County briefs for August 21, 2002

Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2002 | 11:11 a.m.

Kenny calls for OB task force

Fifty-four University Medical Center physicians have rescinded their resignations since the state Legislature passed a medical malpractice tort reform bill in special session last month, but Clark County commissioners are still dissatisfied.

Commissioner Erin Kenny on Tuesday called for a task force to explore why the Las Vegas Valley's obstetricians are closing their offices and declining to see pregnant women.

Kenny said no matter how high insurance rates are, the county needs to find a way to keep obstetricians practicing. About 30 physicians have closed their doors since the medical malpractice insurance crisis.

"We're going to have to get our arms around this issue," Kenny said.

The task force will include physicians, attorneys and specialists. Kenny and Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates, vice chairwoman of the hospital's board of trustees, will also serve on the committee.

Shafer supports changes in offices

Jared Shafer, Clark County's public administrator of 23 years, backed a proposal on Tuesday to eliminate the elected positions of the recorder and public administrator.

Clark County Manager Thom Reilly asked county commissioners to submit a bill draft request to do away with the jobs in 2009. The terms of incumbents Shafer and Recorder Judith Vandever expire Jan. 1. Neither is running for re-election for the positions that pay $72,000 a year.

Reilly said the proposal would streamline administrative duties in the county and save money. He said the county clerk would oversee the recording of marriage licenses and the assessor could handle the processing of real estate paperwork, two key tasks of the county recorder. Other details still need to be worked out.

The Department of Social Services would take care of estates of those who did not write wills, a key task of the public administrator, Reilly said.

"I urge you to support this proposition," Shafer told commissioners. "If the Legislature decides not to do it, so be it."