Office of the Mayor
2008 Key Accomplishments
Two thousand and eight was a momentous year for the City of Fallon. The City celebrated its 100th Anniversary of incorporation with special events, artistic performances, conventions, tree plantings, commemorative coins, medallions, and playing cards, and the construction of a Centennial Stage in Oats Park upon which Dave Alvin & the Guilty Men performed the very first concert.
Mayor Ken Tedford, Jr. created the Centennial Commission, chaired by Michon Mackedon and Valerie Serpa, to coordinate all of the celebratory efforts and work with just about all of the organizations in Fallon including Naval Air Station Fallon to create a year to remember.
An event called Octane Fest, a motor sports festival with the potential to impact all of northern Nevada, was successfully launched. The Cantaloupe Festival brought professional fights back to rural Nevada with “Friday Night Fights.” A City Band was formed that played at many of the Centennial events.
The Big Read energized the entire community as thousands of copies of the “Maltese Falcon” were read by students and parents to emphasize the importance of reading. The Churchill County Museum produced a 100-year-retrospective edition of “In-Focus,” Lattin Farms carved “Happy 100th Birthday Fallon” into its five-acre Nevada corn maze, and the Hearts of Gold Quilters stitched together one of the most glorious quilts in the City’s 100 years.
The Nevada League of Cities, the Nevada Firefighters Association, and the Nevada Museum Association all convened in Fallon and were treated to a Centennial welcome and extra special hospitality.
Included in the year’s festivities was a special day to honor 2008 Fallon Olympian Aarik Wilson. Hundreds of supporters gathered on Maine Street and paraded with Aarik to Oats Park where track and field games, food, and entertainment filled the day capped off by a tremendous fireworks show.
The year wound down with the 79th Christmas tree lighting and a birthday party in Oats Park that reminded the citizens of Fallon of the time in 1908 when the way was cleared for Fallon to become a city.
Accomplishments Summary
- Hosted the Nevada League of Cities
- Constructed the Centennial Stage in Oats Park
- Completed the Centennial Electrical Substation
- Upgraded the in-car police computers and the department radio system
- Purchased a new digital video system for the Police Department
- Extensively remodeled the Oats Park Gym
- Installed exercise stations in Oats and Laura Mills Parks
- Improved traffic signals
- Finished the Southwest sewer interceptor and new lift station
- Acquired the solid waste transfer station and began operations there
- Remodeled the old lift station location at Whitaker and 5th Street
- Wrapped up the 2.4 kv electrical conversion
- Slurry sealed the Fallon Municipal Airport’s aprons
- Remodeled Douglass Estate and improved ADA access
- Began the accreditation process for the Fallon Police Department