By John Trent, Outpost contributor
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Environmental chemist mixes science, politics Jet ski gas sullies waters Miller helps revise mining act |
"This place is absolutely amazing," Sandoval says.
Miller grins. "You haven't even been inside yet."
Once inside, the tour for Sandoval's legislative oversight committee covers practically every inch of the historic property - a massive, medieval chateau of stone on 140 acres of rocky promontory built in 1938 by George Whittell, an eccentric San Francisco real estate magnate.
The property is now owned by Jack Dreyfus, a New York philanthropist and junk bond king. With a mile of shoreline, the Whittell Mansion is on the largest privately held parcel on the lake. It has stone guest chalets, a 100-foot boathouse and unsurpassed views of Lake Tahoe in all directions.
Miller is here to help convince some of the members of the Nevada State Assembly that the property should be acquired by the University of Nevada. Work has been going on since last summer through the San Francisco-based American Land Conservancy to acquire the Whittell Mansion from Dreyfus. Sources close to UNR say the university is willing to pay about $3.5 million for the property. If the transaction is completed, the lodge, boathouse and other structures would become home to important scientific research, as well as serve as an educational and cultural resource for students and the public.
"We would use the property to create both a world-class conference center and a field research station to support the many ongoing faculty and student research projects in the Tahoe Basin, and expand our research activities," says Ken Hunter, university vice president for research. Educational uses would include natural history, environmental and other programs for university undergraduate and graduate students as well as students in grade school through high school. The public would take advantage of an academic conference center, natural history seminars, supervised tours and special events.
"The university is the organization that can and should own these buildings," Miller says. "The overriding thing is, this place would be known as one of the most important and interesting research sites not only in the country, but in the world."
Miller, along with Phil Caterino of the American Land Conservancy, slowly and carefully takes the committee through the mansion. A couple of the committee members haven't exactly been the best of friends with Miller of the years - Gardnerville representative Lawrence Jacobsen being one. But Miller is nonetheless cordial and friendly with them all. He's particularly interested in meeting Sandoval, a young and up-and-coming assemblyman from Reno.
"I know Brian is a conservative Republican, and I'm a liberal Democrat," Miller says. "But I also know he has a reputation for fairness and open-mindedness. I've heard he's an extremely bright person, and a good listener. I like that in anyone, no matter what party they belong to." It's obvious the tour - and Miller - leave an impression. At one point, staring out of a huge glass window in a room that could easily serve as a conference center one day, Sandoval shakes his head with disbelief.
"It just seems so incredible to have a place like this at Lake Tahoe," Sandoval says. "This room looks like Bush and Gorbachev should've had meetings in it. It has that kind of all-encompassing,. Presidential feel to it."
Miller agrees: "Once you take a look at this place, it's difficult not be taken by it."
Posted Jan. 29, 1998
Copyright 1998 Nevada Oupost
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