Open Letter #15

OPEN LETTER #15 TO THE COMMUNITY FROM A TOWN BOARD MEMBER

Here is the Open Letter #15.  Feel free to contact me at twaters@pahrumpnv.org or 775-764-0949. 

As a DISCLAIMER, please understand that I speak ONLY for myself as a Town Board member and will provide accurate information as I see it through my research.  All information is reviewed by several entities to ensure there are no NRS violations. 

Thanks to the Voters -  The vote tally is in and the people have spoken.  Congratulations to all those elected (or re-elected) to office and for those not elected (or re-elected) I want to say thanks for the efforts.  Voting is what makes our country great as we choose those to lead us and to make other decisions through referendums and ballot questions. 

I especially want to thank the 49.2% of Pahrump voters that voted to retain the Town Board as your local government. However, the 50.8% speaks for us all and we graciously accept the results. 

Regardless of anything that you read or hear differently from this Open Letter, I want you to have the FACTS, not assumptions, innuendos, or mere guesses. 

So, what does the vote of November 6^th mean and where do we go from here with the Town Board?  Well, NRS 269.022speaks for itself.  It states: “If the board of county commissioners determines that the best interests of the town are no longer served by a town board form of government, it may order the question to be put on the ballot at the next general election.  If the majority of persons voting favor discontinuance of the town board form of government, the town board shall cease to function at the end of the terms of office of the incumbent members of the town board, and the government of the town and all of its assets and liabilities shall revert to the board of county commissioners.” 

That means the Pahrump Town Board will cease to function effective at midnight on December 31, 2014 and the Nye County Commissioners will assume that responsibility on January 1, 2015.  This two-year transition period can make the transition from local government to county government beneficial to employees of all town functions.   It will also aid the commissioners in determining what is needed and what is not.  They must find a way to retain proper management of the Parks, the Cemetery, the Swimming Pool, and the Fire Department or remove them from operation. 

The normal terms of office for Mr. Mike Darby and Ms. Vicky Parker will end on December 31, 2012.  The terms of office for Ms. Amy Riches and Mr. Bill Dolan begin on January 1, 2013 and they should have their oaths of office administered by the Nye County Clerk (Ms. Sam Merlino) sometime in December 2012.  Unfortunately, their 4-year terms of office will be reduced to 2-years because of the vote to “discontinue the Pahrump Town Board” and their terms will now end on December 31, 2014.  This date is also the scheduled end of the 4-year terms of office of Dr. Tom Waters and Mr. Harley Kulkin.  This date will also include the term of whoever is selected to fill the vacant seat of Ms. Carolene Endersby. 

So, the Town Board has two years to convince the voters that they want to do what is best for Pahrump.  
All Town Board members are Pahrumpians and I believe they feel as I do and will continue to do what we believe is in the best interest of Pahrump.  We still want to hear from the public for the two remaining years and, after that, we encourage everyone to work with the Board of County Commissioners as they manage and oversee Pahrump’s town functions and resources. 

The Town Board form of government for the Town of Pahrump began in 1984 and, after 30 years, will cease to exist at the end of 2014. 

Until the end of December 2014, I will continue to write Open Letters to the Community as a member of the Pahrump Town Board in order to respond to questions and concerns of our residents. 

Dr. Tom Waters
Pahrump Town Boardtwaters@pahrumpnv.org
775-764-0949