Las Vegas council briefs for November 23, 2001

Friday, Nov. 23, 2001 | 9:36 a.m.

State grant will help program

The Nevada Division for Aging Services has awarded the city of Las Vegas a $25,000 grant to help with the relocation of a senior program that had to find a new home because of toxic mold.

The Senior Law Project was located at the Howard Cannon Center, but a mold problem forced it to move. The project moved to a new location at 3100 W. Sahara Ave., but a rent increase cost the project $20,000 per year it hadn't budgeted.

Brown leaves 51s for Games

Las Vegas Councilman Larry Brown, a former minor league pitcher and employee of the Las Vegas 51s, has cut his financial ties to the team.

Brown was hired earlier this month as the executive director of the Greater Las Vegas Inner-City Games, replacing Jack Mannion, who retired. Brown had been working part time for the Las Vegas 51s, and said he will officially leave the job early next month.

The Greater Las Vegas Inner-City Games is part of a national sports and cultural program designed to deter youth from gangs, drugs and violence.

Brown said his position will be full time, and he will be working from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m, with mornings available to meet with constituents and take care of other council duties.

Hotel zoning is approved

Property pegged for a downtown furniture mart may now include a hotel.

The Las Vegas City Council Wednesday approved a petition by the Union Pacific Railroad to designate 34.21 acres as a gaming enterprise district, out of the available 56-acre furniture mart project.

Contracts awarded to two builders

Residents impatient to have a park at Redwood Street and Oakey Boulevard soon will see construction begin.

The Las Vegas City Council Wednesday awarded the $1.5 million contract to Richardson Construction Inc. The 16.85-acre park will include a playground, picnic tables and more. The annual operations, maintenance and utility costs related are estimated to be $101,000.

Residents told the Sun in 2000 that the park was promised to them in 1999 by Las Vegas Councilman Michael McDonald, but had not yet materialized.

The council also approved a $1.8 million construction bid with Las Vegas Paving Corp. to build Garehime Heights Park in the ward served by Councilman Larry Brown.

The 19.47-acre park will be at the southwest corner of Alexander Road and Campbell Avenue.

The city has received a $132,866 grant

from the U.S. Department of Justice to help cover costs for incarcerating criminal aliens. Once a year, the department makes funds available to partially reimburse agencies for the cost of incarcerating aliens booked on local charges. Last year the agency awarded the city $117,374.