News briefs for Oct. 1, 2003

Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2003 | 9:37 a.m.

County to cut park water use

Clark County was expected today to announce a new program to trim water use at its parks and on median strips along county roads.

Commissioners Myrna Williams, Mark James and Rory Reid were scheduled to discuss the program at 10 a.m. at Desert Breeze Park, at Spring Mountain Road and Durango Drive.

County officials say they hope the five-year, $5.5 million program will reduce water use by 25 percent at county parks and county-maintained street medians such as those on Spring Valley Parkway and Rainbow Boulevard.

The plan is expected to save more than 220 million gallons of water annually, about enough for 700 households each year.

Pesticide company fined $10,000

A Kirkland, Wash., company has been fined $10,450 for improperly distributing and selling a restricted pesticide to a Las Vegas company, the federal Environmental Protection Agency announced Tuesday.

Univar USA, Inc., violated federal law by selling Avitrol Whole Corn, used to control pigeon infestations, to All Pro Pest Control, a Las Vegas company that was not certified to use the pesticide, EPA spokeswoman Laura Gentile said.

"Restricted-use pesticides must be handled carefully in order to protect the users and the environment," Enrique Manzanilla of the EPA said. "Companies must ensure these products are being sold to people who are trained to use them properly."

Williams avoids election penalty

Assembly Speaker Pro Tem Wendell Williams, D-North Las Vegas, avoided being sued when he made a $200 payment Tuesday toward a $15,000 fine for campaign reporting violations.

The payment by credit card arrived at the secretary of state's office about 15 minutes before closing.

Williams had missed his $100 a month payment in September, and his $100 payment for October was due today. The secretary of state's office said it would have turned his name over to the state attorney general's office to file a civil suit if he failed to make the payment.

Williams was fined for failing to submit or late filing the campaign expense and contribution forms in the 2002 election. He reached an agreement to pay off the $15,000 by $100 a month installments.