BEATTY -- The wheels that have been spinning for some time regarding the development of a Beatty master plan may have found some traction at the town board's April 25 meeting.

Skip Canfield from the state planning office was on hand again, and this time he brought others with him, including Kevin Hill, who administers the Question 1 (Q1) grant money, with some of which the community plans to do open-space planning.

Nye County's new planning director, Jack Lohman, was also at the meeting and said he was still learning about the county and about what was available, but he said he would do what he could to help the town acquire the maps it needs for the planning process.

Lohman also said that he recommended going to bid with the request for proposal for the open space plan without specifying the dollar amount. He said the plan might cost more than the amount of the Q1 grant and the county's match, which totals $40,000, but that it is a slow time for planners in Nevada, and he'd like to see what kind of response they get.

Hill said the state might be able to come up with more Q1 money to help if necessary.

Canfield explained that a good way to proceed would be to begin with a "windshield survey," which involves volunteers driving around the community and marking a map with what already exists in each location, whether it be single-family residence, multiple-family, commercial, public, vacant and so on.

He said that overlay maps should be created, showing different areas of interest. He said five are required by law -- population, conservation, transportation, land use, and public services -- but the community can plan in other categories that it finds important.

Chairman Larry Gray said he was frustrated with "spinning our wheels" in the planning process, and audience member Gus Sullivan questioned why the board had disbanded its planning committee. He said the board needs to establish a time line to get things done.

Gray asked Canfield whether he could help the board identify concrete things they could accomplish at the next couple of meetings. After some discussion, three issues were scheduled: the windshield survey, the acquisition of a flood-plain map and information on public utilities.

Charlie Cook pointed out that the Department of Energy is apparently planning to close the Yucca Mountain Information Office in Beatty.

He felt that the community should express support for keeping it open and preserving the jobs of those who work there. Gray put it on the agenda for the next meeting.