Collins, Brager spat might foreshadow commission race loyalties

By Joe Schoenmann

Sunday, March 25, 2012 | 2 a.m.

Clark County commissioners don’t always get along, but Tom Collins and Chairwoman Susan Brager had a spat during Tuesday’s meeting that left fellow commissioners wide-eyed.

What happened?

Collins was expressing support for Commissioner Steve Sisolak’s motion to maintain a $48,000 fine on a homeowner for code noncompliance. At the same time, Brager was talking to someone so loudly it could be heard over the speakers, and over Collins’ commentary. Frequent observers of the meetings say it wasn’t the first time Brager has done this to Collins and others.

Then what happened?

Essentially, Collins gave her the floor. He said that if Brager had something to say, she should go ahead and say it. He didn’t sound snarky but was obviously miffed.

Brager declined. Then she stood up and walked out of sight into a back room.

What’s behind this? Does it have anything to do with the upcoming election?

It might. Collins is being challenged by Ruth Johnson, a former Clark County School District board member. Brager served on the School Board at the same time as Johnson.

It will be interesting to see to whom, if anyone, Brager gives her support.

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Former Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss opened a pet boarding/grooming business in a shopping center in the southern part of the valley at Silverado Ranch and Bermuda Road.

Fleiss, whose previous projects had included a Pahrump brothel catering to women, turned to the pet business after learning billions of dollars are spent each year on dogs and cats.

How’s her business, First Pedigree, doing?

It’s not. Calls to a phone number for First Pedigree go unanswered, and its voicemail is perpetually full. The business’ website doesn’t appear to work. And other pet grooming businesses in the area say Fleiss closed up shop around January.

Any reasons given?

We could not reach Fleiss or her reported co-operators, Yvette Lopez, who has posed in Playboy, and Jasen Johnston, a former Chippendales dancer who posed in Playgirl.

But take this for what it’s worth: Fleiss’ former competitors said some customers complained about the service.

Fleiss, 46, arrived in the pet boarding/grooming business with the kind of public relations boost business enterprises dream about. After the Sun wrote about Fleiss’ business idea being heard by the county Planning Commission in July 2010, her story of going into a new business flashed around the world. First Pedigree opened in late 2010.

Any idea where Fleiss is?

None.

•••

Customers of the Regional Transportation Commission’s bus service are upset that higher fares are being considered.

Why are they unhappy? After all, the RTC has an $8.3 million budget gap that has to be filled.

We reported on the budget gap last week. Much of it is due to the expensive, federally mandated paratransit service — door-to-door service for those whose disabilities don’t allow them to use fixed-route buses. The average cost of a paratransit ride to a customer is $2.96, while it costs the RTC $37 per ride, one way. The cost is partially subsidized by the state.

A committee examining the RTC’s shortfall has recommended raising fares and cutting back on some paratransit service. The RTC says the paratransit change would affect a “relatively small number” of customers.

What did customers say?

Most comments can’t be printed here. But one said he can’t afford to ride as it is. Another, Lorraine Hollender, said of the proposed paratransit fare increase: “I am appalled at the thinking that these groups can afford a $12 increase.”

Customers and others will get their chance to voice concerns at public hearings, the first of which is from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the RTC building, 600 S. Grand Central Pkwy. A complete list of hearing times and locations can be found on the RTC’s website.