Community volunteer and courts guard selected as planning commissioner

Roy Semmens was sworn in today as Carson City's newest planning commissioner.

He said he was overwhelmed after city supervisors chose him last week. Semmens, 64, one of 13 candidates for the volunteer position, ran against several qualified residents.

A former insurance-claim adjuster, Semmens and his wife, Faye, moved to Carson City 21 years ago. They opened an art and antiques shop in 1987, but closed it three years later to run a mail-order business from home.

Semmens works part-time for the Carson City District Court and has been a reserve deputy with the Carson City Sheriff's Department for 20 years. He is a member of the sheriff's search-and rescue-team and, for the past three years, has been on the city's Board of Equalization, which hears property tax disputes.

Semmens said he was interested in the planning commission seat to get involved in Carson's future.

"The planning of today provides for the future of tomorrow," he said. "Economic development and future planning are some of the most important things going on in the city."

Semmens served in the Navy during the latter part of Korean War. For fun, he and his wife like to cruise through Nevada on their Harley-Davidson Heritage Softtail motorcycle, and Semmens "moonlights" at Harley-Davidson selling bikes, he said.

He also likes custom cars and won the Mayor's Award last year during the Silver Dollar Classic for his 1955 Chevy Pickup.

Semmens' first commission meeting is April 23.