One-stop shopping for environment

Andy Holtmann

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

A dozen area governmental entities have agreed to work together and focus on improving the environment in the Las Vegas and Eldorado valleys.

As the partnership evolves, community groups seeking advice and assistance on environmental problems will have a resource available that is intended to eliminate the guesswork out of whom to turn to for help.

One call to the partnership should elicit quick assistance from the multiple member agencies.

Such partnerships -- under the guidance of the U.S. Department of Agriculture -- are already under way in Seattle, New York City, Atlanta and Chicago. Boston and Las Vegas are the most recent cities to be approved for seed money from the USDA in order to get programs running.

Started by Gates

Locally, the initiative was begun by County Commission Chairwoman Yvonne Atkinson Gates five months ago when, at her direction, Clark County applied for membership in its Urban Resources Partnership program.

During a ceremony Monday in the commission chambers of the Clark County Government Building, Gates accepted a $50,000 check from Agriculture Undersecretary Jim Lyons. This seed money is intended for the initial expenses of getting the member agencies together and the local Urban Resources Partnership off and running.

"I'm looking forward to this," Gates said. "This is a real chance to make this a better community."

Bill O'Donnell, with the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, envisions the partnership providing "one stop shopping" for groups or organizations looking for technical help and advice in improving their neighborhoods or community.

O'Donnell said the partnership will address problems involving soil, water, plants and animals.

The partnership includes the following governments and agencies:

Clark County, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Nevada Cooperative Extension, Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, Nevada Division of Forestry, Clark County Conservation District, and the city of Henderson.

A united effort

"The partnership offers us a chance to work together with other organizations in one unified effort," said William Dickinson, assistant supervisor for the National Park Service.

O'Donnell said the partnership already has two projects on which it will lend assistance: landscaping at O.K. Adcock Elementary School and storm drains for the city of Henderson.

"This partnership will benefit everyone involved and bring organizations together," said Elwood Miller, associate director of the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension.