Ethics Commission to investigate BC allegations

Rachael Levy

Tuesday, June 17, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

The Nevada Ethics Commission will investigate conflict-of-interest complaints against Boulder City Councilman Bob Ferraro and former council members Iris Bletsch and Eric Lundgaard.

The politicians allegedly approved a regional dump and a power station 17 miles south of Boulder City without disclosing that they had an interest in the outcome.

The Ethics Commission is expected to launch its investigation in July, with a hearing scheduled for September or November.

All three politicians said they relied on City Attorney Bill Andrews' opinion when it came to disclosing any and all interests. The complaints were filed by Boulder City residents Hamilton Moore and Nicola Collins. The allegations are:

* Bletsch -- Former councilwoman and owner of Big John's and Sons Auto Wrecking is accused of failing to disclose a business relationship with Nevada Recycling and Boulder City Disposal while voting on garbage rates and approving the regional landfill.

Bletsch, who recently retired as a council member, is accused of not disclosing that her wrecking yard has received $20,000 from Nevada Recycling over the past four years before voting in favor of the landfill.

She also is accused of failing to disclose ownership of stock in Enova Corp., the parent company of El Dorado LLC, which plans to build the power plant.

But Bletsch said she disclosed ownership of a "small amount" of Enova stock before casting her vote. Recently she specified that she had 200 shares out of millions of outstanding stock.

"It absolutely would not color my vote," she said.

* Lundgaard -- The former councilman is accused of voting on a regional dump while working for the Yucca Mountain Project, which aims at storing the nation's nuclear waste 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

Lundgaard, who supported the dump, argued that the complaint was a thinly veiled attempt to sway voters, who ousted him from office during the June 3 general election.

* Ferraro -- The councilman voted in favor of the power plant, but is accused of failing to disclose that his son worked for R&R Advertising Co., the public relations firm which handled El Dorado LLC's publicity.

R&R Advertising said Ferraro's son, Greg, was vice president of the company's Reno-Carson City and Washington, D.C., offices. A company spokesman said Greg Ferraro has not worked on the power plant issue.