Deal sends homes to Fallon Tribe from Navy
base
By Josh Johnson
Lahontan Valley News
A deal cut between the U.S. Navy and the
Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe will provide new use for vacant Navy housing that
otherwise would be destroyed.
The Navy and tribe have signed a memorandum of understanding
for the transfer of 69 modular homes, said Capt. Scott Ryder, commanding
officer of NAS Fallon. The agreement followed a long government approval
process, he said.
The homes were built in the 1980s and are located in the
Sagebrush neighborhood, just north of the predominant housing area, off the
base, Ryder said. They were constructed in response to a demand for housing at
the time,
The disposal of older housing usually involves their
destruction and clean up of the site to a natural state, an expense borne by
the U.S. Navy, he said. The tribe will be responsible for moving the homes and
cleaning up the home sites.
"Rather than spend money on that, we partnered with the
Fallon tribe," Ryder said.
The units each contain three bedrooms, one bathroom, kitchen
and laundry facilities and are approximately 1,200 square feet, he said. The
homes have not been occupied for about two years.
The transfer of homes is already underway, with all expected
to be moved by late summer or early fall, Ryder said. He described the
arrangement as beneficial to both parties and a chance to keep usable housing
viable in the community.
"We're just happy to be able to support the tribe and
dispose of some excess housing," said Zip Upham,
NAS Fallon public information officer.
The tribe is utilizing a subcontractor to move the homes,
which are kept intact during transport, Upham said.
Some of the homes will be put to use on tribal lands where
demand and utilities are present, said Rochanne
Downs, a member of the tribe's Fallon Business Council.
She also described the agreement as an example of a good
working relationship between tribe and NAS Fallon.
Tribal Council Chairman Alvin Moyle could not be reached for
comment Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.
