Mayors Tedford and McIntyre Talk Housing, Growth, and Infrastructure with Area Realtors

Two mayors who grew up in the communities they lead, Ken Tedford of Fallon and Neil McIntyre of Fernley, sat down with local Realtors recently to compare notes on growth, housing, and what’s next for the region.

Speaking at a Realtors Association luncheon in Fallon, the pair outlined how their cities are built to make decisions and how that affects everything from housing approvals to road projects.

Mayor Ken Tedford reminded the crowd that Fallon is one of Nevada’s six general-law cities and operates under a strong-mayor form of government that dates back to 1908.

“The mayor is the chief executive officer,” Tedford said. “I don’t legislate and I don’t vote, our council does that, but day-to-day operations begin and end with me.”

Fallon’s footprint is compact, about four square miles with roughly 9,300 residents in the city and 26,000 countywide. The city also runs an unusual suite of municipal services: electric, water, sewer, solid waste and landfill, plus the municipal airport. Tedford said that “one hallway” services helps residents and developers get answers quickly. He’s created a standing development group made up of the city attorneys, engineering, public works, and the mayor’s office to meet with applicants and resolve issues early.

Fernley, by contrast, spans 168 square miles and uses a non-voting mayor system with a five-member council. “I only vote to break a tie, which is rare,” Mayor Neil McIntyre said. Fernley’s growth, he added, makes coordination essential: “There’s so much happening at once. We’re working to keep it organized, efficient, and attractive—and still keep our small-town feel.”

Both mayors said demand outpaces supply.

Tedford said the city is actively meeting with developers and is especially focused on housing near Naval Air Station (NAS) Fallon, where the Navy has pushed for more single-family and multifamily options. Some annexed subdivisions are entitled but stalled, he said, largely due to interest rates and project financing.

Fernley has a large pipeline already entitled. “Right now, we have about 3,500 lots permitted and approved by council that haven’t been built,” McIntyre said. Within city engineering, another 1,400 single-family units and 592 multifamily units sit ready to go as market conditions improve, he added. National builders have shown interest, but timelines have shifted with rates.

Both mayors pointed out to attendees the Nevada Rural Housing programs that can help first-time buyers with down-payment assistance and interest-rate options, noting that some lenders and buyers overlook the program because of the extra paperwork.

In Fallon, the city’s southeast business park is filling after years of groundwork. Recent additions include an Amazon distribution facility and Bay Tech. The Dairy Farmers of America plant continues to anchor the park. Tedford credited a long-running, city-county development partnership, now the Churchill Fallon Economic Development association, led by Executive Director Jim Barbee, with recruiting employers and pursuing new hotel projects to support events at the Rafter 3C Arena.

Fernley’s pitch centers on logistics and industry access: Interstate 80, U.S. 50, U.S. 95, and a mainline rail connection. McIntyre said interest from datacenter and lithium “loop” firms has grown alongside regional mining activity. The goal, he said, is to land employers that “hire locally and make it hard to leave,” allowing more Fernley residents, an estimated 65 to 70% of whom commute to work.

Traffic and connectivity drew plenty of questions. McIntyre said Fernley is advancing a bypass to connect I-80 to U.S. 50 near Victory Logistics, a project awarded a major federal grant several years ago but now facing higher construction costs. The city is also pursuing improvements on Main Street including benches, landscaping, art installations and updated development codes requiring sidewalks and paths in new projects.

The Fernley roundabout remains a sore spot at peak hours. McIntyre said long-term fixes could include the bypass diverting trucks and, someday, an elevated “flyover” if funding appears.

In Fallon, Tedford said the city has spent years adding and repairing sidewalks and trails from the Lower Mills Park loop to paths through the business park to improve everyday walkability. The city continues to coordinate with the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) on state-route segments through town.

Both mayors said federal funding that flows through agencies can be slow to arrive, complicating local budgets as costs escalate. Tedford noted congressionally directed dollars (“earmarks”) awarded as far back as 2021 that have yet to be released by federal agencies. McIntyre shared a similar experience: a $25 million federal award for the Fernley bypass now falls short as the estimate has climbed.

Both cities continue to work with regional partners; Fernley coordinates with the Western Nevada Development District (WNDD) on water and sewer funding and economic planning and Fallon engages through local economic-development groups and with Churchill County on shared priorities.

Asked how they hope their cities will be remembered a decade from now, both leaders emphasized measured growth and quality of life.

“I want Fallon to be known for consistent, well-planned growth, always 20 to 30 years ahead on utilities without burdening residents,” Tedford said.

McIntyre’s vision for Fernley: “Organized, efficient, sustainable. Keep the small-town feel, add recreation and entertainment, and make Fernley a place where people live, work and play.”