By Vernon Robison

Moapa Valley Progress

After nearly two years of struggling through complications and difficulties, the Overton Senior Center Thrift Store in downtown Overton is finally operating in full compliance with Clark County code. Last week, Senior Center officials reported finally receiving a long anticipated county business license allowing the legal operation of the Thrift Store at 475 S. Moapa Valley Blvd.

“I knew what it was as soon as I saw the envelope,” said Senior Center Director Christine Trombley. “It was like a huge weight lifted off of my shoulders.”

Back in the summer of 2009, right after Trombley took over the post at the Senior Center, she found herself faced with a crisis. She was informed by County Business License personnel that the Thrift Store was operating without a license.

The Senior Center had recently moved to its new location. But the Center planned to continue operating its Thrift Store in the old location near the Robbins Nest Trailer Park in Overton. The Thrift Store is a primary fundraising vehicle of the non-profit Senior Center.

“I was new in the job and I didn’t know that we didn’t have a license or that we even needed one,” Trombley said.

So she went right to work applying for a license. But the application was quickly denied because the property lacked the appropriate zoning for a thrift store, Trombley said.

This began a long journey through the halls of Clark County including stops at the Moapa Valley Town Advisory Board, the County Planning Commission and eventually at the Board of County Commissioners.

Fortunately, during all of this time, County staff allowed the Thrift Store to continue its operation during the process.

“They told us that technically we were not allowed to operate without a license,” Trombley said. “But as long as we were pursuing the license they would allow it.”

Nearly a year later, in June of 2010, the County Commission approved zoning requests that would, at last, allow a license to be issued.

But there were still some conditions to be met on the approval before a license could be granted. That process also took time. It wasn’t until October 2010 that the Center was finally able to make an application for the business license.

Now, four months later, the Senior Center has finally received current business licenses which are also retroactive back to 2009 when all this trouble began.

“It has been a long road,” said Trombley. “I want to thank everyone in the community for the support and help on this. People signed petitions, went to Las Vegas for Commission meetings and offered us their support and assistance. We are so appreciative of that.”

The Senior Center Thrift Store is open on Wednesdays from 8:00 – 11:30 a.m. and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. All are welcome to shop there.