well made, with bright LEDs.

"We need to start this in January or February," he said.

"I think we can fill the whole west hill. I think we can create a really neat display," he said.

Parks and recreation director Dana Redburn said that based on the money from donations she has deposited the attendance so far has been up from last year.

Any donations received by people who drive through the display are split equally between the parks department and the organization manning the display that night. The money the parks department receives go into additional lights for the display.

The display is open nightly from 6 - 10 p.m. through Dec. 31.

In October an insurance company, which claimed to be holding information workshops on the affordable care act, rented space at the Franklin P. Norman City/County Community Center. Instead, the company was attempting to sell insurance to people there, in violation of the companies claim, which led to the parks department and parks board considering new regulations that would prohibit any person or business from using the community center for personal gain.

While discussing the proposed changes, the issue of the Vernon County Farmers Market holding a holiday craft and gift show Dec. 7, was mentioned as an activity being conducted for personal gain.

"We don't want to stop the Farmers Market or someone organizing a craft show. We're trying to stop a true for profit entity from doing solicitations on city property," Post said.

"Why not take that into account and have a graduated fee schedule and make some money for the parks department," Shirley Ann Bastow said.

"Maybe charge more than the basic room rent," Post suggested.

"If I'm going to make a profit I should pay for it," he said.

"I'd rather see them do it at the community center -- we'd be sure they have the proper business license. They can set up at a restaurant without a license," he said.

Because of possible legal issues Redburn told the board that she would need to talk to the city's attorney before any action is taken.