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EDITORIAL: Beginning From The Point Of Greatest Strength

EDITORIAL:

Beginning From The Point Of Greatest Strength
Published March 4, 2009

In the recent efforts towards incorporation, much has been made of the differences between the two towns in the upper and the lower Moapa Valley. Daunted by these differences, folks at either end have quickly dismissed the possibility of the two towns working together towards a single incorporated city. Indeed, the Moapa Valley Committee for Incorporation has all but decided to move forward with the lower valley alone as the proposed incorporated area. Still, there are some, in Moapa, who have expressed a firm desire for the two ends of the valley to work together. This actually makes good sense.

Yes, there are clear differences in the two towns. There were similar differences between the former towns of Logandale and Overton years ago before they merged to form the town of Moapa Valley. But over time those old Logandale/Overton differences have largely washed away leaving the bedrock of common interest that the two areas share, and have always shared.

The same would be true of differences between Moapa and Moapa Valley. The upper and lower valley areas have historically been one community. Whether considering issues of water or power; public lands or public services; education or growth; the two towns operate with congruent goals and kindred values. Whether working together or separate, the two are, and always have been, a single jurisdiction of common interest. That being true, it makes sense that the position of greatest strength in approaching incorporation would be a combined effort of the entire unified valley.

But if that is not possible; if the lower valley is to take these initial steps on its own; then it should be allowed to assemble all reasonable elements of its own position of greatest strength to ensure success along the way. One of the first, and potentially most important, of these elements is the proposed boundaries of incorporation. This specifically involves the vast area to the north of the existing community.

For time immemorial the large swath of public land along Interstate 15 from the Logandale/Overton interchange to the Carp/Elgin exit has been administered by Clark County as part of the town of Bunkerville. No one who is still alive today remembers why that is. But the fact is that our own interchange is not even in Moapa Valley. We must all pass through a corner of Bunkerville to access our community from the Interstate.

Up to now, this never made much difference. The open empty land didn’t provide any particular benefit to Bunkerville. Nor did the status quo give any marked disadvantage to Moapa Valley.

It has always been true, though, that any activity or development in that area would more directly affect this community than any other. It makes sense that decisions and input about that area should come from the Moapa Valley and not from some other, more remote, community.

In addition, the lens of incorporation attaches even more potential value to the area. This is because, included in this vast open area are several possible sources of revenue. The Interstate Highway, along with its two interchanges, offer a range of potential revenue opportunities for the proposed city. Furthermore, if the land lying between the Interstate and the Lincoln County line is included, it would add a section of a major utility corridor and a valuable radio/TV transmission facility to the list of assets included in the new city.

These things aren’t worth much to an unincorporated town, but they would be worth something to an incorporated city. Just how much revenue would they bring in? At this point it is still early to say exactly. It may be a lot; or it may be too little to bother with. But with so many questions still unanswered, it seems important to include all possible revenue sources in the plans. At least, it’s clear that we should not rule anything out until we have been able to get more information.

The Moapa Valley Committee for Incorporation has proposed to include all of this area as part of the new city boundaries. The proposed boundaries have been brought to the Bunkerville Town Advisory Board for their feedback. After some deliberation, the Bunkerville Board gave its blessing last week to the idea of redrawing the boundaries in this way. Thus, the map submitted for consideration in the feasibility study ought to include the entire area encompassing both I-15 interchanges and the area between the Interstate and the Lincoln County line. Indeed there is no conceivable reason that it should not.

Our County Commissioners have insisted in recent weeks that they can and will represent the interests of the Moapa Valley in matters just like this. Commissioner Tom Collins, to his credit, has frankly and openly pledged to assist the community, in any way he can, in the efforts towards incorporation. Officially establishing these boundaries as proposed is an example of where his assistance would be welcome and appreciated.

As it happens, a County process to adjust town boundaries in Northeast Clark County has been underway for some time. Expediting that process and seeing that all of the proposed changes dealing with the Moapa Valley would do a great deal to ease the path of the Committee and the looming incorporation process and would provide the kind of help that the community wants and needs from its Commissioners.

Barring a valley-wide incorporation effort, the inclusion of these areas in the feasibility study area would be a most important way for the lower valley to begin its incorporation process from a position of greatest strength. And we will undoubtedly need that.

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