Our History
The Birth and Evolution of Friends of Banner Mountain
Banner Mountain Homeowners Association
Early in March of 1984 Betty Simpson (with her late husband Joe), and Bob Szabo began the task of organizing the neighbors on Banner Mountain to prevent the reopening of the Banner and the Lava Cap Mines by Franco-Nevada, Inc, a Canadian corporation. It became apparent the Board of Supervisors (BOS) would most likely grant a zoning change from RA-5 to RA-5-ME and a use permit to allow mining when by a 3 to 2 vote they authorized a contract for a Draft EIR. The newly elected Banner Mountain Homeowners Association (BMHA) Board decided they needed legal help and started a serious fund raising campaign. The first Board members were Betty (President), Bob (VP), Jim Barrick (Treasurer), Frank Bartlett, Joan Lancaster, Mary McDaniel, and Austin Sawvell.
By May 1985 the Board of Supervisors had approved the rezoning and issued a use permit with many of the important mitigation measures deleted despite the numerous appeals to deny the request. The BOS realized that decision put a lot of other parts of the county at risk and decided to form an umbrella coalition named REED (Reliable Economic Environmental Development) under the chairmanship of Bob Szabo and Ralph Young to solicit support from people around the county. However, on the advice of their attorney, the late Michael Remy, in June they filed a suit against the BOS and Franco-Nevada to rescind the rezoning. While the suit never went to trial, REED was able to get a referendum on the ballot to overturn the BOS decision for the November election. BMHA and all its supporters won the election by a mere 8 votes. By mutual agreement, the suit was not dropped, but held in abeyance in the event an applicant tried again. This was a major victory for the people against a moneyed organization and some unconcerned politicians.
In the following years, considerable effort went into working with the BOS and the planning organization to reduce the adverse environmental aspects of the Mineral Management Element that was to be incorporated into the County General Plan. This element defined the policy and standards for any future mining operation. Mining is of great historical value in this community, but with much of the land converted to residential zoning it is important that many safeguards be built into statutes. Ironically, the Lava Cap Mine is now an EPA Super Fund site due to the huge quantity of arsenic released into Clipper Creek.
Other important activities and issues taken up by BMHA involved traffic safety on Banner Lava Cap Rd, and scrutiny of the various subdivisions that were planned and developed on Banner. Another long-term priority was fire safety. Working with the responsible fire departments, they offered advice to Banner Mountain Residents about fire safe methods and evacuation information. The Fire Safe Council also agreed to periodic chipping of brush in the area. BMHA also secured agreements from a propane supplier and a septic service to offer discounts to members.
Friends of Banner Mountain and Save Our Historic Canals
In 2014 BMHA began the process of changing their status from a homeowner’s association under IRS Section 501 (c) (4) to a 501(c) 3 charitable, public benefit organization. The purpose of the change was to provide benefits to a broader constituency including not just Banner Mountain homeowners but rather all its residents, visitors and natural and cultural resources. The name changed to Friends of Banner Mountain (FBM).
Shortly after that shift from BMHA to FBM another 501(c) (3) organization, Save Our Historic Canals (SOHC), merged with FBM. SOHC formed in 2001 in response to the Nevada Irrigation District’s (NID’s) proposed Banner Cascade Pipeline Project. This project would have resulted in dewatering and abandonment of the Lower Cascade Canal, which was the location of a beloved trail that had been in use for decades as a favorite hiking trail for Banner Mountain residents and others.
Thanks to the efforts of SOHC and others, and to the willingness of the NID to listen to the community’s concerns, the project was modified in 2003 so that some water would remain in the canal after construction of the project. After flows in the Cascade Canal were assured, SOHC worked on projects such as clean-up days on the canal, installation of milemarkers on the trail, and securing recreation easements from willing landowners. SOHC merged with FBM because the two groups working together would be better able to serve Banner Mountain residents. Funds from SOHC were transferred to FBM in accordance with IRS requirements, and SOHC board members Ed Sylvester, Diana Abrell, Susan Luhman, Ralph Hitchcock and Susan Sanders joined the FBM board.