Activist

One of the most vigorous community leaders in the Spanish Springs Valley is Vallea Rose. She has battled the county commission and other officials and governing bodies from the grassroots over a host of issues. She has served on her local Citizen Advisory Board (CAB) and owns a business, Pretentious Poodle.

Why are you an activist?

I think it’s my responsibility as a member of this community to be involved in the community.

Do you ever get the feeling that you’re really up against it?

All the time. [Laughs] All the time. But it doesn’t stop me from continuing on.

I noticed that you were registered as a lobbyist at this year’s legislature. What were your issues there?

Land use and planning. Animal stuff. Dog stuff. Renewable energies.

Do you have trouble getting people in the north valleys interested in the issues of their neighborhoods?

Well, the north valleys are pretty good. North valleys, I think, are pretty active. [In Spanish Springs] I have seen in the past the CAB members be more active. … Our current CAB in Spanish Springs grudgingly sits on committees besides CAB stuff. Those of us that were on the CAB before, we were always—I sat on the 20/30 Update, other members sat on the 20/30 Update, we were always involved in other things besides Spanish Springs, because the name of the project, the name of the issue is different, but it’s the same issue over and over and over again. The representation issue, the fears of annexation, the city’s across the street, county residents are feeling unheard—same thing, all the way around from the north valleys to the south valley—the water, the traffic, same thing, just different players.

What are the issues that most frustrate you?

For me, traffic. We keep doing the same things—we keep formulating road building with the same information that obviously has created mistakes. And if we could change those models or change those formulations, you know, instead of building the road to the current traffic, build the road to what it will be way out [in years].

Any issues you see on the horizon that are about to become big?

Winnemucca Ranch or Spring Mountain, whatever it is. Water issues. I was very glad to see the county wasn’t interested in importing water out of the county into a different county. You know what I wish were big issues? If I were queen for the day—and I wish people would put some thought into this—is effluent water use, requiring some kind of solar power use or renewable energy use. You know, like Harvey—and I’m just going to use Harvey [Whittemore, developer of Red Hawk and the Lazy 8] as an example—these big developments. If he were to use effluent water for all the land, you know, I mean it’s a big plot of land, he’s got to dig water lines and he’s got to do sewer lines, so there’s no reason why he can’t put effluent water lines in to do all the watering of the landscaping. I think that’s a wasted asset to this community, is effluent water, and same with solar and even wind.