The Washoe County Commission, led by Chairperson Alexis Hill, approved a block vote allocating nearly $3.2 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to twelve projects.
The decision, which included a $500,000 allocation to the Nevada Museum of Art to relocate the “Seven Magic Mountains” sculpture, has sparked backlash. The block vote passed with a 4-1 majority, with Republican Commissioners Jeanne Herman and Mike Clark raising concerns.
Although Clark objected to the block vote in principle, he ultimately voted in favor of it due to the funding request from the Washoe County Sheriff’s Department. Herman was the sole vote against the block vote.
The “Seven Magic Mountains,” off I-15 near Las Vegas, is on land overseen by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), with a lease set to expire in 2026. The museum has indicated that the cost to relocate the artwork could exceed one million dollars.
After the vote, Clark asked the commission to reconsider the matter. He mentioned that although he supports the Nevada Museum of Art and frequently attends their events, he is unsure if allocating ARPA funds to the museum is the most effective use of funds.
“I’ve asked for the agenda item to come back to the commission, which I believe I can do since I voted in the affirmative,” Clark said. “I sent the email requesting the return of this agenda item – ARPA funds block vote to Commissioner Hill about thirty minutes ago and called DA Mary Kandaras to verbally convey my request. I believe we got hoodwinked, and all information was not provided to those of us on the dais. I’ve heard from over 100 residents who are riled up about this use of funds.”
The controversy deepened when Bethany Drysdale, a spokesperson for Washoe County, challenged the accuracy of reports suggesting Hill was responsible for bundling the ARPA projects together. Drysdale clarified that the ARPA projects were proposed by staff, not by any individual commissioner.
“The staff report was prepared by our Community Reinvestment Manager, and what was proposed in the staff report is what the board voted on. Chair Hill did not allocate any particular amount, nor is she responsible for bundling the grant projects together,” Drysdale explained.
However, Clark contested this account, stating that, according to his understanding and discussions with legal advisors, the final say on the agenda lies with the Chair.
“Anyone else who wants to try and say it is not so, is uninformed or trying to spread disinformation,” Clark asserted.
The board has not set a date to revisit the issue.
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