County briefs for April 3, 2002

Wednesday, April 3, 2002 | 8:42 a.m.

Consulting service to be hired

In an attempt to strip controversy from McCarran International Airport land swaps, Clark County commissioners agreed Tuesday to hire a real estate consulting service to assist with the process.

Commissioners have questioned whether the airport was getting cheated and private developers were benefiting from the county's Cooperative Management Area program, which allows the airport to engage in land exchanges.

Commission Chairman Dario Herrera abstained from the vote to hire Applied Analysis because Jeremy Aguero -- a close friend of Herrera -- is a principal with the firm.

Four new inspectors OK'd

Four new inspectors will join the Clark County Fire Department after undergoing a yearlong hazardous materials training course.

Commissioners on Tuesday approved spending $250,000 annually on the inspectors. Clark County Manager Thom Reilly requested additional inspectors after a report outlining October's AeroTech fire showed the plant was inspected 10 times between 1988 and 1995 and not again until 2000.

Reilly has said inspections wouldn't have prevented the fire at the model rocket engine plant in Henderson, but it showed that additional fire personnel is needed to conduct more frequent inspections.