New manager bringing prestige to Clark County Shooting Park

By Joe Schoenmann

Sunday, April 17, 2011 | 2 a.m.

The Clark County Shooting Park has become a thorn in the side of the County Commission because of constant questions about subsidies to keep it operating.

The park, at the foot of Sheep Range, was built with money from the sale of federal land through an ingenious bit of legislation — no, not legerdemain — known as the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act.

During the construction boom, tens of millions of dollars were funneled to county parks, one being the shooting park, which has cost $63 million so far.

But those dollars don’t pay to operate facilities once they’re built. And as a result, the park, which requires about a $1 million county subsidy to operate, has been criticized as a money drain since it opened more than a year ago.

The plan all along was to operate with a county subsidy for three years. But Commissioner Steve Sisolak started asking last year about ideas to raise fees, close the park or let a private operator take over as a way to save scarce county dollars.

Now, it appears, a compromise might be coming.

What kind of compromise?

Sources say the county will propose reducing the $1 million subsidy to $500,000 next fiscal year; then to $250,000 the following year. Then nothing in the third year.

Shooting park supporters think the park will have earned a reputation and built enough of a clientele to operate on its own under the guidance of new manager Steve Carmichael. He is something of a legend in local shooting circles, having won Grand American titles and numerous trophies. He was also operator-owner of the Las Vegas Gun Club.

In a way, Sisolak got his wish — someone with private-sector experience managing the park.

“It’s continuing to improve and grow,” said Commissioner Tom Collins, whose district includes the park.

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Do you think our water rates will drop if Lake Mead levels keep rising?

You must be referring to news that the lake could rise 20 to 30 feet, cutting into the 125 feet it has fallen during 10-plus years of drought. You might also be assuming that our water rates are being pooled to save for massive pipelines into northern counties, should our water supply down here run out. The truth of the matter, according to J.C. Davis, Southern Nevada Water Authority spokesman, is that rate increases in the past few years have gone for salaries and operational costs, not capital expenses.

“It’s highly unlikely those rates will reverse,” Davis said.

Rates are tiered so that those who use more water pay a higher rate, Davis said, so the current rates are beneficial to those who use less water.

So what’s the average water bill here?

Davis said it’s about $32.

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Quote of the week

“They got it wrong.”

— District Attorney David Roger during a legislative committee hearing. He was referring to the Clark County Commission as he criticized a new ordinance revamping the county’s controversial coroner’s inquest, a fact-finding procedure after a fatal shooting by police. Roger testified in favor of a bill supported by the police union that appears to circumvent the ordinance by eliminating the inquest system. With changes made by the commission, Roger estimated the coroner’s inquest would cost his office about $11,000 per case. His critique came less than a week after commissioners tore into Roger over his refusal to cut his budget.