Fallon's new construction more than doubles in 2004

FALLON - The pace of new construction in Fallon more than doubled last year and appears poised to continue climbing in 2005.

Last year, the city building department issued 110 permits for new construction, compared to 43 in 2003 and 24 in 2002. Nine of last year's permits were for commercial buildings and 101 were for new homes, 11 of which were multi-family units.

The new construction is valued at more than $17.5 million and developers say the city's boom is just beginning.

"I think this shows the community is vibrant," said Fallon Mayor Ken Tedford Jr. "The city's gone through some bad times in the past and I think that past is behind us."

New building surged in Fallon last spring when the city's new water treatment plant went on line and finally quashed talk of Fallon's much-publicized arsenic problem.

The new homes mean new people coming into the city, too, and a big addition to Fallon's tax rolls. It won't change the city's operations too much though, according to City Clerk Gary C. Cordes.

"It's not like there's a new wave of revenue," he said. "We also have more expenses going out the door."

Still, an influx of people will boost Fallon's economy and the trick, according to Tedford, will be to manage the growth so that it won't alter the town's character.

"It's a balancing act," he said.

"The challenge is maintaining the quality of life we all have and enjoy... That's why we're here in the first place."

Tedford wants to keep Fallon's small-town feel, and continue to make do with a small-town staff.

As Fallon has grown, the city has hired contractors for certain jobs rather than adding employees.

That may have to change soon, Tedford said. Aside from expanding law enforcement to keep pace with the city's population, Tedford said Fallon's engineering and public works departments may soon need some new people.

While new development already is approved for Fallon and much more is in the works, natural forces could eventually cap growth.

There is only so much water in Nevada and different communities are already grappling with one another for control of it.

The city of Fallon recently passed an ordinance requiring developers to bring in enough water rights to support whatever they plan to build, or pay a $3,000 per home fee.

Fernley already has a similar ordinance and officials there plan to use irrigation water from the Truckee River to support future growth.

Reno and Washoe County have also been dipping into the Truckee River as the populations there continue their own growth trend.

"I think that (water) will probably be the limiting factor anywhere," said Tedford.