Porter, Woodbury Speak At MV Chamber Luncheon

Vernon Robison
Moapa Valley Progress

The Moapa Valley Chamber of Commerce held its monthly General Membership meeting on Thursday, February 21 in the Overton Community Center. The meeting was combined with an event being held by Moapa Valley Chamber member organization, Clark County Water Reclamation District, to present plans for the Moapa Valley Water Resource Center. This project had its groundbreaking ceremonies later the same day. The Water Reclamation District provided lunch for all in attendance.

Elected officials in attendance at the luncheon were U.S. Congressman Jon Porter; County Commissioners Bruce Woodbury and Tom Collins; and State Senator Warren Hardy. A member of of Senator Harry Reid’s staff was also in attendance.

The Moapa Valley Water Resource Center is a proposed waste water treatment facility at the site of the old Overton sewer system south of Overton. The current system, built in the mid-1970s is out of compliance with state and federal environmental regulations. The project will bring the facility into compliance and expand capacity for community development. Commissioner Woodbury addressed those in attendance regarding the proposed facility.Woodbury recognized the Moapa Valley Town Advisory Board for their work on directing the project. He also gave special recognition to members of the local Citizen Advisory Committee who had worked many years at the local level with the Reclamation District on planning the project. These included Gene Houston, Lon Empey, Steve Getz, Brad Huza, Heber Tobler, Ken Sites and Rik Eide.

Woodbury also gave special appreciation to County and District staff. “I can’t think of an agency that has given as much time and effort in working with the people of a commmunity as them,” he said. Woodbury specifically named County Manager, Virginia Valentine, and Reclamation District General Manager, Richard Mendes.

The Chamber’s invited speaker for the event was Congressman Jon Porter. Porter talked about how, in recent years, impact from major national and international news events were being felt more and more on a local level.

He spoke about the war on terror, paying special tribute to the service-men and -women who were currently in Iraq and Afghanistan. “I would admonish each of you to be engaged,” he said. “Spend a few moments if you have a chance, listening to service people when they return home. Listen to what they have been doing and what they are seeing. It will really open your eyes to what is really happening there.”

Porter also discussed the state of the economy. He specifically discussed the impact that the sub-prime mortgage crisis was having in the Southern Nevada region.

“This is a very serious problem affecting so many people,” he said. “From a federal perspective we are trying to find ways to help families that need it.”

Porter discussed his belief that, in times of economic slowdown, there should be less federal tax burden on the people.

“On the eve of what some people might say is a recession, some of my colleagues have already raised your taxes by $2,000 per year already this year,” he said. “There are those that say we should take more of your money to create more programs. My solution is to let your families make the decisions with your money. Let the local and state governments make the decisions that affect you more directly. Leave the money here rather than take it to Washington.”

Following Porter’s remarks, the luncheon meeting came to a close. All in attendance were invited to attend the groundbreaking ceremonies for the treatment facilities which would be taking place that afternoon at the site.