County news briefs for March 7, 2001

Wednesday, March 7, 2001 | 11:08 a.m.

A formal plan designed to control airborne dust particles was accepted Tuesday by Clark County commissioners. The report, developed by the county's comprehensive planning division, will be available for public review for 42 days.

The long-awaited plan will be turned over to the Environmental Protection Agency, which has put the Las Vegas Valley under mandate to clean up its dust problem.

Clark County commissioners have scheduled a public hearing for the plan on April 17.

Wisconsin expert to lend a hand

Retired Wisconsin Judge Frederick Kessler was hired Tuesday by the Clark County Commission to handle legal questions regarding the upcoming redistricting project.

Kessler will be paid $30,000 to offer legal assistance on voting rights and constitutional issues related to drawing new boundaries for the Clark County commissioners' districts.

Perhaps concerned the Democratic judge might help his party's commissioners, board member Bruce Woodbury confirmed staff members would draw boundaries and Kessler would simply be available for legal advice.

"This is about voting rights and constitutional issues, not to strategize on how to best get the political advantage," Woodbury said.

Board updated on investigation

Clark County administrators updated commissioners on documents submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency in response to the federal agency's probe into missing Freon.

The EPA's investigation was launched after a citizen reported that the county mishandled and misplaced Freon in the mid-1990s.

Assistant County Manager Mike Alastuey told board members that most documents requested by the EPA, including receipts and inventory sheets, were complete. But when grilled by commissioners, Alastuey conceded that some reports were missing.

If the EPA determines the county was willfully neglectful in its record-keeping related to the ozone-depleting refrigerant, it could face fines of up to $25,000 a day.