Potential Town Advisory Board Members Submit Applications

By Vernon Robison

Moapa Valley Progress

Thirteen people have expressed interest in serving on the next Moapa Valley Town Advisory Board by submitting application materials to the Clark County Commission. There were four applicants for service on the Moapa Town Advisory Board. The due date for submitting applications was passed on November 19.

By statute, Town Advisory Board (TAB) members are appointed for a two year term by the County Commissioners.

At the end of each two year term, the communities have traditionally held a straw poll during the November elections. The purpose of this informal poll has been to advise Commissioners on who the voters preferred to serve on their TAB.

In 2008, the County Commission, broke with precedence and appointed two members to the Moapa Valley TAB who had not been elected in the straw poll ballot. Because of this, the Moapa Valley TAB voted, this year, to cancel the community straw poll election. Members stated at the time that if it was not going to be heeded, a straw poll would become too divisive and contentious for the community.

The Moapa TAB never met to discuss whether they should hold a straw poll or not. Thus, no straw poll was held in Moapa either.

Following is a list of the applicants along with information and excerpts taken only from the application materials that they submitted which are all available as public documents.

Moapa Valley

Bruce Baxter (Logandale) has had previous experience serving as an advisory board member in a prior residence of Prince William County, Virginia. He also served as the Chairman of the Prince William County Republican Party.

In his application, Baxter admits that he may not be the most popular choice for the town board.

“I admit that in a straw poll, I would be resoundingly defeated,” he writes. “In the past I have taken positions of conscience that have led to some conflict with the current prevailing Valley mentality. But dang, I’d sure like to see some of these attitudes change and that is the reason I’m putting my name forward.”

In his application, Baxter elaborates some of his involvement in some past neighborhood legal conflicts with his local Homeowners Association. He makes it clear that the results of these conflicts have not endeared him to his neighbors. He also states the belief that many of his neighbors dislike him and mentions that he has been the subject of very strong language amongst them.

But Baxter concludes that perhaps these experiences just might be a qualifying factor in his service on the TAB.

“My sense is that I won’t be intimidated by some of the local bush-league tactics,” he writes.

Baxter also discloses in his application that he is a part-time resident of Logandale, splitting his time between here and Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Brian Burris (Logandale) works as a Senior Inspector with the Southern Nevada Water Authority, where he has been for over three years. Before that, for ten years, he worked as an EMT at American Medical Response in Las Vegas. He was appointed as one of two representatives from North Las Vegas to the RTC Bus Shelter advisory committee. And he currently serves as a volunteer firefighter at Logandale Dept. 73.

Burris writes that his experience with SNWA has given him “vast challenges of dealing with the public spotlight in a graceful manner.”

“As a paramedic and an inspector I have developed the gift of conflict resolution through countless interactions as well as several classes I have taken,” he writes.

Burris states that he brings a unique perspective forged from living both in a large city and a small community.

“I have run cattle and understand the view of the farmer,” he writes. “But I also have negotiated business deals and get the executive point of view as well.”

Guy Doty (Logandale) has served the past six years on the MVTAB and is currently serving as its Vice Chairman. He is a private businessman, having run a professional land surveying company in Nevada since 1989. He has also spent the past 12 years serving on the Board of Directors for the Moapa Valley Water District.

As a professional surveyor, Doty writes that he is “familiar with right-of-way issues, boundaries and subdivision laws”.

“I’ve lived in Clark County all of my life,” he writes. “Seven years in the Las Vegas area and the rest in Logandale. I love the community in which I live and would look forward to continued service.”

Deborah Greco (Overton) has served on the MVTAB for the past two years.

“I live in Overton and want to be involved in the community development and projects that effect our rural lifestyle,” she writes.

“I am able to make decisions based on what is best for the community as a whole, rather than reacting to each proposal as if it were an isolated action and believe citizens should be allowed the opportunity to provide input on important issues in the community.”

Nathan Hendricks (Logandale) served for two years as City Planning and Zoning Commissioner in West Jordan, Utah. He also served a year on the Clay County Board of Adjustments in Green Cove, Florida in 2009.

Through these experiences, Hendricks writes that he has gained “specialized training and experience in zoning, planning, transportation and land use issues”.

“I have a proven record of being able to help solve issues and disputes between applicants and municipal staff while adhering to the law and what is best for the community as a whole.”

He states that, being 29 years in age, “….I believe that appointing me to the board would help add a voice that represents the many younger residents in the valley.”

“I have spent most of my life in Clark County attending elementary through high school here,” he continues. “All of my family lives here and I would like to use the things that I have learned over the past years to benefit the community I grew up in.”

Gene Houston (Logandale) has served on the MVTAB for 10 years. He has served the past four years as Chairman of the Board. He also serves as a board member for Partners in Conservation. He serves on the Citizens Advisory Committee representing Moapa Valley at the Clark County Water Reclamation District.

