Wynn resigns from TRPA

Thursday, Aug. 27, 1998 | 11:10 a.m.

Wynn, the chairman of Mirage Resorts and a former Lake Tahoe property owner, announced his resignation from the TRPA governing board at its regular meeting at the lake Wednesday.

Mirage Resorts' $1.6 billion Bellagio hotel is set to open in Las Vegas in October, and the $600 million Beau Rivage is set to open in Mississippi in February.

"From now until then, I don't have five seconds to do anything extracurricular," Wynn said. "If I could go on a leave of absence from now until April, I would. But it's not allowed under the law, and it's not fair to the board either if I'm not able to spend adequate time on TRPA issues."

Wynn has served as Nevada's at-large appointee on the TRPA board since January 1995. Other Nevada members of the bi-state agency will select his successor.

Wynn was a leading force in the debate over pollution of the lake caused by personal watercraft and other motorboats powered by two-cycle engines.

Last year, the TRPA voted to ban two-stroke engines from the lake beginning in June 1999.

Critics charged Wynn used his power to crack down on the machines because he didn't like the noise outside his waterfront home at Incline Village, which he recently sold for roughly $18 million.

Drake DeLanoy, governing board chairman and a Las Vegas attorney, said Wynn's efforts made TRPA a recognized leader on the issue of water pollution caused by marine engines.

"I think Mr. Wynn has been a real positive factor on the TRPA board," added John Upton, governing board member representing El Dorado County, Calif.

"He's certainly shown great enthusiasm," Upton said. "I have been honored to serve with Mr. Wynn."