Sale of Red Rock land proposed to aid state parks

Wednesday, April 20, 2005 | 8:57 a.m.

SUN CAPITAL BUREAU

A bill that allow the state to sell 80 acres in the Red Rock Canyon National Convervation Area to the federal government in return for funds to maintain state parks has been improved by the Senate.

Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, said the sale would produce about $16 million that would be placed on a trust fund to provide money for maintenance of state parks.

In a press release after the vote, Titus said many of the parks are in "deplorable condition." She said the sale to the Department of Interior as proposed in her Senate Bill 318 would "mean more cohesive, comprehensive management of the lands in Red Rock Canyon."

The bill calls for a requirement of the sale to be a contract condition intended to ensure that the land is never developed. SB318 says the parcel to be sold must be administered in the future by the Department of Interior "as part of the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area." The bill goes to the Assembly.

Other measures passed by the Senate Tuesday and sent to the Assembly:

Sen. Dennis Nolan, R-Las Vegas, said actual travel costs have increased greatly. For instance air fare is up by 300 percent in some cases. He noted that the money that lawmakers receive for travel and housing is "not an enhancement" but reimbursement.

Each legislator also get $91 per diem for every day of the session, and an additional $130 a day salary for the first 60 days of the session.

Voting against the increase were Las Vegas Democrats Terry Care, Dina Titus and Valerie Wiener.

A consumer could be charged up to $15 by the reporting agency for placing the security freeze on the information. And a charge of up to $18 would be allowed if the consumer took the freeze off the account.

The bill also requires prompt refunds of deposits or other payments for consumers who legally pull out of purchase or lease agreeements.

Sen. Maggie Carlton, D-Las Vegas, cast the lone dissenting vote against the bill.

The chairman of a regional transportation commission in rural Nevada would also be an advisory member but that position would rotate through the counties.

The board is made up of the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and controller and three members appointed by the governor who are interested in construction. The bill also orders the legislative auditor to conduct a performance audit of the state Department of Transportation.

The motor vehicle department said it has sold 42,119 of the Vegas birthday plates -- the most popular in the state. The initial cost is $61 above the regular cost plus an additional $30 a year for renewal.

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