Letters to the editor

Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008 | midnight

Don't remove the sheep

EDITOR:

Boulder City has a beautiful and unique group of animals in and around Hemenway Park. Instead of promoting and caring for the well being of these Bighorn Sheep, the city chose to take another route of solution. It seems some people would rather capture or kill everything they can catch.

I too have had special engagements in that park. We have never, ever had a sheep approach us. It's not in their nature to be aggressive to humans. They don't trust people — maybe because they have been chased by police cars with sirens?

Instead of catching, relocating or killing these animals, we should be treating them with the respect they deserve. Their ancestor were here long before ours. By way of human management, as with the buffalo and soon our wild horses, the Bighorn Sheep may someday be gone forever.

In Sequim, Wash., and Banff, British Columbia, there are large herds of Roosevelt elk within their city limits. They can be aggressive, but instead of removing them, these cities use them as tourist attractions. The elk are fitted with collars that activate flashing lights on signs when they are getting near their roads. The people are then aware when the animals are close. Why not do that here? Instead of being a negative, Boulder City could turn this into a positive action.

GAIL MOTLEY

Vote no on tax district for hospital

EDITOR:

Join me in voting no on the ballot question to form a hospital tax district in Boulder City.

My major objection involves openness and transparency in the hospital's oversight, administration and operations.

As a voter, I have no idea how the Board of Trustees are selected. I have asked for a copy of the hospital's governing documents, names of board members, meeting minutes and financial records and was told by the administration that I could not have them.

After adverse publicity on the financial records, voters have been given access to only publicly filed documents with the federal and state governments. What more is the hospital hiding? As a result, these actions make me very suspicious.

Prior to seeking taxpayer money, the trustees and primarily the administration, failed to get their house in order. The minor scrutiny, due to time constraints, exercised by the Committee Against the Hospital District caused considerable havoc.

Few, if any, cost saving actions or revenue increases had been implemented. In fact, Boulder City (we) provided favorable utility rates, an interest-free loan and overwhelming community support for the foundation's fundraising activities.

If this ballot questions passes, I foresee no future open access to the operating and financial documents of the hospital. Selection of trustees will remain secretive.

The taxpayers will have no say in spending priorities or patient services provided, the timing or amount of tax increases. All will be ultimately decided by outsiders, at the Clark County Commission and the Nevada Legislature, possibly against the majority voting results.

Forming a Boulder City Hospital District by taxing the residents is not the best way to solve the hospital's financial woes. Vote no on this tax question.

NANCY A. NOLETTE