Author: Myles Riner, MD, FACEP
In this post I will use the word ‘they’ and ‘their’ to refer to those who have continued, often for years, to complain about IVGID staff, management, and leadership in ways that have done more harm than good for our community.
This handful of community members attend most IVGID meetings, often pointing to “facts” that they use to support their arguments, as if their facts are undeniable proof of their claims of ineptitude and deliberate malfeasance at IVGID. Facts can be manipulated to support any narrative. Facts can be incorrect, misleading, taken out of context, distorted, incompletely misrepresented, exaggerated, and deliberately omitted. Their narrative is generally designed to lead to the deconstruction of IVGID, its takeover by Washoe County or some other entity, or to the surrender of the management of IVGID’s recreational facilities.
Although I believe the facts that they bandy about have often been subjected to the manipulations listed above; I have often said that I object less to what they say than to the way they say it. Unsupported allegations of theft (there was a risk of theft therefor there must have been theft), denigrating accusations of incompetence, stupidity, unprofessionalism, obfuscation, and similar innuendos and insults do little to improve IVGID operations and do great harm to the organization. There are no doubt issues that need to be resolved in accounting and other functions of the District; but couching the efforts to ‘expose’ these issues as efforts to fix and improve them is disingenuous, given the way these complaints and demands have been delivered, both publicly and privately, by these perpetually aggrieved.
Fortunately, in the last election, 75 percent of the voters in Incline Village and Crystal Bay soundly rejected this narrative, and elected a Board of Trustees majority that is supportive of the staff. This Board is intent on rebuilding IVGID after the actions of these few residents and the prior Board majority all but decapitated and dismantled the District, and are determined to fix the issues that need fixing. This new majority has also brought on a new, qualified, General Manager who is likewise committed to these goals.
I am willing to credit this disaffected group for pointing out many of these issues; but quick to assert that often these issues were exacerbated, and even caused, by the uncivil and often malignant approach they have used to make their case. This is, I believe, why they have little credibility with the courts and with state regulators and agencies whom they have frequently and unsuccessfully beseeched to wield sword and hammer to IVGID over these alleged and real deficiencies. We should note that prior to the decimation of IVGID staff and management, the District was well regarded by all of these agencies and regulatory bodies, and widely recognized for excellence in not only accounting but also in providing a great environment for local residents and property owners.
To be transparent, I will say that the narrative I have supported is as follows:
- The staff and management of IVGID have, almost without exception, been dedicated to improving the lives of IV/CB residents, and ensuring the best use of IVGID’s financial resources.
- These people are trustworthy and deserve to be given not just the benefit of the doubt, but our full and unflagging support and faith. Trust but verify should be our approach.
- The facilities and amenities provided by IVGID are exceptional, deserve to be invested in, and are well within the capability of IVGID to manage successfully.
- The current leadership of IVGID is well qualified to fix all of the financial, management, and accounting issues identified in recent audits, and given sufficient time and leeway, should be able to bring IVGID back to a stable and effective status as a functional General Improvement District, despite ongoing protestations and impediments imposed by the perpetually aggrieved in our community.
I believe that the last Trustee election demonstrates that the great majority of Incline Village and Crystal Bay residents and property owners agree, more or less, with this narrative; and wish that these few perpetually aggrieved residents would adopt a more civil, respectful, collaborative, and contributory approach to their oversight of IVGID operations.
Facts matter, but methods matter more.