News briefs for May 8, 2002

Wednesday, May 8, 2002 | 9:46 a.m.

City officials seek pay hikes

Henderson City Manager Phil Speight would likely become the highest paid city manager in the Las Vegas Valley if a raise negotiated Tuesday in a closed session is approved in July.

City Attorney Shauna Hughes, who also negotiated a sizable raise for the first time in four years, would likely remain the highest paid city attorney in the valley.

Speight earns $164,406, compared with $167,747 earned by outgoing Las Vegas City Manager Virginia Valentine. If his raise is approved, his salary would increase to $178,669.

Hughes earns $145,686, significantly more than North Las Vegas City Attorney Sean McGowan, who earns $135,000. If her raise is approved, her pay would rise to $162,401.

For both officials, the raises would bring them to a city-established salary ceiling, meaning neither could get future merit raises, but still could get cost-of-living increases.

City Clerk Monica Simmons negotiated an 8 percent raise retroactive to February, boosting her salary of $105,837 to $114,303.

Slashed features are restored

In a move known as "value-engineering," Henderson's construction management department last fall shaved $1.7 million from a planned 36-acre park facility in Green Valley, keeping projected construction costs to $24.2 million.

"We held off on some of the fluff, some of the pretty," said Adrian Clark, city construction project manager for the park, southeast of Interstate 215 and Green Valley Parkway.

On Tuesday the Henderson City Council requested the fluff be included after all, approving $271,000 for 2,500 fixed seats for an outdoor ampitheater and another $240,000 for an eight-lane, 40-foot climbing wall -- two items that were advertised last August as part of the park, but not included for construction bids.

"At the time, we were afraid we would go over budget," John Simmons, city director of construction management, said.

Since August when the city broke ground on the park, the City Council has approved $806,000 in added construction costs, bringing the total construction costs to $25 million. The full project is still within its original $28 million budget, Simmons said.

Thunderbirds set for October show

The Air Force Thunderbirds will perform Oct. 5-6 at the first two-day air show in five years at their home, Nellis Air Force Base, the Air Force said.

It will be the first time Southern Nevadans will get to see the famed precision squadron perform locally since last October at the Jean Air Show and the first time at Nellis since the one-day show in May 2000, base officials said.

The October event, called "Aviation Nation," marks the first time since 1997 that there will be a two-day open house and air show at the local base.

Also scheduled to appear at that event will be the Air Force West Coast F-15 Demonstration Team and a U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier.

The West Coast F-15 demonstration team, based at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is one of six single aircraft demonstration teams assigned to Air Combat Command. The Harrier, based at Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Ariz., will perform a high-speed pass over and a vertical landing, officials said.

Also at Aviation Nation, the U.S. Aerobatic Team, which will represent the United States at the 2003 World Aerobatic Championship, will be unveiled, Air Force officials said.

Murder suspect wanted in Indiana

The Nevada Fugitive Investigative Strike Team has arrested fugitive Curtis Hollis Cooper on a murder warrant issued April 16 in Indianapolis.

Cooper is accused of shooting his girlfriend in the head several times. Cooper has numerous felony convictions, authorities said.

On Saturday Cooper was taken into custody by task force members in the 800 block of Fremont Street without incident.

He is currently being held at the Clark County Detention Center awaiting extradition to Indiana.