Lance Gilman is a well-known business man in Northern Nevada.
The brothel owner, real estate developer and Storey County commissioner is one of three partners who spent millions of dollars developing the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center. Gilman, along with partners Don Roger Norman and William Roger Norman, built a road into the industrial park, but to complete the project they looked for funding from the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT).
The state will not only spend $70 million to complete the road, known as USA Parkway, but an additional $43 million was given to Gilman and his partners to reimburse them for the first six miles of highway.
That $43 million will pay for improvements to the existing highway and buy land from Gilman and his partners so NDOT can extend the road by 12.5 miles.
Once the USA Parkway is completed it will be maintained by NDOT and connect I-80 to U.S. Highway 50. NDOT's board approved the payment late last year after Tesla Motor's announced it would build its $5 billion battery factory at the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center.
Supporters believe the road, called USA Parkway, will relieve traffic congestion and bring additional economic development to the industrial park. The 100,000-acre industrial park is home to Walmart and PetSmart. Critics question the size of the tax-payer sponsored payoff.
GUEST
Paul McKenzie, executive secretary-treasurer, Building Trades and Construction Trades Council of Northern Nevada/AFL-CIO.
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