Regional agencies approve new air quality committee

Friday, Sept. 29, 2000 | 10:52 a.m.

A proposal to study the finances of a new unified air quality agency got a boost from two regional agencies Thursday.

The Clark County District Board of Health voted 11-2 to support creation of a Transition Management Committee that would study the budget and funding requirements for a new proposed air quality agency.

The new agency would combine functions now performed by the Clark County Health District and the Clark County Planning Department. Observers in and out of the agencies have said the division has contributed to problems in dealing with air quality issues in the Las Vegas Valley.

The region is under a federal mandate to clean up carbon monoxide and fine dust pollution in the air.

The two votes against creating the committee, which will report back to the Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition, came from health board members Erin Kenny, a Clark County Commissioner, and Stephanie Smith, a North Las Vegas City Council member and a Kenny political ally.

Kenny has argued that a director should be hired who has free rein to determine the finances for the new air quality agency.

The executive advisory committee of the Regional Transportation Commission also voted to support creating the Transition Management Committee. The advisory board sent its recommendation to the full transportation commission, which will discuss the proposal Oct. 12.

The cities of Las Vegas, Henderson and North Las Vegas have signed off on the interlocal agreement that would create the committee. Earlier this month, Clark County commissioners balked at providing needed approval; the commissioners voted to discuss their support Oct. 3.