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February 2008

History:

In the mid 1960's, C.E. (Red) Swift owned a large tract of land that he wanted to build homes on.  Douglas County required the proposed subdivision to be serviced by a municipal water system and have paved roads to drive on.  Swift tried to get the land annexed to the towns of Minden and Gardnerville but was turned down because of the proximity of the land to the Towns. The Gardnerville Ranchos General Improvement District was then created by Douglas County Ordinance 147 on April 9, 1965.  The District was created pursuant to Chapter 318 of the Nevada Revised Statutes.  The first trustees of the District were D.A. Swift, W.P. Bednar, C.E. Swift, M.K. Swift and C.N. Swift.  GRGID's first engineer was Engineers LTD., Inc. and its first attorney was the firm of Ernest A. Wilson and John Chrislaw.

The District Board of Trustees with grants and loans started the task of financing water and street improvements within the boundaries of the District.  The property within Unit two of the District was the original annexation on May 17, 1967.  On the same date Unit 3, Unit 4 and Country Club Estates (golf course area) were annexed.  Ranchos Estates, Unit 5 and Unit 6 were annexed into the District on April 3, 1973.  Unit 7 was annexed into the District on July 18, 1974.  Since that time Pleasantview Subdivision, Silver Ranch Estates, Sunburst Subdivision, Hidden Creek Subdivision, Rocky Terrace Estates Subdivision, 540 acres of land south and east of Long Valley Rd., Tillman Commercial Center, Langtree Commercial Center and many other smaller parcels have been annexed to the District.

Ranchos Estates, Units 6 and 7 were developed by Sierra Charter, Inc. After Ranchos Estates was completed Sierra Charter fell on hard times and the completion of Units 6 and 7 was completed by the Southern Nevada Bartenders and Culinary Union Local 226.  Bonds were passed to finance the improvements within Units 6 and 7 as they were in Units 2,3,4, and Country Club Estates.  The bonds were paid off by assessments against the property within the specified area of improvements.  It is interesting to note that units 6 and 7 were left with paved streets, water and sewer improvements for almost five years before the first home was built.

Sewer was added to Units 2, 3, 4 and Country Club Estates in the late seventies.  In 1995 the State of Nevada required GRGID to compel properties that were not yet on the District's sewer system to hookup.  The District set a deadline of July 1, 1998 for all persons still using septic systems to hook into the District's sewer system.  The District cut back its hookup fees received a community development block grant to assist in construction costs and set up a loan program to assist residents with this process.   This program was extended three times to ensure its success and has now been closed out.

The District has grown by leaps and bounds since the late 60's and 70's.  The District now serves over 4,400 households with water and sewer.  The District serves residences outside of its District where lines were placed with the original improvements.  It should be noted that Unit I of the Gardnerville Ranchos General Improvement District was de-annexed at some early time in the history of the District.  GRGID sewer lines also serve the Dresslerville Indian Colony.  The District's service area has been specified as the Edna Ditch on Kimmerling Rd., Waterloo Ln. on State Route 756, the vicinity of the Hellwinkel Dairy on Centerville Lane and the Carson River at Highway 395.

The District has eight water wells and two booster stations in service at this time.  The largest well produces over 1800 gallons per minute.  A test well has been drilled in the Pleasantview Subdivision and shows arsenic levels above the 2006 standard of 10 parts per billion.  The District will continue to seek out new well sites to keep up with the demand on the water system.  The District collects sewer effluent and sends it to Minden Gardnerville Sanitation District via a main transmission line that runs down State Route 756.

