Clark County news briefs

Wednesday, May 6, 1998 | 9:47 a.m.

* MONORAIL DISPUTE--The County Commission expects to have rules regulating private monorails drafted and ready for approval by June, despite several roadblocks to the proposed ordinance. Tuesday, Bob Broadbent, the investment manager for the Hilton-MGM-Bally's limited liability company proposing a $250 million monorail on the east side of the Strip, objected to having to pay a franchise fee or business license fee on the fare box revenue. Broadbent said it could affect the cost of the passenger charges. But county franchise manager Jim Spinello said the county still regarded the monorail venture a business and was thus subjected to franchise fees. The group is far from resolving right-of-way issues despite being granted a monorail corridor agreement that allows them to negotiate a path for the private rail.

* JUSTICE CENTER-- The county approved an interlocal agreement Tuesday with the city of Las Vegas to share in the cost of building the Regional Justice Center downtown. The county agreed to pay $119.5 million, while the city will contribute $29 million using court construction and administrative fees. The city also agrees to cover maintenance costs for the private areas while the county will pay 75 percent of the maintenance costs for the public areas. The board approved a $244 million construction budget last fall for the justice center, expansion of the county detention center and improved juvenile justice facilities.

* NOLEN LAWSUIT-- The county agreed to sign a retainer agreement Tuesday with Moran and Associates to represent Las Vegas Constable Bob Nolen in separate federal lawsuits filed by two former deputy constables. They have appealed a decision by the state's Local Government Employee-Management Relations Board issued last year that neither deputy was wrongfully terminated. As a local government officer, Nolen is covered for liability claims under the county's self-insurance pool. Moran represented Nolen against similar allegations made in a previous ethics complaint.

* AFFORDABLE HOUSING-- The County Commission has approved an action plan for submittal to the Department of Housing and Urban Development to qualify for $16.2 million in federal and state housing and community development grants. If approved, the money will be distributed to Clark County, Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Mesquite and Boulder City. The action plan must be submitted by May 15 and has a 45-day review period. Community Resources Manager Doug Bell said if approved the money could be available by July.

* LIGHTS ON-- Clark County, Nevada Power and Metro Police have joined forces to light up dozens of dark alleyways in the crime-plagued 89109 area with 138 powerful high-pressure sodium street lights. The "One Unified Residency" program was approved Tuesday by the County Commission prior to a demonstration of the Public Area Lighting program in a neighborhood near Swenson Street, between Twain Avenue and Flamingo Road. Clark County also will replace mercury vapor lights with more energy-efficient sodium lights in other county alleyways in older neighborhoods. It will cost the county about $11,000 a year to operate the lights.

* CIRCUS DONATION-- Circus Circus Enterprises has donated $195,000 to Clark County for the construction of a fire station in Jean, 40 miles south of Las Vegas. Growth in neighboring Good Springs and an increasing number of calls for the Interstate 15 corridor added to the response times from the local volunteer department, in an area where major incidents occur and shorter response times are critical.