NID News Release

February 24, 2010

Contact: Ron Nelson (530)273-6185 Or Dave Carter (530)265-NEWS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GRASS VALLEY – A community water project to supply up to 240 parcels in the Cement Hill Road area near Nevada City is facing delay because of objections raised by a nearby landowner. 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 3250-foot elevation, is the most practical location for a 1 million-gallon storage tank. Halpern, however, said 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. Halpren 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). Directors also postponed for two weeks notices of intent to begin eminent domain for acquisition of two easements needed for the Mt. Vernon Road Siphon Project in Placer County. Directors said they anticipate that landowner concerns there will be satisfactorily addressed.

NID Sr. Right-of-Way Agent Matthew Crowe said current NID water system improvements are requiring acquisition of more than 200 easements. He said district staff is almost always successful in negotiations with property owners and that the necessity for eminent domain is rare.

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