Commission OKs $1.5 million for fight

Adrienne Packer

Tuesday, April 16, 2002 | 11:27 a.m.

Clark County commissioners voted 5-2 this morning to approve giving $1.5 million to the state to help with legal fees associated with the fight to keep nuclear waste from being stored at Yucca Mountain.

The money will come from funds set aside to buy fire equipment and replace obsolete county computers. The commission also agreed to delay building a Goodsprings courthouse, freeing up nearly $1 million.

Commissioners Bruce Woodbury and Chip Maxfield opposed the move, saying the county's budget is already tight and the $1 million the county has already contributed to the fight was sufficient.

"I think we're going beyond what is appropriate," Woodbury said.

The money will help state leaders fight the proposed nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain. The money is expected to be applied toward a $3 million matching fund OK'd by a state legislative committee last week.

State leaders have asked residents, businesses and governments to give to the fund, and Gov. Kenny Guinn called for every Nevadan to contribute at least $1.

So far, the state has seen $77,777 in private donations -- everything from four quarters taped to a piece of cardboard to a $75,000 donation from an Incline Village woman. The next largest contribution was $200. County leaders were concerned about their budget and the projects that will be affected by the $1.5 million.

County Manager Thom Reilly assured commissioners that the fire department can still go forward with its initial planned purchases and taking money from a new computer system will not affect services. He also said the county will not be prepared to begin construction on the Goodsprings courthouse for several months.

Commissioner Myrna Williams said the county can't afford to wait until the budget is approved in May before contributing the money, as Maxfield had suggested.

"This is our one chance; we can't wait to do this," Williams said. "Our best shot (to defeat the dump) is to get people informed at this time to stop it before it happens."