By Vernon Robison
Moapa Valley Progress
The Moapa Valley Water District Board of Directors in a meeting held Thursday, May 19 passed a resolution asserting the district’s intention to remain independent and separate from any other regional water entity.
The resolution which was presented by board member Lindsey Dalley, stated that the district should “take whatever measures necessary to continue as an independently elected sovereign District for the benefit of all the communities within the District boundaries”.
Dalley said that the intent of the resolution was to set clear perameters on the district’s relationship with Southern Nevada Water Authority.
“The trend now is that smaller public water districts are being absorbed by larger entities,” Dalley said. “I want it to be clear in all our dealings with other entities that it is our intent to remain independent and not to be absorbed by another entity.”
“Often in negotiations there is a lot of splitting hairs going on,” Dalley added. “But sometimes you find that what you are really splitting is a principle. I wanted the matter to be decided before there is even an issue. Giving up our independence as a water district isn’t on the table.”
Dalley added that he did not want to give the impression that he was being paranoid about the intentions of larger water entities in the region. “I don’t want to come off like I think that SNWA is trying to come in and take us over,” Dalley said. “That is definitely not the case. But I just want to establish our intent in writing so it is very clear.”
MVWD Chairman Ken Staton voiced support for the resolution. “Frankly I think that this has always been the intent of the (MVWD) Board,” Staton said. “But we just didn’t have it in writing.”
Dalley made the motion to adopt the resolution as MVWD policy. The motion was approved with a unanimous vote.
