NLV council briefs for Dec. 18, 2003

Thursday, Dec. 18, 2003 | 9:47 a.m.

Park to be named for astronaut

A North Las Vegas park that features a model airplane flying field will be named the Willie C. McCool Regional Park, in honor of one of the seven astronauts on the space shuttle Columbia when it exploded during re-entry Feb. 1.

The 160-acre park is in the northwest part of the city off Horse Drive near Decatur Boulevard and Fifth Street.

At this time, the model airplane field is the only developed part of the park. The council was scheduled to name just that field after McCool, whose parents both work at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, but Mayor Michael Montandon suggested that instead the entire park be named for the astronaut.

The council voted 5-0 Wednesday to follow Montandon's suggestion.

At the council meeting McCool's father said naming the park after his son was greatly appreciated.

Audit produces highest rating

The annual audit of North Las Vegas' books turned up a known problem with money at the city detention center and paperwork and tracking problems with some grants received by the city, but overall the city received the highest rating from the independent auditor.

City Finance Director Phil Stoeckinger said the city has established a grants committee to ensure that the spending of grant funds is tracked in a timely manner.

"It's routine in nature," Stoeckinger said. "Just compliance issues."

The most serious part of the audit done by the firm Piercy Bowler Taylor & Kern noted that during a three-year period cash was misappropriated from the city detention center.

In September, city officials said that inmate accounts were missing at least $156,000, and that the former city jail supervisor who oversaw those accounts had been fired in July.

Officials would not say whether the firing was related to the missing money. No criminal charges have been filed, and police are still investigating the case.

Stoeckinger said that internal controls have been implemented to prevent a similar misappropriation of funds form happening again.