Editorial: County just can’t seem to get along

Monday, Jan. 8, 2001 | 9:23 a.m.

The Las Vegas City Council and the Clark County Commission are supposed to work in harmony on a seamless land-use plan for the valley. But two recent decisions by the Clark County Commission, as reported by the Sun in our Sunday edition, show that the commissioners aren't acting like good neighbors to their brethren from the city. Indeed, these actions make it appear as if the "seamless land-use plan" is in name only.

At a City Council meeting last week, Councilman Larry Brown complained about the county's failure to require the construction of sidewalks, flood-improvement projects and traffic signals along a stretch of Buffalo Drive in the fast-growing northwest. What piqued Brown's ire was that a new middle school in the area will be placed on Lone Mountain Road, which doesn't yet have sidewalks or flood control. Brown correctly notes that the lack of needed infrastructure improvements risks the safety of children who attend these schools.

Also last week the County Commission approved a controversial project, changing rural zoning to commercial at the intersection of U.S. 95 and Kyle Canyon Road. The change will allow the development of a convenience store, shopping center and gasoline station. In addition to the fact that many nearby residents objected to a commercial development as being inappropriate for the scenic area, the nearby land is virtually undeveloped. This creates a strain on the city since it will have to extend benefits, such as sewer service, to the area. That apparently doesn't concern County Commissioner Myrna Williams. "That is a problem between the city of Las Vegas and the developer," Williams said.

Zoning definitely is an area that should require better coordination between the city and the county. For that matter, zoning is an excellent example of why there should be city-county government consolidation. There already is a Regional Flood Control District, a Regional Transportation Commission and a Metro Police Department that serves both city and county residents. The reason why there isn't a more encompassing consolidation of local government services in the valley is the resistance of local elected officials to give up their power. This truly is a shame because the very people they are supposed to be representing are the ones being denied a practical and more efficient government.