Utilities underground project goes to bid

Staff Reports
March 28, 2008

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The Washoe County Board of Commissioners approved sending the Crystal Bay utilities underground project out to bid at its Tuesday meeting.

When completed, the Crystal Bay project will be the first utility undergrounding project in Washoe County funded by a special program established by the County Commission in 2006.

In 2006, County Commissioner Jim Galloway asked his fellow Commissioners to consider setting aside 40 percent of the franchise fees imposed on utilities to be used for undergrounding utilities in areas that met the criteria described above.

The proposed construction and utilities costs are about $1.6 million.

Galloway confirmed a $600,000 contribution from Boulder Bay, LLC and is working with Namco Capital Group and other entities to supplement the project's funding source. If agreed upon by these and other private partners, this project will serve as an example of what a public/private partnership can accomplish for the community, as well as setting a precedent for other similar projects.

Earlier this month the Commissioners adopted criteria for the selection of utility projects in Washoe County to be considered for funding support to place lines underground.

Examples of the high priority criteria agreed upon include aesthetics relating to the removal of the heavy concentration of overhead facilities, overhead facilities located in an area that are frequently down due to flooding, snow loads and wind and overhead facilities that are located in close proximity to a school.

The Crystal Bay project was presented to the Commission as one such project that met the criteria and the Board approved moving forward to underground utilities at both ends of the tourist area of Crystal Bay.