Houston states that he has been heavily involved in Moapa Valley Little League for many years and serves on the Scouting Committee for Boy Scout Troop 4.

He was born and raised in Clark County. He has worked in the construction industry for 33 years and is a licensed surveyor in the state of Nevada.

Judy Metz (Overton) has served on the MVTAB for more than ten years. She also volunteered for eight years as an EMT at the Overton Fire Station #74. She has served on the Moapa Fire District board, the Moapa Valley Strategic Planning Committee, and on the Trails, Emergency Response and Road Committees.

Metz states that her most valuable contribution was serving on the Focus 20/20 Committee several years ago: a group that studied the needs of the Moapa Valley looking forward through year 2020.

Metz is the owner of Sugar’s Restaurant in downtown Overton.

Billy Mildice (Logandale) has served on the MVTAB for the past two years.

“I don’t have any personal or financial conflicts in the Valley that would affect my decisions,” he writes. “I feel I can evaluate all parties and projects evenly and fairly.”

Mildice points out that, as a MVTAB member, he received an accomodation from the Partners In Conservation group for “…my endeavors for the improvement of the community.”

Hal Mortensen (Logandale) works as Vice Principal at Moapa Valley High School. He is currently on the Old Overton Gym Preservation Board where he has served for four years.

Last summer, Mortensen was Scoutmaster to a group of 31 Boy Scouts who attended the National Scout Jamboree. He supervised the boys in fundraising $130,000 to attend the trip.

Last year, Mortensen assisted the Partners In Conservation group in the clean up of Clark County School District property which had been neglected over the years. He coordinated youth and student activity to accomplish this task.

Mortensen is also involved in community-based sports programs.

“It is my desire to continue my service in a different capacity such as the Moapa Valley Town Advisory Board,” he writes.

Dustin Nelson (Logandale) works for Clark County Information Technology in the GIS Management Office. He states that this work experience has provided him with “…opportunities to see how, and work within, our county’s government.”

Nelson has recently become involved with Public Land issues within Clark County. “This experience has provided me the opportunity to work with a wide range of people in finding common ground to build sustainable solutions,” he writes.

Nelson is a life-long Moapa Valley resident. “I will work to sustain the small town environment that our community prides itself on, while also working to create an environment where business and opportunities for our valley’s citizens will grow,” he states.

Mike Otero (Logandale) has 25 years experience as a general contractor and has worked in the construction industry for more than 30 years.

“I would bring knowledge of building code and Title 30 to the TAB,” he writes. “I have personal experience dealing with zone changes, use permits and easements.”

Otero has been a volunteer firefighter for the past five years with the Logandale station 73. He has also served as a member of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police volunteer program for over a year.

“I care about our Valley and I am committed to serving the community,” he writes.

Gary Pearson (Logandale) is a retired school teacher who spent 39 years teaching high school. He spent 10 summers working as a heavy equipment operator for Northwestern Engineering and eight summers working for Department of Defense.

Pearson is a regular attendee of MVTAB meetings and has been for many years. He has become familiar with the workings of the board.

“I do not operate on the ‘I think’ or ‘Gut feeling’ principle as two of our board members do,” Pearson writes. “I only accept facts or statistical analysis. Logic has to play a part in decisions also as well as common sense.”

“Jeri (wife) and I know lots of people in the valley,” Pearson concludes, “but are not church friends, dinner friends, card playing friends or camping friends. We do not owe anyone in the valley any favors.”

Jay Young (Overton) served once before as a member of the MVTAB for two years in 2007-2009.

He works as a Manager in Learning and Development for Boyd Gaming in Las Vegas where he has worked since 2003.

Young has been involved as an adult leader in local Boy Scouts organizations and has received training at Wood Badge.

Young has deep pioneer family roots in the Moapa Valley with a long standing tradition of community service and involvement. As the husband and father of a young family, Young states that he would represent the younger demographic while serving on the board.

Moapa

Jan Johnson has served nearly four years on the Moapa TAB. She has worked as the Moapa Town Librarian for over 11 years.

“I try to keep abreast of community concerns,” she writes.

Janice Robinson served on the MTAB once before years ago and feels that she can be an asset to the board.

“Especially since there have been a lot of meetings cancelled due to the lack of a quorum,” she writes.

Ann Schreiber has served on the MTAB on and off for nearly 16 years. Part of that time she has served as Chairwoman of the Board. Schreiber writes simply and briefly that she has “participated as a board member and understands the working of the board.”

Craig Wolfley has served on the MTAB for the past four years and has served as the Chairman for the past two years. Wolfley has lived in Moapa for 22 years. He is a teacher at Moapa Valley High School and has been the FFA Advisor at the school since 1986.