Each year the District has replaced a portion of the original steel water lines put in service in the 60's with plastic pipe called C-900 iron vinyl. The District uses user fees to fund water line replacement projects.  In 1998, the District Board of Trustees authorized staff to apply for a $3.2 million dollar loan through the State of Nevada Revolving Loan Fund. The District was approved for the loan in early 2000.  This loan has replaced most aging water main, fire hydrants, valves and the well house one on Fairway Dr. The District was approved for the loan in early 2000.   The District was approved for another $1.2 million dollar loan in 2003.  These funds are being used to complete  the replacement project.  Both waterline projects are now complete.  The District uses tax dollars to maintain and clean streets each year.  The annual budget for street maintenance approaches $1,000,000 each year.  The District contracts for its' snow removal.  The 2007-2008 contract for snow removal is with Curtis and Sons.

The District estimates its population to be approximately 11,000 people.  This estimate is based upon the number of residences the District serves.  The District's population base convinced P & S Development to build GRGID's first major shopping center in 1994. Tillman Center had fallen upon hard times with the closing of Gorman’s Rancho Market.  Silver Strike Lanes has replaced the Market.  The Ranchos now has its own U.S. Post Office.

Political:

GRGID has a five-member board of trustees that are elected by the registered voters who live within the boundaries of the District.  GRGID has a District Manager who is responsible for carrying out the policies set forth by the Board of Trustees.  The Board meets the first Wednesday of each month at District Office, 931 Mitch Dr. at 6:00 p.m. The meetings are open to anyone who wishes to attend.  Meeting agendas are posted at 7-11 on Tillman Ln., District Office, Under the Magic Pine Tree Day Care Center on Mitch Dr., the three schools within the District's boundaries and on the District’s Web Site www.grgid.com.

Development/Expansion:

GRGID is responsible for the operations and maintenance of its' water system, sewer system, streets, storm drain system, streetlights, maintenance of open spaces and parks and recreation.  Because of GRGID's size and accessibility to its residents, many inquiries are fielded that are not within GRGID's control.  In these cases the District will assist the resident in filing an inquiry with Douglas County.  GRGID is asked to review all proposed housing and commercial projects that desire to locate within the Districts' service area.  The Districts' recommendations are then forwarded to Douglas County Community Development for review and then forwarded to the Douglas County Commission.

Residential growth has been slow and steady during the past five year but now has started to blossom once again.  The Rocky Terrace Estates Subdivision located near the Hellwinkel Dairy on Centerville road consists of 90 single family lots approximately 12,000 sq. ft in size.  Rocky Terrace Estates LLC has constructed an 800 gallon per minute well dedicated it to the District.  Homes are now being built at Rocky Terrace Estates.

The first phase of Clocktower LLC has turned the old Cottonwood Care Center into senior apartments.  Clocktower has received a zone change to allow for the completion of the project with more  apartments for senior citizens.  The Sierra Assisted Living Foundation has started construction on their first of three buildings on Kimmerling Rd.  In addition, Heritage Nevada has finished construction of its energy efficient model homes and now is actively marketing homes for sale.

The Cedar Creek subdivision is a 67 home gated community is located on Dresslerville Road near Tillman and Arrowhead Dr. and is now selling homes.

The Ranchos Sierra Subdivision has been approved by the Douglas County Commission.  The District is now negotiating an annexation agreement.  The Subdivision when built out will have 302 homes with an additional 2.5 acre site for future schools.  

The 540 acres that wraps around Long Valley Rd. to the south is in the planning stage and could bring up to 3,000 units in the next 10 to 15 years.  Issues for both the Sierra Ranchos and this project will be water capacity, storage and traffic. These issues will have to be addressed prior to any agreements being signed.

 The Sequoia Village Plaza Subdivision has homes for sale.  They are located in front of the Sequoia Village Condominiums off  Tillman Ln.  A small 6 home subdivision on Sorenson Lane and another on Jodi Lane are in the works also. 

Rainshadow Ranch Subdivision will build 43 homes.  A model is now open with lots for sale.

The District Board of Trustees feels that growth must pay for itself.  The District requires through its annexation agreement process that any growth must bring in water rights, water capacity with sufficient infrastructure for its project.

Bob Spellberg
District Manager