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The Desert Hills Shooting Club sign is seen from the road in Boulder City on Thursday, June 21, 2012.
Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012 | 3:14 p.m.
Clark County commissioner Mary Beth Scow
Pro Gun Club
A tie vote over removing a massive hillside sign resulted in a two-week holdover but gave a symbolic victory to a small Clark County community and provided evidence that a new county commissioner won’t back down even when facing powerful local forces.
At the end of more than an hour of testimony and debate Wednesday morning over the “Pro Gun Club” sign, which is on a privately-owned hillside facing Boulder City, six county commissioners twice voted to a tie, 3-3.
This was the second time the sign issue was heard by county commissioners; the first was in June after the Planning Commission approved the sign by a 5-2 vote. Commissioners in June postponed a decision to obtain more information.
While compromises were offered to limit how long the sign could be in place and its size, Commissioner Mary Beth Scow refused to accept them. Scow, who took office in January, represents the district in which the Pro Gun Club resides. The club was formerly known as the Desert Hills Shooting Club.
“I consider this such an … overstep of decency to the community,” she said before casting her vote. Lawrence Weekly and Susan Brager voted with her.
Commissioners Larry Brown, Steve Sisolak and Tom Collins saw it differently. They argued denying the gun club the right to the signage could result in a costly lawsuit.
In addition, Collins said, while Boulder City city officials argued against the sign, those same officials will not help cover the cost of a potential lawsuit by the gun club owners. The club’s officers are not lightweights in local business circles; they include Sig Rogich, an advertising executive involved in state and national politics for decades, and Pete Eliades, owner of the Olympic Garden strip club.
Brown also said if the county lost a lawsuit, the Gun Club might be able to keep the sign on the hillside forever.
Before any votes, compromises were considered.
The first was to decrease the lettering from “Pro Gun Club” to “Gun Club.” Then it would only be up for three years or until construction of the Boulder City bypass was completed.
Gun Club operators say the large sign is needed now because the club is so far from thruways. County staff, who recommended not to approve the sign, said the completed bypass would bring the highway closer to the shooting range, negating the need for the sign.
Scow made a motion to eliminate the sign, even with the changes. That failed in tie vote.
Then Sisolak made a motion to shorten the sign’s life to 2½ years, regardless of progress on the bypass. That also failed 3-3.
Commissioners then unanimously voted to hold the proposal for two weeks, when presumably all seven commissioners would be in attendance. Chris Giunchigliani was not present Wednesday due to a physical therapy appointment.
Eliades’ Olympic Garden reside within Giunchigliani’s district, but she has been known to speak out against signage she finds offensive, such as the mobile signs emblazoned with near-naked women that snake up and down Las Vegas Boulevard.
Boulder City officials after the meeting said they had no idea how Giunchigliani would vote. Mayor Roger Tobler called the arguments by some commissioners that the county already did so much for Boulder City and its population of 15,000 “offensive,” especially given that the sign is on county – not city – property.
Giunchigliani said later Wednesday she wasn’t sure how she would vote. “I have to listen to the tapes of the meeting and hear everyone’s arguments,” she said.
If I were the owner, I would argue to to keep it as it is until the Bypass is completed. Unless Harry "The Hater" Reid has some land deal in the area, the Bypass is at least 15 years away...
Surprise, surprise, the resident July 4th "shoot em into the sky" dolt Tom Collins voted to keep the sign. I couldn't in good conscience align myself with this clown on any issue. It's an eyesore. What's wrong with Sisolak?
Is this sign on private property that is in Clark County or is it on land that is owned by Clark County?
If it is on private property it must be zoned correct and they must have a sign permit.
If it is on county owned land then it should not be there at all. If anyone is allowed to just put up signs on county owned land we are in for big problems in this county.
Eyesore brought to you by a poor corporate citizen.
"Collins said, while Boulder City city officials argued against the sign, those same officials will not help cover the cost of a potential lawsuit by the gun club owners. The club's officers are not lightweights in local business circles; they include Sig Rogich, an advertising executive involved in state and national politics for decades, and Pete Eliades, owner of the Olympic Garden strip club."
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This is the rationale for not acting on an eyesore?...worried about a potential lawsuit and who is going to cover the costs plus politically connected individuals? That prospect means you do nothing? Who on this earth voted for Tom Collins??!!!
Step 1, is the sign legally allowed to be on county property in its present condition forever?
To answer the questions raised in a couple of comments: Previous stories said that the sign is on private property. The hill is owned by the gun club owners, apparently. In other words, they put a sign advertising their business on the property of that very business.
This article states the sign is on "county land". If its on county land it should be removed. If its on private property located within the county then I assume the proper permits we're filed and approved for the sign.
Sandblast this off OUR County hill now, tell the rich that their County adult playground, I mean gun club, lease will be recinded if they sue the County and let them sue again, and tell Tom Collins that we are voting him out of office for shooting a gun off at his house, being a friend to insiders and not honoring his constituents. There!
Dont we have bigger and better stuff to bicker about? How about how ALL politicians from ANY party are taking all of us to the cleaners. Give me a break...
@Vegaslee...I see now how you were able to visit NLEOMF, and not see its statement about cops deaths being the lowest they've been in 50 years, you just don't take the time to read before you start posting. The second paragraph clearly states this sign in on "on a hillside on county land."
And the rest of the story recaps the discussion over whether or not to allow the sign. The entire story exists because no one "is allowed to just put up signs on county owned land." One needs approval to do so.
It confounds me that you can miss the basic essence of the story, but I guess you can
I saw that it stated "county land."
Private property can also be in the county. If this COUNTY OWNED land then there should not be a question about this sign, it comes down.
Fact is, the Pro Gun Club and sign are both located on private land. The Club sits against the mountain side and any other sign would not be viewable from the adjacent highways. The Gun Club and sign are not located in Boulder City and so BC has no jurisdiction in this matter. Additionally, the sign cannot be seen by any residences in Boulder City. Boulder City just doesn't want to have any commercial businesses near their town. The sign is also smaller than the "BC" sign on top of the hill which in fact represents a mining company and not Boulder City. This is typical Boulder City, hypocritical at best and no growth at worst. It also should be pointed out that Boulder City also owns a gun club and does not like competition. Why should Boulder City be in the gun club business?