NLV council briefs for Oct. 2, 2003

Thursday, Oct. 2, 2003 | 9:21 a.m.

Rose permanent city manager

Gregory Rose, acting North Las Vegas city manager since July 25, was appointed to the position permanently on Wednesday.

City Council members voted 5-0 to appoint Rose to the job, replacing fired City Manager Kurt Fritsch.

Since being named acting city manager, Rose has trimmed vacant staff positions from the city budget and presented the council with a broad plan that included plans to map safe routes for children who walk to school, survey city residents and developers and automate many city billing services so residents could pay bills over the Internet.

Rose, 42, was hired as an assistant city manager in February 2001. Before then he was a deputy city manager in University City, Mo., and an assistant city manager in Warrensburg, Mo. Rose has a master's degree in public affairs and a bachelor's degree in public administration from the University of Texas at Dallas.

Municipal judge gets $33,900 raise

North Las Vegas Municipal Judge Warren VanLandschoot was given a $33,910 raise Wednesday night, bringing his annual salary to $128,000.

The City Council voted 5-0 to approve the raise, which put VanLandschoot's pay more than $11,000 above Municipal Court judges in Las Vegas and Henderson, according to figures from a May city survey and officials.

Before the vote, VanLandschoot thanked the council members for their support.

After the Wednesday meeting Councilwoman Shari Buck said VanLandschoot deserved the raise because of his high case load, long hours, and high approval ratings.

VanLandschoot also receives a $500 a month car allowance, which was not changed.

Van Landschoot is a retired police officer who said he is the only judge in the state who is not an attorney.

Contract OK'd on police facility

Plans for the Washburn Community Police Facility took another step forward Wednesday when the North Las Vegas City Council approved the $3.9 million construction contract.

The new station, which could open as early as June, will be built at the intersection of Washburn Road and Allen Lane, in the middle of the fast growing northwest part of the city.

The council voted 5-0 to award the contract to Las Vegas construction company Carson Taylor Harvey Inc., which police Lt. Victor Dunn said is the same company that built the last four Metro Police substations. The North Las Vegas station is modeled after those Metro stations, he said.

Construction of the North Las Vegas station is expected to begin in November, and could take eight to 12 months to finish at a cost of $5.1 million, including furniture, city officials said.

The North Las Vegas Fire Department

received $58,000 from the Department of Homeland Security for safety and prevention programs, according to Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant is a one-year grant that can be used to pay for firefighter health and safety programs, equipment, and fire prevention and safety programs. VanLandschoot