OPEN FORUM: The Time Is Right, The Reason Is Right

Incorporation has been a topic of conversation for many years in this valley, but it has rarely moved beyond just conversation. It is interesting that the main reason for incorporating has remained largely unchanged. We have felt for years that we have not been adequately represented by the Board of County Commissioners (BCC). Recent events have made that painfully clear. While the BCC has the legal right to appoint anyone they desire to the town board, it is contrary to the very principles on which this country was founded. Our forefathers fought for self-government and representation, yet our elected officials don’t represent our will. In last week’s TAB meeting, Commissioner Collins stated that the county, with his oversight, has invested quite a bit of money in the valley for various services. A comment was also made that rarely, if ever, are we asked if we wanted or needed these services.

Providing services, no matter the quantity, without asking if we want or need that service, is NOT representation. Selecting town board members contrary to the democratically expressed will of the people, is NOT representation. This is what Commissioners Collins and Sisolak apparently fail to understand: we don’t want to be told what we need and don’t need; we can determine that for ourselves. This desire to self-govern is the essence of being American, and is what has made this the greatest nation in the history of the world.

Since our commissioners can’t understand that principle, it is time we take control, through incorporation.

It is time for us to come together as a community and make the decision to govern ourselves. The process that we have to take to successfully incorporate will require hard work, and a community effort, but in the end, we will have control – representation – of our valley.

Incorporation won’t solve all of our challenges, but it will give us the liberty to determine how those challenges are addressed. We will have representation that will listen; and if they don’t, we, the residents of Moapa Valley, will have the ability to replace them.

The time has come to stop blaming others for our dissatisfaction with our elected leaders and take control of the situation. We can start by creating a petition of registered voters who are in favor of looking at incorporation. The more signatures we collect, the stronger our voice will be. In the coming weeks, more information will be available about this petition drive, and the incorporation process as a whole. We need to come together as a community to accomplish this, so volunteers will be needed. Information on how to volunteer will also be announced in the next couple of weeks.

So, what does incorporation mean for the valley? It means that we will have the liberty to succeed – or fail – of our own accord. It means we will no longer be dictated to by residents of other cities, who understandably aren’t concerned about what happens in Moapa Valley. It means we are responsible for governing ourselves.

The time is right, the reason is right. It is time, once and for all to incorporate.