Objections lead to delay in NID's Cement Hill water project

 Kriss Halpern, a Southern California-based manager for Sugarloaf Properties, LLC, attended Wednesday’s (Feb. 24) meeting of the Nevada Irrigation District Board of Directors to raise questions about a district plan for a water-storage tank on his group’s property.

 The district is seeking to purchase 0.94 acres of a total 111 acres known as the Mull Estate, part of an overall 155 acres east of Nevada City owned by Sugarloaf Properties.

 District engineers said the site, on the edge of the Mull property at the 3,250-foot elevation, is the most practical location for a 1 million-gallon storage tank.

  Halpern said that his building sites on the large parcel are limited and that the water tank would detract from the neighborhood if and when it is developed. He said the land is more valuable than appraised.

 Halpern said he did not want to delay the water project but complained he was ignored in NID’s planning process. District officials said his firm has received notification throughout the planning process.

 Cement Hill resident Norm Stout, who has lobbied for the water project for several years, urged the board to keep the project moving forward. 

 Construction is already under way in other areas of the water project.

After a lengthy discussion, the board delayed for two weeks the adoption of a notice of intent to commence eminent domain proceedings.

  Halpern agreed to meet again with district engineers to see if the tank site could be moved eastward on the property. A meeting at the site was scheduled for Thursday (Feb. 25).