Bluth, Douglas County parking lot battle escalates

By Kathryn Reed

It appears Douglas County’s elected officials and staff are not communicating well.

Commissioners Nancy McDermid and Greg Lynn met Friday morning with Chuck Bluth at his Glenbrook residence to discuss the disputed parking lot of the Nugget Building in Stateline. (This is where Sushi Pier and other businesses are.) Commissioners then went on to view the site for themselves.

This section of parking lot at the Nugget Building is being disputed. Photo/Kathryn Reed

Commissioners had been told by staff and the District Attorney’s Office to let them handle the situation and not engage Bluth in conversation.

After the July 2 meeting, Bluth told Lake Tahoe News, “I think Nancy came up with some very good ideas and concepts and they will take it back and discuss it with the other commissioners.” He didn’t want to divulge specifics.

McDermid did not return a call.

When contacted Friday afternoon by Lake Tahoe News, the county manager’s office quickly came up with a press release. (It was originally Steve Mokrohisky, assistant county manager, who contacted LTN in May about the issue. Click here for that story and background.)

The two-page press release outlines a back-and-forth dialogue between the county and Bluth about a lease price, length of contract and improvements to be made. The last sentence says, “The county continues to hope that we can come to an agreement and is ready and open to resume discussion with Bluth Enterprises.”

Apparently, County Manager Michael Brown doesn’t know two of his bosses have already resumed discussions.

Because some of what has allegedly been agreed to was done verbally, the situation has escalated in writing between Bluth and the county to where each is accusing the other of changing the parameters to an unacceptable outcome.

Perhaps the commissioners can resolve the issue. For now, the lot is open.