66°F
weather icon Windy

County planners approve use permit for tigers’ property owner

Roughly one month after a 60-day extension was granted by Fifth District Court Judge Kim Wanker, the Pahrump Regional Planning Commission voted to issue a conditional use permit to Ray the "Flagman" Mielzynski, property owner of a north-side facility housing 10 tigers.

The planning commission voted 4-3 in favor of the conditional use permit with special conditions, including a bladed access road to and from the property.

Member Vincent Clark said the additional special conditions forbid the public exhibition of the tigers and the facility must allow regular visits to the property by Nye County Animal Control officers to ensure the animals are healthy and secure.

"We obviously don't want them getting out," he said.

Chairman John Koenig, Vice Chairman Gregory T. Hafen II and member Joel Oscarson were the dissenters.

The decision can be appealed within 30 days to the Nye County Commission.

Following the meeting, Mielzynski said he was relieved the commission made what he believed was the proper decision.

He noted that "something magical" happened Thursday evening.

"We saved the tigers and it would have been a very crazy thing to have these tigers punished over something that was so minor and so petty," he said. "I want to thank everybody on the RPC board that saw the light and realized this is not something that should have been acted on."

Last month, Wanker denied a motion to reconsider a previous ruling, giving Karl and Kayla Mitchell, along with property owner Ray Mielzynski, until Nov.10 to remove the animals from the property located at 6016 Woodchips Road.

Mielzynski was able to get the item on the RPC's agenda earlier this month.

He said the tiger issue has been an ongoing battle for several years after an anonymous complaint came before county commissioners, who previously approved the facility.

"When the commissioners approved this back in 2007, they made it complaint-driven, which means you can have the cats and other large animals as long as nobody complains, so you won't need a conditional use permit," he said. "There are four other big cat places here that do not have this conditional use permit because nobody complained about them."

Additionally, Mielzynski said the issue should never have gone on as long as it did.

"It amazes me that it just kept going on and on because there could have been a resolution a long time ago," he said. "I've been getting all kinds of positive reaction from just about everybody, even at the courthouse."

Had the RPC not granted the conditional use permit, Mielzynski said he believes the issue would have negative repercussions for Nye County.

"For them to remove the tigers would have been horrible and the media was on to it," he said. "If something happened to one or more of those tigers, the Cecil the Lion shooting would be nothing compared to this. The whole country would have been after Nye County. The RPC acted correctly by reinstating the conditional use permit."

Though he's grateful for the RPC's ruling, Mielzynski is still taking a wait-and-see position.

"This should make the court case a moot issue but you never know if they will try to pull the rug out from under us some other way," he said. "This is still hanging over our heads because we don't know what the judge will do in January. I hope it will just go by the wayside."

Had the RPC had not granted the conditional use permit, Mielzynski said he had an alternative plan.

"If we were voted down, we would have the opportunity to appeal to the county commissioners to override the Regional Planning Commission," he said. "That's why the commissioners literally got thousands of text messages, emails and recordings about saving the tigers."

Mielzynski struck a humorous note during the meeting when he invoked a popular 80's hit song by the group Abba.

"It may have had something to do with me threatening to sing the Abba song 'Take a Chance on Me,'" he said with a laugh. "Maybe they figured they couldn't stand the Flagman singing, so they decided to give me the permit and get me out of there. No one is upset that I can see. Not the district attorney, the judge or anybody in the district attorney's office. They all seem positive and most of the attorneys that I have spoken to are simply amazed that it went on this far. Something magical happened on Thursday night."

Contact reporter Selwyn Harris at sharris@pvtimes.com. On Twitter: @sharrispvt

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST
Beatty Clinic gets tons of help with new a/c

BEATTY — The Beatty Foundation, an affiliate of AngloGold-Ashanti (AGA), did tons of good at the Beatty Clinic on March 22. Nine tons, exactly.

11th Annual Chili Cook-Off brings tempting tastings and festival fun

The 11th Annual International Chili Society and Silver State Chili Cook-Off took over Petrack Park this past weekend for three days filled with savory tastings, fun and activities and of course, some intense culinary competition.

Pahrump homeschoolers dance the night away

Pahrump Valley’s homeschool youth were whisked away into the Enchanted Forest this month, with local Moose Lodge #808 hosting a night of dancing and revelry in honor of an age-old adolescent right-of-passage, prom.

Looking for some family fun for Easter? Hop over to Simkins Park

Anyone looking for a fun, family-friendly festivity to enjoy this holiday can hop on over to Simkins Park to join the Mills family as they celebrate Easter Sunday with worship music, free food and an enormous 14,000-egg hunt that is sure to bring a smile to hundreds of faces.

Campground fees to increase at Death Valley National Park

DEATH VALLEY, Calif. — Visitors to Death Valley National Park can expect a slight increase in entrance fees for various campgrounds beginning on May 1.

Clerk staffer Cori Freidhof appointed interim leader

Nye County Clerk Mark Kampf’s time in office officially comes to a close on March 31 and deputy clerk Cori Freidhof has now been selected to assume that vacated seat. Freidhof will take over the office as of Monday, April 1 and fulfill the unexpired term ending Jan. 1, 2027.

Gaming can have impact on us

When does gaming cross the line from recreational relaxation to problematic behavior? How do video games and gambling relate? What resources are available for those who find themselves struggling to control their relationship with video games and gambling?

County eyeing impact fee increases

The cost to develop in Pahrump could go up, with a public hearing on a proposal to raise local impact fees set for next month.

Here’s who filed as political candidates in Nye County

Locals have filed their political candidacy as of March 15 and this year two major offices in Nye County will be up for grabs in the general election. Nye County residents have to first narrow down their preferred party candidate on June 11 in the primary and then vote in November to support their preferred candidates.