Herrera to deliver good news, bad news

Adrienne Packer

Thursday, Jan. 11, 2001 | 11:18 a.m.

He's young and new to his post as Clark County Commission chairman, but don't expect a timid State of the County address from Dario Herrera on Tuesday.

Herrera rebuffed a draft speech from the county's public information office and crafted his own. Like past addresses by board chairs, Herrera will touch on the county's successes. But he won't shy away from its hurdles.

"We are in great shape," Herrera said. "But just as important as talking about what we have done is talking about what we have left to accomplish." Herrera said a main task is making sure the county complies with Environmental Protection Agency air quality regulations.

Even though Commissioner Bruce Woodbury made air quality a top priority in his address last year, the county has yet to submit a report that satisfies EPA dust control regulations. It has 18 months to file a report before federal sanctions are applied to the valley.

"We've made significant improvement, but there is still room for more improvement," Herrera said. "Part of that is submitting a plan that the EPA will accept as meaningful for solving air quality problems."

Herrera doesn't intend to wage a legal war against the Department of Energy over the repository planned for Yucca Mountain, as Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman did in his state of the city address, but the chairman supports the mayor's endeavor.

The county's battle against Yucca Mountain proponents also will top Herrera's list of priorities for the next two years.

"We need to do everything possible to make sure this deadly waste doesn't travel Nevada roads," Herrera said. "I applaud any effort toward that end."

It is unknown whether a video lauding the county for its accomplishments will accompany Herrera's speech as it did during Woodbury's delivery last year. Much of Herrera's time will be spent outlining each of his colleague's priorities such as land use, health care and child welfare.

"I want to provide vision for the county and identify our challenges for the next two years," Herrera said.

Unlike Goodman's speech, which was a special event that took place in the late afternoon, Herrera will make his address during Tuesday's regular Clark County Commission meeting.