By Mike Donahue

Moapa Valley Progress

Clark County Commissioner Tom Collins said last week that he plans to conduct a meeting in the next few weeks that will focus on what actions must be taken to re-open Overton Beach for public use.

Collins told the Moapa Valley Chamber of Commerce last Thursday he recently visited the area, which has been closed to vehicle traffic since April 2010, and decided it was completely unsuitable as a boat launch.

“The store and gas (facility) won’t open because the business just isn’t there,” he said. “But I’d like to see the beach open for uses other than boating.”

He said he would like to lead a delegation of Moapa Valley business leaders, National Park Service (NPS) officials, other federal representatives and Moapa Valley town board members down to the area to discuss what needs to be done to get people back to the beach.

Collins comments to the chamber came just 10 days after a Moapa Valley Town Advisory Board meeting in which NPS officials said that while there are no immediate plans to reopen the beach, the park service would be willing to work with local representatives in the coming weeks to restore visitation.

Andrew Muñoz, NPS public affairs officer, told the board it is highly unlikely that the beach road would reopen because of high costs.

Collins, however, said that a new federal plan involving tax dollars from international tourists could generate money that could help the problem.

“We’re (Nevada) going to get a pile of money when the new international tourist tax goes into effect,” he said.

Chamber member Kent Slight asked Collins what “in the long term” the commissioner could see for the future of Moapa Valley.

“Does the county have any plans involving development in Moapa Valley?” he asked.

“In my opinion Moapa (Town) is more vital (growth-oriented) than this valley,” Collins said. “You’ve got a business overlay district here, but businesses are trying to open all up and down the boulevard.

“This community can get things done to grow (by itself),” he continued. “You decide what you want to happen in this community, we’re here to help you. Whether you like us or not, we’re trying to help.”

He also reassured Chamber members that the Clark County Fair was in no danger of being moved as “long as I’m in office.”

“There are people who think they’re helping (financially) with the funding, so they’re going to get the fair (to go into the Las Vegas Valley),” he said. “Absolutely no way.”